Bluegrass listening guide

Tom Netherland / Media General News Service
Published: May 10, 2007

Here are special correspondent Tom Netherland's picks for essential bluegrass CDs.

Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys, "The Music of Bill Monroe: 1936-1994" -- Miss Bill Monroe, miss bluegrass. This four-disc, 98-song collection traces the Father of Bluegrass from his formative years through his founding-father status.

Flatt & Scruggs, "The Complete Mercury Recordings" -- Bluegrass played hungry -- that's early Flatt & Scruggs music. Listen, learn and linger on Scruggs' hard-driving banjo and Flatt's plaintive singing.

Jimmy Martin, "The King of Bluegrass" -- Bluegrass made of lightning --that's Jimmy Martin. With one part moonshine, two parts drive, a mountain full of talent holds on when Martin cuts loose.

Flatt & Scruggs, "The Essential Flatt & Scruggs" -- Flatt & Scruggs' most commercial but no less essential output. Hear Josh Graves' edgy Dobro on "Big Black Train." Look skyward as Flatt sings "Back to the Cross." Nary a wilted'grass tune in the bunch.

The Stanley Brothers, "Angel Band: The Classic Mercury Recordings" -- Brothers Carter and Ralph Stanley built their sound on songs of the mountains of Southwest Virginia. Carter sounded contemporary; Ralph, cut right out of the mountains. Together, through such songs as "Angel Band," they helped establish bluegrass as a cultural music of the Appalachians that endures.

Jim & Jesse, "Y'all Come: The Essential Jim & Jesse" -- Sibling harmonies and a willingness to take risks mark the music of Coeburn's Jim & Jesse. Most of their songs offer examples of their harmonies. Check out their fiery take on Chuck Berry's "Maybelline."

Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, "Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys: 1971-1973" -- No less than a boxed set could contain the essential recordings of Virginia's favorite bluegrass son, Ralph Stanley. You can't go wrong with any of his albums, and this four-disc set is a great place to start. Hear a master bluegrasser right here.

The Country Gentlemen, "Country Songs Old & New" -- The Country Gentlemen broke ground in 1960 with this, their debut album. They created a split from traditional bluegrass that led to so-called progressive bluegrass and newgrass.

Larry Sparks, "40" -- Today's best bluegrass singer, Larry Sparks epitomizes emotive bluegrass singing. This collection revisits Sparks' best through re-recordings with guests -- and remarkably tops his originals.

Ricky Skaggs, "Bluegrass Rules!" -- Ricky Skaggs' return to his roots in bluegrass brought huzzahs from some and so-whats from his detractors. One side says he's today's Bill Monroe -- a reach. The other side scorns him for having left bluegrass. Whatever. Skaggs sizzles.