Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: Stars And Stripes Forever

United Artists Records UA-LA184-J2

Format: 2xVinyl, LP, Album, Gatefold
Country: US
Released: 1974
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Bluegrass, Country Rock, Folk Rock, Country
[Tracklist]
A1 Jambalaya (On The Bayou) (1:43)
A2 Dirt Band Interview (3:39)
A3 Cosmic Cowboy (Part 1) (3:21)
A4 Aluminum Record Award (1:31)
A5 Fish Song (3:50)
A6 Mr. Bojangles (3:46)
B1 Vassar Clements Interview (3:56)
B2 Listen To The Mockingbird (2:47)
B3 The Sheik Of Araby (2:08)
B4 Resign Yourself To Me (2:40)
B5 Dixie Hoedown (2:27)
B6 Cripple Creek (0:54)
B7 The Mountain Whipporwill (Or, How Hillbilly Jim Won TheGreat Fiddler's Prize) (7:07)
C1 Honky Tonkin' (2:00)
C2 House At Pooh Corner (2:54)
C3 Buy For Me The Rain (2:32)
C4 Oh Boy (2:50)
C5 Teardrops In My Eyes (2:11)
C6 Glocoat-Blues (3:11)
D1 Stars And Stripes Forever (0:38)
D2 Battle Of New Orleans (2:58)
D3 It Came From The '50s (Blast From The Past) (6:46)
D4 My True Story (3:08)
D5 Diggy Liggy Lo (3:52)
[Credits]
Jimmie Fadden (drums/harmonica) Jeff Hanna (bass/drums/washboard) Jimmy Ibbotson (accordion/bass/drums/keyboards/piano) John McEuen (banjo/accordion/fiddle/mandolin) Vassar Clements (fiddle) Les Thompson (bass/guitar/mandolin) Doug Journigan (dobro)
Coordinator: Dave Neckar, Director: William E. McEuen, Painters: Terry Schoonhoven and Vic Henderson, Photographers: Alice McEuen, Bill Higgins, Kansas Film Works, Kerwin Plevka, William E. McEuen, William Estabrook and Win Muldrow, Engineers: Dino Lappas, Michael Denecke and Gary Mullen
[Notes]
In many ways, the mixed collection of live and studio recordings on Stars & Stripes Forever accomplished for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and rock music what Sweetheart of the Rodeo failed to do for or with the Byrds, showing the rock band plunging deeply into country music. Two years in the making, it incorporated new studio cuts and live tracks recorded at five concerts over a two-year period, as well as interview material with guest fiddle player Vassar Clements. The mix works better than just about any genuine country (as opposed to country-rock) effort ever done by a rock band, mostly because the band was so careful in their recording and editing, and they gave themselves time to get this stuff just the way they wanted it. Beyond the excellent concert renditions of "Mr. Bojangles" or "The Battle of New Orleans" (which became a single in the wake of this album), and covers of Hank Williams songs and numerous traditional tunes, listeners found they'd walked in on something very deep and profound, tapping into a special creative process. Whatever the reason, this album gave the public more than its money's worth and was a success, charting higher than any other record the group ever released. It still packs lots of power. --AllMusic Review by Bruce Eder

Will The Circle Be Unbroken: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Capitol Records 7243-5-35148-2-2

