The heavenly bluegrass CD evaluation committee recently met to give our opinion of the "Ricky Skaggs & Friends: Big Mon Songs Of Bill Monroe" CD. Our decision was a 2-0 ruling (Big Dead Mon and myself both in agreement) in this case and was stated in this way: "Somebody save bluegrass from little Ricky!"

As Big Dead Mon and myself listened to the new CD we both were reminded of the Chief's comments regarding the direction country music had taken. Just as the Chief successfully argued that today's "country" music is not country at all, so your two chief justices of the Great Ryman in the Sky argued that little Ricky's tribute to Big Dead Mon is lacking.

I spent 12 bones (heavenbonics) on that CD only to hear maybe 2 banjo leads. In fact, Big Dead Mon swore he heard a drum. In all, little Ricky must be stopped! Though fullof big name singers, IT AIN'T BLUEGRASS! It sho 'nuff ain't Big Mon music! Little Ricky's tribute to Big Dead Mon is not that at all. It is as far from Big Dead Mon music as today's "country" music is from Hank Williams, Sr.

Where is little Ricky taking our music? Is he pissed because he can't play a banjo? Ask yourself, humanoids of earth, if a non-bluegrasser wanted to hear the music of Big Dead Mon could you honestly play little Ricky's new CD and feel that this person would know who theBig Mon was and what his music actually sounded like? Ummmm?

Based on the Flatt/Monroe CD rating scale this one gets a 2. Understand that ANY banjo sound gives you a +2 regardless. Hence, we give this one the lowest rating possible - AND sit and scratch our headsat that.

(Big Dead Mon said that maybe the fella who mics the banjo for the Opry also mic'd it on little Ricky's CD. He does have a point because we can't hear a banjo on but a few songs.)

Lester's Ghost, The Great Ryman in the Sky.
(Real name and address supplied but withheld by request.)

The author can be contacted sporadically at: lester_flatts_ghost@yahoo.com

1st Feb 2001