Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass: Tribute to 1946 & 1947

Ricky Skaggs understands and respects tradition. Much of his work draws on the traditional sounds of Bluegrass music. He and his band are masters of this music, both understanding, respecting and reinterpreting it for our listening pleasure. Even with this, Skaggs is not stuck trying to reproduce note by note the sounds of Bill Monroe. He understands the need for interpretation and keeping the sound fresh. In this CD, he walks a fine line between slavish reproduction and interpretation. This is a very careful balancing act that could result in "all fall down, ashes ashes" if not done well.The good news is it is done very well! From the reproduction of an old 78 on the CD face to the last track, this is a great listening experience and a valuable history lesson. "It's Might Dark to Travel" has always been a favorite of mine and this is an outstanding version. Joining this is "Little Cabin Home on the Hill" and "Why Did You Wander?" as great listening. The other nine tracks are excellent too. Each of us will have favorites that may or may not be mine.I am a big Skaggs fan and automatically like his work. Having confessed, I will still maintain that this is one of the best CDs he has done.

I don't know of any bluegrass musician who could have pulled off this tribute the way that Ricky Skaggs has done on this superior recording. If anything, Skaggs has improved on each of the tracks partially due to today's electronics, but mostly the way that he brings back these legends. Ricky Skaggs is totally true to Fathers of Bluegrass and I think that Bill Monroe and his contemporaries are very proud of their achievements as well as the achievement of Skaggs and company in reproducing accurately a different era when the music was pioneered.

Purchased as gift. Reciever was happy w it. I can't tell you more than that, because that's all I know.

It's Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, synonymous with awesome bluegrass music. It's a must have for those of us who love bluegrass.

I have several Ricky Skaggs albums because I know he knows true bluegrass. This tribute brought back memories from my past that made me smile. I growed up in the backwoods of Central Pennsylvania where moonshining began and still exists today, and we played bluegrass music the day long. Sometimes we'd pick and grin while sipping the home brew, sometime we'd just sit and listen. Ricky Scaggs was always a favorite. It's funny how folks don't know that bluegrass music runs even with the beginning of the Whiskey Rebellion just after the Revolutionary War, when moonshiners from central Pennsylvania fled to the smoky mountains to continue their moonshining rights. Bluegrass music fled with them and spread throughout the backwoods of North America from then on.

Good

Great CD! Would make a great Father's Day gift!

Thumbs up!

Superb. I have all the original Bill Monroe recordings, these are a fine supplement to those.

If Ricky Skaggs coughed it would sound good - so this album is beyond expectations - would thoroughly recommend it.

Have been looking for a great cd of old bluegrass music and this one is great. I like Ricky Skaggs music. I wpuld recommand this to anyone who likes bluegrass music.

I have been a fan of Ricky Skaggs' music since seeing him in concert 20 years ago. While he was a great country performer, its bluegrass where he really shines. This is a great CD!

A la fois fidèle à l'esprit des 'pères fondateurs' et satisfaisant aux exigences accrues du 21ème siècle en matière de qualité de son, et surtout de virtuosité instrumentale. Ricky Skaggs, toujours le brillant mandoliniste/chanteur que l'on connaît, avec d'excellents instrumentistes dont un guitariste époustouflant.