Format: 2×CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered
Country: US
Released: 2002
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
1-01 Grand Ole Opry Song (3:10)
1-02 Keep On The Sunny Side (4:26)
1-03 Nashville Blues (3:15)
1-04 You Are My Flower (3:39)
1-05 The Precious Jewel (4:09)
1-06 Dark As A Dungeon (2:47)
1-07 Tennessee Stud (4:50)
1-08 Black Mountain Rag (2:40)
1-09 Wreck On The Highway (3:25)
1-10 The End Of The World (3:54)
1-11 I Saw The Light (4:21)
1-12 Sunny Side Of The Mountain (2:50)
1-13 Nine Pound Hammer (2:53)
1-14 Losin' You (Might Be The Best Thing Yet) (2:49)
1-15 Honky Tonkin' (2:32)
1-16 You Don't Know My Mind (2:47)
1-17 My Walkin' Shoes (2:52)
2-01 Lonesome Fiddle Blues (2:43)
2-02 Cannonball Rag (1:16)
2-03 Avalanche (2:52)
2-04 Flint Hill Special (2:13)
2-05 Togary Mountain (2:28)
2-06 Earl's Breakdown (2:37)
2-07 Orange Blossom Special (2:12)
2-08 Wabash Cannonball (2:03)
2-09 Lost Highway (3:48)
2-10 Doc Watson & Merle Travis: First Meeting (Dialogue) (1:52)
2-11 Way Downtown (3:35)
2-12 Down Yonder (3:45)
2-13 Pins And Needles (In My Heart) (2:54)
2-14 Honky Tonk Blues (2:23)
2-15 Sailin' On To Hawaii (2:09)
2-16 I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes (4:26)
2-17 I Am A Pilgrim (3:54)
2-18 Wildwood Flower (3:33)
2-19 Soldier's Joy (3:33)
2-20 Will The Circle Be Unbroken (4:48)
2-21 Both Sides Now (2:25)
[Previously Unreleased Tracks]
2-22 Foggy Mountain Breakdown (2:39)
2-23 Warming Up For "The Opry" (Talk) (2:43)
2-24 Sunny Side (Talk) (4:06)
2-25 Remember Me (1:39)
[Credits]
Roy Acuff (vocals) Maybelle Carter (autoharp/guitar/vocals) Doc Watson, Jimmy Martin, Merle Travis (guitar/vocals) Earl Scruggs (banjo/guitar) Vassar Clements (fiddle) Bashful Brother Oswald, Norman Blake (dobro) Randy Scruggs (autoharp/guitar) Junior Husky, Ellis Padgett (bass) Chet Flippo, Martha Flippo, Ray Martin, Tim Martin, Alice McEuen, Larry Murray, Gary Scruggs, Louise Scruggs, Steve Scruggs, Betty Travis (background vocals) Emmylou Harris, John Hiatt, Bruce Hornsby, Béla Fleck, Roger McGuinn (guest artists) NGDB: Bob Carpenter (accordion/piano/vocals) Jimmie Fadden (drums/harmonica) Jeff Hanna (guitar/mandolin/vocals) Jimmy Ibbotson (mandolin/accordion/vocals) John McEuen (banjo)
[Notes]
Will the Circle be Unbroken is a 1972 album by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with collaboration from many famous bluegrass and country-western players, including Roy Acuff, Mother Maybelle Carter, Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, Merle Travis, Pete "Oswald" Kirby, Norman Blake, Jimmy Martin, and others. It also introduced fiddler Vassar Clements to a wider audience.

