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This record is a singular anomaly. It's a group of incredible
musicians who have gotten together to record some of the most
famous of Jimmy Martin tracks, polish them up, and release
them for the world to rediscover the talent that Jimmy really
was. Sometimes shadowed by the more well known bluegrass acts,
such as Bill Monroe or Ralph Stanley, Jimmy Martin
was one of the few musicians that took bluegrass and delivered
it to the masses, sometimes thru others, and sometimes thru his
own recordings. This tribute is a fitting introduction to the
music of Jimmy, or, for those already initiated, a great collection
of some of his most well remembered tracks.
But, that is not where the beauty of this record ends. Each of
the featured artists on these songs, at one time played with Jimmy
Martin in the Sunny Mountain Boys. We have J.D. Crowe
and Kenny Ingram playing banjo, just as good or better
than they ever did in the 1960's. There is Paul Williams
and Audie Blaylock alternately singing leads and trading
duties on mandolin. So really, this album is a tribute to not
only Martin himself, but to some of the boys that played with
him and wrote or co-wrote so many of his hits. The players are
in top form, even though they have not been highly active in the
bluegrass industry for over 30 years.
From the opening banjos of "Sophronie", the prowess
of these players is immediately obvious, and the album is kicked
off in high-energy fashion. Kenny Ingram lays down some sweet
clawhammer style banjo on "You Don't Know My Mind" while
Audie Blaylock sings away in his smooth baritone. Possibly Jimmy
Martin's most famous composition, "Losing You" is well
represented here, with dueling lead vocals and a tremendously
heartful fiddle solo, courtesy of Mike Cleveland. Other
highlights include "Doin' My Time", as made famous by
Johnny Cash, and a fantastic version of "What Would
You Give". Hearing some of these songs for the first time
in many years is very refreshing to me, once again awaking memories
of when I was a wee youngster sitting on the porch with my granddad
after a good day of work out in the pasture. And you can't think
of Jimmy Martin without thinking of "I'm Thinking Tonight
Of My Blue Eyes", and that song is very well represented
here, featuring a tremendously clear vocal performance by Paul
Williams, and some great signature J.D. Crowe banjo picking.
When it comes down to it, this is simply great bluegrass music,
played by some great bluegrass players. Near encyclopedic in
its choice of songs, this album is a fantastic sampling of classic
bluegrass tunes for the aged devotee or for the new-to-bluegrass
listener. The spirit of the album as a tribute to Jimmy Martin
only sweetens the deal.
-Embo Blake
Track Listing:
1. Sonny Osborne Introduction
2. Sophronie
3. You Don't Know My Mind
4. Losing You
5. There Ain't Nobody Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone
6. She's Left Me Again
7. Doin' My Time
8. I Cried Again
9. Home Run Man
10. Ocean Of Diamonds
11. God Guide Our Leader's Hand
12. What Would You Give In Exchange
13. I Like To Hear 'Em Preach
14. Hold Whatcha got
15. My Walkin' Shoes
16. Steppin' stones
17. I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes
18. Tennessee
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Tribute
To Jimmy Martin "The King Of Bluegrass"
