Del McCoury
Del McCoury
Del McCoury "Del McCoury Sings Bluegrass" (Arhoolie, 1968)
Del McCoury "I Wonder Where You Are Tonight" (Arhoolie, 1968/2002)
Del McCoury's very first recordings as a solo leader of his own band, working 'way up in the wastelands of the Northeastern USA... Along for the ride are bassist Dewey Renfro and banjo picker Bill Emerson (who is always a welcome presence on any bluegrass outing...) It's solid, rollicking, old-fashioned true-bluegrass made after McCoury's stint as a banjo plunker and guitarist with Bill Monroe's band, and it's very much in keeping with the classic Monroe "high lonesome" style. You can also hear McCoury's individual voice emerging, loud and clear, and even though these are early recordings made when he was really only a semiprofessional bandleader, you can easily understand how McCoury would become a major force on the bluegrass scene. Recommended!
Del McCoury "Collector's Special" (Grassound, 1971)
Del McCoury "Livin' On The Mountain" (Rebel, 1971)
Del McCoury "High On A Mountain" (Rounder, 1972)
Del McCoury "Del McCoury & The Dixie Pals" (Renovah, 1975)
Del McCoury "Live In Japan" (Copper Creek, 1980)
Del McCoury "Don't Stop The Music" (Rounder, 1988)
Del McCoury "My Dixie Home" (Rebel, 1990/2001)
Another rock-solid traditional bluegrass album, with one great song after another. Standouts include the sizzling title track, a murder ballad called "Eli Renfro," and "J.D. Jones," which updates old bootlegger stories for the '90s. What more can be said? This is great! (PS - the CD reissue includes a new, holiday-oriented track: "Call Collect On Christmas," a real tearjerker if ever there was one...)
Del McCoury "Blue Side Of Town" (Rounder, 1992)
Del McCoury "Deeper Shade Of Blue" (Rounder, 1993)
Del McCoury "Cold Hard Facts" (Rounder, 1996)
Doc Watson/Del McCoury/Mac Wiseman "Del, Doc & Mac" (Sugar Hill, 1998)
A swell collaboration between three of the most authentic, most moving, and most important traditional artists in the bluegrass/old-timey firmament. Each takes his turn singing, with accompaniment that is nothing less than stellar, and the results are precious and magical... Doc is sounding kind of old on here, but still drenched with soulfulness and warmth... And Del, of course, is rock solid. A very nice record... highly recommended!
Del McCoury "Family" (Ceili Music/Skaggs Family, 1999)
Del McCoury & Steve Earle "The Mountain" (E Squared, 1999)
Del McCoury "Del And The Boys" (Skaggs Family, 2001)
Flat-out, one of the best roots records you're going to come across, be it bluegrass, country, or folk. McCoury continues along in his country-flavored tradtionalism, a sound reminiscent of Jimmy Martin's glory years -- the band blazes away, and McCoury sings with unshakable emotion and conviction. The music is "modernized" by the introduction of new material into the bluegrass canon, but the music is solid high lonesome... One of the most electrifying moments on this new disc is a killer cover version of British folkie Richard Thompson's "1952 Vincent Black Lightning," an absolutely brilliant inter-genre move on McCoury's part... It's also a very moving song, in Del's ever-capable hands. The rest of the album is stunning as well: solid picking and great production. HIGHLY recommended!
Del McCoury "Del McCoury Sings Bluegrass" (Arhoolie, 1968)
Del McCoury "Del McCoury Sings Bluegrass" (Arhoolie, 1968)
Del McCoury "It's Just The Night" (McCoury Music, 2003)
Del McCoury "The Company We Keep" (McCoury Music, 2005)
Del McCoury "The Promised Land" (McCoury Music, 2006)
Del and the boys doing an all-gospel album? I am so in!
Del McCoury "High, Lonesome & Blue" (Rounder, 2004)
A tasty best-of set drawing on his Rounder years... (Terrible artwork, though... What were they thinking??)
Ronnie & Rob McCoury "Ronnie & Rob McCoury" (Rounder, 1995)
The solo "debut" of Ronnie and Robbie, the mandolin pickin' and banjo-plunkin' progeny of truegrass elder, Del McCoury. Of course, these young'uns are long-seasoned performers, having played for years in their dad's band, but it's nice to hear the younger generation setting out on their own. Basically, this is a nice strong album, solidly rooted in tradition and full of good-natured, cheerful old-time twang. Some songs, particularly a few instrumentals, lack the drive and intensity of Del's best work, but even if these fellas sometimes sound more like the Osborne Brothers than their old man, that's still mighty fine company to keep.
Ronnie McCoury "Heartbreak Town" (Rounder, 2000)
Not straying far from the path laid down by his dad, Ronnie McCoury -- along with brother Rob, bassist Mike Bub, fiddlers Jason Carter and Stuart Duncan, guest pickers Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas and David Grisman, as well as Papa Del -- has definitely got the real goods, and that true, blue high lonesome sound. Nice choice of material as well, including a Hoyt Axton tune, one by John Hartford's son, Jamie Hartford, and a slew of amazingly well-written originals. A relaxed, low-key album, but also a dazzler.
Parmley & McCoury "Families Of Tradition" (??)
Ronnie & Robbie McCoury partner up with David and Don Parmley for a sweet set of truegrass tunes... (Available through the Del McCoury website, below...)