Earl Scruggs: I Saw The Light With Some Help From My Friends

Columbia KC-31354

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1972
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
A1 Lonesome And A Long Way From Home: Earl Scruggs Revue (2:33)
A2 Silver Wings: Linda Ronstadt (3:25)
A3 It's A Picture From Life's Other Side: Arlo Guthrie (3:36)
A4 Motherless Child Blues: Tracy Nelson (4:29)
A5 Some Of Shelley's Blues: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (2:44)
B1 Never Ending Song Of Love: Earl Scruggs Revue (2:44)
B2 Rock Salt And Nails: Linda Ronstadt & Tracy Nelson (3:20)
B3 The Banks Of The Ohio: Arlo Guthrie (3:25)
B4 Ring Of Fire: Linda Ronstadt (2:11)
B5 Propinquity: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (2:17)
B6 I Saw The Light: Guest Artists (3:43)
[Credits]
Earl Scruggs (banjo) Linda Ronstadt, Arlo Guthrie, Tracy Nelson, Gary Scruggs, Jeff Hanna (lead vocals) Norman Blake (dobro) Vassar Clements (fiddle) Les Thompson (mandolin) Bob & Pauline Wilson (piano) Jody Maphis, Karl Himmel (drums) The Earl Scruggs Revue, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Stacey Belson & Arloff Boguslavaki
Producer: Don Law, Designer: Bill Barnes, Photographer: Slick Lawson, Engineer: Charlie Bragg
[Notes]
When Earl Scruggs split with longtime collaborator and fellow Foggy Mountain Boy Lester Flatt in 1969, it was evident who of the pair had the more commercial aspirations. While Flatt remained firmly rooted in the bluegrass tradition, Scruggs, much like similar-minded artists such as the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Johnny Darrell, and the Dillards, sought to bridge the gap between pop, folk, and the old-timey sounds of yesteryear. I Saw the Light With Some Help from My Friends may sound like it was culled from the buckle of the "Bible Belt" (there are indeed a few spirituals), but the "friends" referenced in the title are merely saviors of the late-'60s/early-'70s country-folk movement. Scruggs gathered both family -- sons Gary, Randy, and Steve -- and contemporaries like Linda Ronstadt, Arlo Guthrie, Vassar Clements, Tracy Nelson, Norman Blake, and the aforementioned Dirt Band, to flesh out an album of covers both sublime (Merle Haggard's "Silver Wings") and surprising (Monkee Michael Nesmith's "Some of Shelley's Blues"). The musicianship is top-notch and the vocals, especially Ronstadt and Nelson -- Arlo Guthrie will always be an acquired taste for some -- are warm and soulful, resulting in one of the more lucid and enjoyable examples of the crossover genre. (by James Christopher Monger)

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: All The Good Times

Liberty LLP-80460

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Gatefold
Country: Japan
Released: 1971
Genre: Rock, Folk, World, & Country
Style: Country Rock, Classic Rock
[Tracklist]
A1 Sixteen Tracks (5:22)
A2 Fish Song (4:28)
A3 Jambalaya (On The Bayou) (3:20)
A4 Down In Texas 2:20
A5 Creepin' Round Your Back Door (2:52)
A6 Daisy (2:50)
B1 Slim Carter (3:02)
B2 Hoping To Say (3:20)
B3 Baltimore (3:44)
B4 Jamaica, Say You Will (3:29)
B5 Do You Feel It Too (3:15)
B6 Civil War Trilogy (1:53)
B7 Diggy Liggy Lo (2:20)
[Credits]
Jeff Hanna (guitar/vocals) Jimmie Fadden (guitar/drums/harmonica/vocals) John McEuen (guitar) Jimmy Ibbotson (guitar/drums/keyboards/vocals) Les Thompson (guitar/bass/vocals) Randy Scruggs (guitar) Norman Blake (dobro) Ellis Padgett (bass)
Producer, Photography: William E. McEuen, Design: Dean O. Torrence, Engineer: Dino Lappas
[Notes]
Manufactured byToshiba Musical Industries Ltd. Audience recorded during performance at the Golden Bear, Huntington Beach, California.

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy

Liberty LP-80126

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Country: Japan
Released: 1970
Genre: Rock, Folk, World, & Country
Style: Country Rock, Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
A01 Some Of Shelly's Blues (3:12)
A02 Prodigal's Return (3:16)
A03 The Cure (2:11)
A04 Travelin' Mood (2:35)
A05 Chicken Reel (0:59)
A06 Yukon Railroad (2:20)
A07 Livin' Without You (1:58)
A08 Clinch Mountain Backstep (2:16)
A09 Rave On (2:50)
A10 Billy In The Low Ground (1:14)
B01 Jesse James (0:49)
B02 Uncle Charlie Interview (2:27)
B03 Mr. Bojangles (3:34)
B04 Opus (1:37)
B05 Santa Rosa (2:21)
B06 Propinquity (2:18)
B07 Uncle Charlie (1:45)
B08 Randy Lynn Rag (1:17)
B09 House At Pooh Corner (2:37)
B10 Swanee River (0:36)
B11 Uncle Charlie Interview #2 The End / Spanish Fandango (2:34)

