Bluegrass

ranf1970

ranf1970

Life without music would be a mistake.
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Hey AKers,

I found a double LP bluegrass compilation here and I was thinking about picking it up. I've heard this genre of music just "in passing". Could someone here school me in this kind of music so I can better appreciate it? The label that this music is on is Pickwick (if I remember correctly). Thanks!
 
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EDIT: Bill Monroe (Ralph?!? that's be Ralph Stanley... Fotno was too gracious and let my gaffe slip)
Stanley Brothers

That will get you started.
 
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Anytime a person is interested in Bluegrass, I'm interested in helping them learn more about it.

As far as this album is concerned: Pickwick records doesn't have a particularly good reputation for quality recordings (think K-Tel only worse), so the record you're looking at may not be a very good starting point. Pickwick had a practice of re-recording popular pieces using their house bands, so this recording may be well known songs performed by unknown artists. Of course if the price is right (a few bucks), you could always pick it up just to have it.

To second Mr Hardy's recommendations...

The Stanley Brothers, Bill Monroe, and Tony Rice are excellent places to start.
 
flat and scruggs and tons of others. banjo, fiddle, gitar, bass, dobro. great music and good for revealing system flaws IMO. Dileverance Dualing banjoes.
 
fotno said:
Anytime a person is interested in Bluegrass, I'm interested in helping them learn more about it.

As far as this album is concerned: Pickwick records doesn't have a particularly good reputation for quality recordings (think K-Tel only worse), so the record you're looking at may not be a very good starting point. Pickwick had a practice of re-recording popular pieces using their house bands, so this recording may be well known songs performed by unknown artists. Of course if the price is right (a few bucks), you could always pick it up just to have it.

To second Mr Hardy's recommendations...

The Stanley Brothers, Bill Monroe, and Tony Rice are excellent places to start.
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I remember reading about Pickwick's rep here before, that's why I looked at it and then put it back. But then I thought, at $1 it couldn't be that bad of an investment... I don't remember whether or not it was original recordings or "covers" by unknowns. I'm thinking about going to pick it up at lunch and give it a spin. I'll also look into the recommendations. Thanks!
 
CarlV said:
If you haven't been to Down Home Music you need to seriously consider spending some time in there even if you don't buy anything.
http://www.downhomemusic.com/


Carl
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Thanks Carl. Actually that store is right in my neck of the woods! Near to the Guitar Center, right? I have passed it many times but never stopped inside. Good selection of vinyl?
 
Oh yes, lots. One can spend many many hours there, there are a couple players too so you can sample in the record area not shown in those photos. It is near the size of the cd part you see in the photos. The 2 story part in back is the Arhoolie reissue label so anything they do is right there and some of their still sealed OOP lp's are in the back room LP part of the store too.
There used to be and maybe still is a 78 swap meet one Sunday a month before store hours too.
I have no room to get into 78's though....


Carl
 
Probably no one here cares, but my very favorite-ist bluegrass song in all space and time is Rank Strangers by the Stanley Brothers.
 
Thanks for the suggestions again! I went back to check out the record and when I looked on the back, they were all different songs with the same two or three bands. I thought that wasn't right so I passed. I figure it is better to get a real compilation of bluegrass than this one. Just out of curiosity, does bluegrass include vocal pieces or is it straight music? Thanks!
 
CarlV said:
Oh yes, lots. One can spend many many hours there, there are a couple players too so you can sample in the record area not shown in those photos. It is near the size of the cd part you see in the photos. The 2 story part in back is the Arhoolie reissue label so anything they do is right there and some of their still sealed OOP lp's are in the back room LP part of the store too.
There used to be and maybe still is a 78 swap meet one Sunday a month before store hours too.
I have no room to get into 78's though....


Carl
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Thanks again Carl. Will definitely check it out when I get the chance!
 
This is the man !

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I have a feeling that someone who enjoys John Lee Hooker, is pretty likely to enjoy good bluegrass too. There are similar themes at play in the music/lyrics, but with differing roots to draw from.

In these parts, exposure to bluegrass music is as natural as breathing, so it's always a pleasure to help someone learn about the music of my home-place who hasn't had the same sort of access I've been privileged to grow up with.

BTW: Doc Watson was born, raised and still lives, not 60 miles from here as the crow flies.
 
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ranf1970 said:
Just out of curiosity, does bluegrass include vocal pieces or is it straight music? Thanks!
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Absolutely. It often features the "high lonesome" vocal style made famous by Bill Monroe.

A very accessible and great introduction to Bluegrass is the "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" album by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. It is a collection of everybody who was anybody in Bluegrass playing a lot of the old standards. Truly a terrific album.

FWIW, I just went to the Floyd Country Store last Friday evening for my third or fourth visit. It is one THE classic Bluegrass venues in southwest Virginia on the famous Crooked Road. If you're ever down Blacksburg way on Friday evenings, you gotta go to Floyd. Great bluegrass music in the Store and music spilling out everywhere on the streets. It's well worth a visit/detour.:thmbsp:
 
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