J.D. Crowe & The New South – The New South – 50th Anniversary
This is a remastered collection of the influential bluegrass LP produced by J.D. Crowe (1937-2021/banjo/guitar/baritone vocals) with Ricky Scaggs (mandolin/fiddle/viola/tenor vocals) & recorded in Maryland in Jan. 1975. This set also updates the musician’s credits. The tunes are old-fashioned now, but the bluegrass performances are pristine, & though I found bluegrass to be a bit more exciting than C&W music. There’s always an ounce of happiness running through the notes that isn’t always in Country.
This is the 50th Anniversary of this showcase celebrating J.D. Crowe & The New South (Drops Sept 12/Rounder/Craft-Concord Recordings/37:41) in a handsome CD package with 11 tracks & 2 bonus cuts. The band was recently inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame & the Library of Congress National Recording Registry. It isn’t The Eagles, not Poco or The Byrds — but there are shades of their varied musical seasoning found in their endeavors.
It’s the type of contemporary bluegrass that awakened the ears of the late Gram Parsons, who believed there was a place for bluegrass & rock musicians. It must have made an impression on the late Jerry Garcia as well, who applied a second career with Dave Grusin & Old In the Way. The father of bluegrass, Bill Monroe, didn’t have easy-going selling this music to the Country establishment, but it gradually won over many ears.
Even the bright fiddle & banjo instrumentals find a hot spot in this repertoire (“Sally Goodin”) as the musicians’ roast & toast the melody between their fingers. This percolates. Ok, this music is enjoyable, but it’s for select audiences. Not everyone is an aficionado of this genre. However, repeated listens educate & with time the ears might “git it.” The lyrics are stories; the playing is done with expertise & there’s little that could be considered hokum.
Some tunes on this set were interpretations of Gordon Lightfoot, Utah Phillips, Earl Scruggs, Lester Flatt, Ian Tyson, Rodney Crowell & the songwriting team of Antoine Dominio & Dave Bartholomew (“I’m Walkin’”). The CD includes the original late John Hartford liner notes. Many of the familiar musician names began their high-profile careers on this LP & you can hear their superb playing already well-established. RIP Mr. Crowe.
Highlights – “Old Home Place,” “Some Old Day,” “Rock Salt & Nails,” “Sally Goodin,” “Ten Degrees,” “Nashville Blues,” “Summer Wages,” “I’m Walkin,’” “Why Don’t You Tell Me So” & “Cryin’ Holy” (with Emmylou Harris).
Musicians –Jerry Douglas (dobro), Tony Rice (guitar/lead vocals), Bobby Slone (bass) with Hugh Sturgill (bass vocal), Mark Cuff (percussion), Tom Guidera (Fender bass), Bing McCoy (concert grand piano) & Danny Pendleton (pedal steel guitar).
There’s a 24 pp stitched booklet included. Cover photo: John Duvall. B&W image of J.D. Crowe courtesy of his website. CD @ Amazon + https://concord.com/news/j-d-crowe-the-new-souths-genre-defining-self-titled-album-celebrated-with-expanded-remastered-edition-for-50th-anniversary/ & https://craftrecordings.com/products/j-d-crowe-the-new-south-deluxe-edition-digital-album & https://www.jdcrowe.org/