| Classic Bluegrass Live: 1959-1966 - Earl Scruggs | |
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Reviewed by Jolene Downs
Classic Bluegrass Live is exactly what it says. The album consists of Classic Bluegrass performed live at the Newport Folk Festival in 1959, 1960 and 1966. In 1959, Earl Scruggs performed with Hylo Brown and the Timberliners. In 1960 and 1966 he was with long-time partner Lester Flatt and the Foggy Mountain Boys. Hand Earl Scruggs an ordinary banjo, and in his hands it becomes almost magical. Earl can do amazing things with a banjo, and it is this type of music that I could listen to all day. A common style of banjo picking is called clawhammer. This method uses the thumb and forefinger to produce the music and is used mostly for a rhythm and not for any instrumental leads. Earl uses his thumb, forefinger and middle finger for the three-finger method that allowed him to use the banjo as a lead instrument.
While there are vocals on this album, it is mainly a showcase of the incredible instrumental talents of the men involved. You can hear the banjo front and center, fiddle, mandolin, upright bass and rhythm guitar all combining to make the kind of music that your foot is almost forced to tap along to. The first eight songs on the album are from the 1959 performance with Hylo Brown and the Timberliners. "Cumberland Gap" is entirely instrumental and mainly showcases the banjo and the fiddle. "Flint Hill Special" is another instrumental that Earl Scruggs wrote. It has the upright bass and rhythm guitar and fiddle in the background, but the banjo is front and center. "Gathering Flowers From the Hillside" was written by A.P Carter and is one of the old 'mountain songs.' Again, it is heavily instrumental with the lyrics sung as more of a background thing.
In 1960 at the Newport Folk Festival, Earl Scruggs was with long-time partner Lester Flatt. Together, Flatt & Scruggs became one of the most critically acclaimed duos in the history of Bluegrass. They toured with the Foggy Mountain Boys until they went their separate ways in 1969. Lester Flatt pursued the more traditional Bluegrass music while Earl Scruggs was interested in playing Country Rock with his sons. It has been said that while Bill Monroe invented Bluegrass, Earl Scruggs added the missing puzzle piece to make it complete.
At the 1960 Festival, Flatt & Scruggs performed four songs. "Salty Dog" is a tongue in cheek love song. It is a toe-tapping tune and it is very easy to see why Flatt & Scruggs were such a successful duo. "Cabin on the Hill" is probably one of the slowest songs on the album. It is a gospel number and it showcases the vocal harmonies of the band. For this one song, the instruments take a background position. "Jimmy Brown the Newsboy" is a song with a fun tempo. The tempo almost reminds me of one of my favorite Johnny Cash songs - "Tennessee Flat-Top Box." It is about a boy who barely squeaks through life by delivering newspapers for the little money it gets him.
When Flatt & Scruggs hit the Festival stage again in 1966 they did six songs. Many of these are continuing favorites still today. "Orange Blossom Special" is a song absolutely guaranteed to make you want to get up and dance. At the very least some part of your body has to move to the beat. It uses the fiddle to sound like the whining of a locomotive moving along the tracks. And the fiddle player is extremely talented. I've heard a lot of versions of this particular song, but this is the best I've ever heard instrumental-wise. Any fan of true country music will recognize "The Wabash Cannonball" that was the signature song of Roy Acuff. "When the Saints Go Marching In" is an old-time favorite gospel number and they have added a harmonica to the instrument arsenal for this song. The band has a lot of fun with it. And then, last but not least, "The Ballad of Jed Clampett." This song could be heard in households all over the country as those with television sets tuned in to watch the latest episode of The Beverly Hillbillies. This particular song was chosen as the theme for this series, and it is still on the air today.
Bottom line is that this is a great album. Earl Scruggs is a true magician where the banjo is concerned, and when you combine that talent with the talents of the other great musicians you have some great music to listen to. It has quickly become one of my favorite CD's to take on the road because of the upbeat tempo of the music. It would be very hard to fall asleep on the road while listening to this one.
Song List:
Sound clips courtesy of Barnes & Noble.
Album cover used with permission of Vanguard Records.
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