» Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
- Will the Circle Be Unbroken (30th Anniversary Edition) [REMASTERED]
An unexpected but well-deserved success
When the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band embarked on this project, they invited Bill Monroe to take part but he declined. He regretted that decision once he heard the album, which took him and everybody else by surprise. While Bill was absent, other top country and bluegrass singers and musicians participated. These included Mother Maybelle Carter, Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, Roy Acuff, Merle Travis and
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Peter Durward Harris
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Jimmy Martin. Nobody intended that a triple LP would be released but all the participants had so much fun recording together that they recorded a lot more material than they originally intended. It did not please the record label management, who were doubtful that an album of bluegrass and old-time country music could sell at all. Nevertheless, they agreed to release the album as a triple LP and it eventually sold over three million copies in America, possibly because it was so different from anything else around at the time.Many of the songs and instrumentals are covers, especially of songs already associated with one or other of the participants. The Carter Family songbook is represented by Keep on the sunny side, You are my flower, Wabash Cannonball, I'm thinking tonight of my blue eyes, Wildwood flower and the title track. Merle Travis contributed Dark as a dungeon, Nine pound hammer, Cannonball rag, and I am a pilgrim. Earl Scruggs contributed Nashville blues, Flint Hill special and Earl's breakdown. Roy Acuff revived some of his own hits including The precious jewel, Pins and needles and Wreck on the highway. Fans of Hank Williams will recognize I saw the light, Honky tonking, I saw the light and Honky tonk blues. Another famous song is Orange blossom special, but my favorites here are Grand Old Opry song (which may be an original song) and Tennessee stud, a cover of a Jimmy Driftwood song.
It is clear that everybody had a lot of fun making this album, which remains the greatest triumph in the long career of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. If you enjoy this album, remember that the group recorded two further Circle albums, each with their own distinctive character.
Peter Durward Harris
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