[Credits]
Jimmie Fadden (guitar/harmonica/bass/vocals) Jeff Hanna (guitar/drums/washboard/vocals) Jimmy Ibbotson (guitar/piano/drums/accordion/vocals) John McEuen (banjo/mandolin/guitar) Les Thompson ( bass/mandolin/guitar/vocals)
Producer, Photograph: William E. McEuen, Art Direction: Woody Woodward, Album Design: Dean O. Torrence, Engineer: Bruce Kennedy / Dino Lappas / Ken Deane / Mike Denecke
[Notes]
Manufactured byToshiba Musical Industries Ltd. Cover photo and interview was recorded at Uncle Charlie's home in Springville, California, April, 1964.s

Will The Circle Be Unbroken: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Liberty Records LLP-9027C

Format: 3 x Vinyl, LP, Album, Gatefold with separate gatefold insert
Country: United States
Released: 1972
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Bluegrass, & Country
[Tracklist]
A1 Grand Ole Opry Song (2:59)
A2 Keep On The Sunny Side (3:35)
A3 Nashville Blues (3:10)
A4 You Are My Flower (3:35)
A5 The Precious Jewel (3:30)
A6 Dark As A Dungeon (2:45)
B1 Tennessee Stud (4:22)
B2 Black Mountain Rag (2:10)
B3 The Wreck On The Highway (3:24)
B4 The End Of The World (3:53)
B5 I Saw The Light (3:45)
C1 Sunny Side Of The Mountain (2:23)
C2 Nine Pound Hammer (2:14)
C3 Losin' You (Might Be The Best Thing Yet) (2:44)
C4 Honky Tonkin' (2:19)
C5 You Don't Know My Mind (2:45)
C6 My Walkin' Shoes (2:02)
D1 Lonesome Fiddle Blues (2:41)
D2 Cannonball Rag (1:15)
D3 Avalanche (2:50)
D4 Flint Hill Special (2:12)
D5 Togary Mountain (2:25)
D6 Earl's Breakdown (2:34)
D7 Orange Blossom Special (2:14)
D8 Wabash Cannonball (2:00)
E1 Lost Highway (3:37)
E2 Doc Watson & Merle Travis: First Meeting (Dialogue) (1:48)
E3 Way Downtown (3:30)
E4 Down Yonder (2:58)
E5 Pins And Needles (In My Heart) (2:53)
E6 Honky Tonk Blues (2:22)
E7 Sailin' On To Hawaii (2:00)
F1 I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes (4:25)
F2 I Am A Pilgrim (2:55)
F3 Wildwood Flower (3:34)
F4 Soldier's Joy (2:05)
F5 Will The Circle Be Unbroken (4:50)
F6 Both Sides Now (2:19)
[Credits]
Roy Acuff (vocals) Maybelle Carter (autoharp/guitar/vocals) Doc Watson, Jimmy Martin, Merle Travis (guitar/vocals) Earl Scruggs (banjo/guitar) Vassar Clements (fiddle) Bashful Brother Oswald, Norman Blake (dobro) Randy Scruggs (autoharp/guitar) Junior Husky, Ellis Padgett (bass) Chet Flippo, Martha Flippo, Ray Martin, Tim Martin, Alice McEuen, Larry Murray, Gary Scruggs, Louise Scruggs, Steve Scruggs, Betty Travis (background vocals) Emmylou Harris, John Hiatt, Bruce Hornsby, Béla Fleck, Roger McGuinn (guest artists) Jimmie Fadden, Jeff Hanna, Jimmy Ibbotson, John McEuen, Les Thompson (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band)
[Notes]
Will the Circle be Unbroken is a 1972 album by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with collaboration from many famous bluegrass and country-western players, including Roy Acuff, Mother Maybelle Carter, Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, Merle Travis, Pete "Oswald" Kirby, Norman Blake, Jimmy Martin, and others. It also introduced fiddler Vassar Clements to a wider audience.