Search - Ricky Skaggs :: Family & Friends

GET A LOAD OF THAT HAIRCUT...

Larry L. Looney | Austin, Texas USA | 12/18/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"...and that'll tell you that this album is almost 20 years old -- originally issued in 1982 -- but it's one of the greatest bluegrass cds you'll find. The Rounder catalogue is full of bluegrass treasures, and this is one of the best. The title says it all -- Ricky Skaggs (he of the perfect bluegrass tenor and lightning fingers), joined by his father, mother, wife, in-laws and some of the absolute finest session pickers around: Jerry Douglas, Bobby Hicks, Peter Rowan, Mark Pruett. It simply doesn't get much better than this -- if it did, I think it would actually be deadly.There are so many standouts on this recording. The set open in fine style with 'Lost and I'll never find the way' -- try not to let yourself sing along with this one (or any of these), moving on to a country standard, 'Two different worlds'. Next, Ricky's dad sings 'River of memory', followed by an a capella rendition of 'Talk about suffering' that will make your hair stand on end.Carter Stanley's 'Think of what you've done' is given a great reading here, followed by another bluegrass classic, 'Toy heart', from the pen of the genre's inventor, Bill Monroe. Then it's back to gospel with the rousing 'Hallelujah, I'm ready' -- the responsive harmony vocals on this track are perfection. Another classic Carter Stanley tune, 'Say, won't you be mine', is next.Closing the album with a pair of great gospel tunes, Skaggs and company again back his father's heartfelt vocals on 'Won't it be wonderful there', wrapping things up nicely with a beautiful arrangement of 'River of Jordan' -- guitar and mandolin, with plenty of tightly-woven, heavenly harmony.This is an incredible collection of tunes, played by some of the best musicians around -- and the vocals are like a cold mountain stream, sparkling, full of life, free-flowing and clean. The recording, as we have come to expect from the folks at Rounder, is excellent and uncluttered by unnecessary studio tricks. They KNOW acoustic music -- and they obviously love it.My ONLY complaint about this cd is its length -- WHY ARE SO MANY BLUEGRASS ALBUMS SO SHORT??? This set is just a few seconds over 30 minutes in length -- and at the pace at which bluegrass moves, it's over before you know it. I must say -- at least in the case of this recording -- that what it lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality...and that's what you'll find here in abundance.I listen to many genres of music -- folk, jazz, international, classical, progressive rock. I went through a 'phase' a few years ago in which I listened almost exclusively to bluegrass. It's a miracle my marriage lasted as long as it did...and that I lived to tell about it.'Rang the banjer...!'"