Michael Cleveland: Tall Fiddler

Compass Records – COM4737

Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: August 23, 2019
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
01 Arkansas: Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (02:34)
02 High Lonesome Sound: The Travelin' McCourys (03:36)
03 20 Cent Cotton And 90 Cent Meat: Michael Cleveland (03:31)
04 Beauty Of My Dreams: Del McCoury, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (02:35)
05 5-String Swing: Michael Cleveland (03:26)
06 Old Time River Man: Michael Cleveland (04:52)
07 Tennessee Plates: Michael Cleveland (03:28)
08 Tall Fiddler: Tommy Emmanuel, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (03:14)
09 Tarnation: Béla Fleck (05:56)
10 Son Of A Ramblin' Man: Dan Tyminski, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (03:07)
11 Mountain Heartache: Dan Tyminski, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (03:45)
12 Me And Helen: Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (03:56)
13 Lazy Katie: Larry Bales (03:19)
[Credits]
Producers: Jeff White and Sean Sullivan
[Notes]
This album has been something I've wanted to do for a very long time. I've been thinking for a while that it would be awesome to have my band, Flamekeeper, collaborate with some of my musical heroes, and just wondered what it would sound like. I knew it was going to be awesome about an hour into the first day in the studio. Tommy Emmanuel came in to record 'Tall Fiddler' and about an hour after he got there, we had the track. Also, I had the honor of co-writing a song with Béla Fleck, recording a Memphis rock song that talks about stealing one of Elvis's Cadillacs… had so much fun along the way. Thanks to everyone who was involved in the making of this album and especially to my co-producers, Jeff White and Sean Sullivan, for making this dream a reality. — Michael Cleveland

A Tribute To Jimmy Martin - King Of Bluegrass

Koch Records KOC-CD-9819

Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 2004
Genre: Rock, Folk, World, & Country
Style: Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
01 Sonny Osborne Intro (0:10)
02 Sophronie (2:39)
03 You Don't Know My Mind (2:58)
04 Losin' You (3:03)
05 Ain't Nobody Gonna Miss Me (2:48)
06 She Left Me Again (3:06)
07 Doin' My Time (3:48)
08 I Cried Again (2:28)
09 Homerun Man (2:14)
10 Ocean of Diamonds (2:44)
11 God Guide Our Leaders Hand (3:06)
12 What Would You Give In Exchange (2:44)
13 I'd Like To Hear Them Preach It (3:10)
14 Hold What You Got (2:24)
15 Walkin' Shoes (2:15)
16 Steppin' Stones (2:48)
17 I'm Thinkin' Tonight of My Blues Eyes (3:14)
18 Tennessee (2:41)
[Credits]
Audie Blaylock (guitar/vocals) Paul Williams (mandolin/vocals) Jesse Brock (mandolin) Michael Cleveland (fiddle) J.D. Crowe (banjo/vocals) Kenny Ingram (banjo) Ben Isaacs (bass/vocals) Sonya Isaacs (vocals) Jason Moore (bass) Harry Stinson (snare)
Executive-Producer: Tim Dillman, Producer: Ben Isaacs, Photographer: John Scarpati, Artist: Hank Williams, Jr., Liner Notes: Eddie Stubbs, Engineer: John Eberle and Lee Groitzsch
[Notes]
Although he is less well known than bluegrass pioneers Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley, the irascible Jimmy Martin has done as much as either to shape the sound of the genre, almost single-handedly developing what can only be termed honky tonk bluegrass. Martin is stubborn and brilliant, a rebel playing a style of music that favors tradition and only reluctantly abides innovation, and his larger than life personality has probably made him as many enemies as friends. But acknowledged or not, Martin's stamp is everywhere in contemporary bluegrass, and his impact on country music as a whole is also not to be underestimated. This tribute to Martin is rather special because it brings together four skilled musicians who all got their start as members of Martin's backup band, the Sunny Mountain Boys. Banjo players J.D. Crowe and Kenny Ingram, along with mandolin players Audie Blaylock and Paul Williams, join forces here to produce a surprisingly consistent and cohesive album. Their immersion in Martin's music is complete, which means they actually sound like a band (with Blaylock handling most of the lead vocals) rather than stars taking turns at the microphone, as is the case with most tribute affairs. Among the highlights here are versions of "Doin' My Time," "Ocean of Diamonds," and a marvelous rendition of A.P. Carter's "I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes." Also worth mentioning is the version here of Martin's wise and cautionary "God Guide Our Leader's Hand," which is timeless in its call for careful consideration in all things political. -- AllMusic Review by Steve Leggett