Ricky Skaggs and Friends - Big Mon
When I first listened to "Big Mon," I was pretty clueless when it came to the whole Bluegrass genre (I was only into Contemporary Country), so I did not really know much about what I was listening to, but after playing "Big Mon" one time, I instantly fell in love with it. The music, the talent, the soulful and touching songs just struck a chord with me and I have been hooked ever since.
Artists from outside of the realm of country contributed their voices to some of the songs: Bruce Hornsby with "Darling Corey," and John Fogerty with "Blue Moon of Kentucky." Joan Osborne and Ricky Skaggs voices blended beautifully on "On The Old Kentucky Shore," a rather haunting tale of a man saddened by the death of his fair maiden.
Stand out cuts from the remaining artists include "Walk Softly" (a "duet" of sorts with the Dixie Chicks and Ricky Skaggs), Steve Wariner lending his superb guitar playing talent to "Heavy Traffic Ahead," Dolly Parton's emotion-filled version of "Cry, Cry, Darling," and Charlie Daniels singing one of Bill Monroe's most well-known tunes - "I Am A Pilgrim."
Just when you think things could not get any better, the very last song makes you want to listen to the whole album over and over again. The (unofficially named) "Red Hot Chili Pickers" play at a consistently high pace for three minutes full of mandolins, banjos, guitars and any other bluegrass instrument you could imagine!
Reviewed by Jennifer Webb.
