The Essential Bill Monroe And His Blue Grass Boys 1945-1949 (Remaster)
Key item features
Includes a 40-page booklet with liner notes, track information and historic photos.
All tracks have been digitally remastered.
This is part of the Columbia Country Classics series.
Before Bill Monroe, bluegrass music simply did not exist (the genre itself takes its name from Monroe's band, the Bluegrass Boys). Throughout the late 1930s and early 1940s, Monroe toyed with different ways to present bluegrass, which he envisioned as a muscular, virtuoso approach to the sentimental ballads and religious numbers of the old-time repertoire. The music gelled in 1945, not coincidentally when Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs joined the band. THE ESSENTIAL BILL MONROE... chronicles Flatt and Scruggs' tenure with the band as well as one session each prior to their arrival and after their departure.
Unsurprisingly, the music included here is exceptional. Whether powering their way through "Heavy Traffic Ahead"--Monroe's tribute to touring--or harmonizing on a gospel number, Monroe and company deliver the goods both in terms of passion and precision. The final session is no letdown, documenting Monroe's inauguration of another classic band (featuring Mac Wiseman and Chubby Wise). The only knock against this set is that 16 of its 40 tracks are alternate takes. Though these performances are fine, this peculiar editing decision means that many of Monroe's master takes from this era remain hard to find.
Specs
- Music genreFolk Music, Bluegrass
- Media formatCD
- Has parental advisory labelN
- Record labelColumbia
How do you want your item?
About this item
Product details
Includes a 40-page booklet with liner notes, track information and historic photos.
All tracks have been digitally remastered.
This is part of the Columbia Country Classics series.
Before Bill Monroe, bluegrass music simply did not exist (the genre itself takes its name from Monroe's band, the Bluegrass Boys). Throughout the late 1930s and early 1940s, Monroe toyed with different ways to present bluegrass, which he envisioned as a muscular, virtuoso approach to the sentimental ballads and religious numbers of the old-time repertoire. The music gelled in 1945, not coincidentally when Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs joined the band. THE ESSENTIAL BILL MONROE... chronicles Flatt and Scruggs' tenure with the band as well as one session each prior to their arrival and after their departure.
Unsurprisingly, the music included here is exceptional. Whether powering their way through "Heavy Traffic Ahead"--Monroe's tribute to touring--or harmonizing on a gospel number, Monroe and company deliver the goods both in terms of passion and precision. The final session is no letdown, documenting Monroe's inauguration of another classic band (featuring Mac Wiseman and Chubby Wise). The only knock against this set is that 16 of its 40 tracks are alternate takes. Though these performances are fine, this peculiar editing decision means that many of Monroe's master takes from this era remain hard to find.
