By Graham Lees

BMG Heritage 74465 99002 2

Riding high on the phenomenal success of the movie O Brother Where Art Thou? More Bona Fide Bluegrass & Mountain Music is the ideal companion to its predecessor 'Bonafide Bluegrass & Mountain Music (75517436002). More Bona Fide Bluegrass continues the evolution of the early stringband and bluegrass music with 18 remastered tracks spanning the years between 1928 and 1981.

Two more original tracks featured in 'O Brother' sees Hoyt Ming and His Pep Steppers performing the "Indian War Whoop" and The Pine Ridge Boys taking us back to 1939 for the first recorded version of "You Are My Sunshine" found on the RCA Bluebird label. With the brake-up of the Monroe Brother in 1938, Charlie and Bill Monroe each formed their own bands. Charlie Monroe and his Kentucky Pardners actually found success first before and after World War II and can be found here with "I'm Comin' Back But I Don't Know When" and "Bringin' In The Georgian Mail" from 1947. Hear 22-year-old mandolinist Ira Loudermilk harmonising beneath Charlie's high tenor. Later Ira and his own younger brother Charlie were to find success of their own as the Louvin Brothers. Jimmy Martin & The Osborne Brothers show up on "Chalk Up Another One" from 1954. Sonny & Bobby Osborne went their own way in 1960 and appear as the Bluegrass Banjo Pickers with "Lonesome Road Blues".

Sadly we lost banjo picker and songwriter John Hartford in 2001. John gained fame back in 1960 for writing "Gentle On My Mind" (Glen Campbell), here John contributes "The Little Old Lonesome Little Circle Song". One of the great post-war bluegrass acts, The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers saw two incarnations first with bassist Ezra Cline leading, along with his nephew Curly Ray Cline on fiddle they recorded "Nobody Cares (Not Even You) in 1952 with Paul Williams on lead vocals, guitar and mandolin. The second face of the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers came with Williams' replacement Melvin Goins and here we find the lonesome sounds of "Windy Mountain" recorded on RCA Victor in 1954.

There are some top class recordings here including the McPeak Brother with the banjo driven "May I Sleep In Your Barn Please Mister". The McPeal Brothers were featured on Mel Tillis' 70's syndicated TV show. Lester Flatt broke-up with his musical partner Earl Scruggs in February 1969 after a 21-year partnership. Lester formed the Nashville Grass and here we find "Head Over Heals In Love" from 1970 including gifted musicians Roland White on mandolin, Josh Graves on dobro, Hargus "Pig" Robins on piano and banjoist Vic Jordan. Lester Flatt joins Bill Monroe for the 1974 recordings of "My Little Cabin Home On The Hill" and "Will You Be Loving Another Man". We find country music icon Marty Stuart playing mandolin and ace fiddle player Kenny Baker included on both tracks. We also find recordings of Lester Flatt with Mac Wiseman on "Over The Hill To The Poorhouse" (1973) and "The Bluebirds Singing For Me" (1971).

More Bona Fide Bluegrass & Mountain Music is one of the most thrilling albums to be released during 2002. This unreserved treasure chest of early and authentic bluegrass music stands the test of time and lights up the stereo from the very first track. The Osborne Brothers with the searing "Fastest Grass Alive" brings the whole thing to a close.

Graham Lees, Dewesbury, W.Yorks Write to | Website

2 Jan 2003