From: maddogonbanjo@verizon.net   
      
   Please add a url for this Amazon stuff, thanks.   
      
    wrote in message   
   news:1105427423.989368.143320@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...   
   > There is a great new box set out that I have reviewed for Amazon (below   
   > is a shortened version of that review).  It is titled "The Best Of King   
   > And Starday Bluegrass."   
   >   
   > Amazon is selling this box set for about $54 but they have a link to a   
   > used vendor that is selling new copies for about $36 (and that vendor   
   > is Collectors' Choice Music, a reputable mail order/Internet vendor).   
   > County Sales is selling this box for $45.   
   >   
   > One thing I don't note in the review is that the recordings here of   
   > "Choo Choo Coming" and "Carolina Mountain Home" predate the Stanley   
   > Brothers' versions.  For those who have never heard this 1961 version   
   > of "Trouble Round My Door," it alone is worth $36.   
   >   
   > Todd A. Gracyk   
   > Petaluma, CA   
   > tag9@pge.com   
   >   
   > Wonderful Box Set Of Classic Bluegrass (Features 40 Artists)   
   >   
   > For fans of hardcore, traditional bluegrass music this box set is a   
   > must!  Bluegrass recordings on the King and Starday labels from the   
   > early 1950s and on through the early 1970s are among the very best of   
   > the era and this box set provides an outstanding overview of the music   
   > that appeared on these 2 labels during that time period.   
   >   
   > The King and Starday labels have a complex history that doesn't need to   
   > be explored in depth here (there is a good description of their history   
   > in this box set's booklet).  The labels were acquired by the Gusto   
   > label in the 1970s.  The Gusto family also includes budget labels like   
   > Hollywood and Deluxe.   
   >   
   > This box set contains 100 sides by 40 artists.  No artist is featured   
   > on less than 2 titles or on more than 6 titles.  The 28 page booklet   
   > has excellent notes by Gary B. Reid regarding the labels, the artists,   
   > and the song sources.  It is nicely laid out with many fine   
   > photographs.  Recording dates and listing of musicians are included.   
   >   
   > The folks at King/Starday/Gusto have been issuing many of the better   
   > King and Starday bluegrass recordings in both budget releases and   
   > comprehensive packages.  The comprehensive packages include the   
   > complete King and Starday recordings of the Stanley Brothers (a total   
   > of 8 CDs in 2 box sets), Don Reno & Red Smiley's earliest King sides   
   > from 1952 to 1959 (a 4 CD box set that also includes 4 Federal label   
   > sides waxed with Tommy Magness in 1950), Ralph Stanley's complete   
   > output on King (3 CDs), Jim Eanes' complete Starday work (2 CDs), the   
   > Country Gentlemen's complete Starday work (2 CDs), Buzz Busby's   
   > complete Starday work (a single CD that also contains tracks by Bill   
   > Harrell and by Bill Emerson), Jim & Jesse's complete Starday work (a   
   > single CD), Don Reno & Red Smiley's great 1960 album "Wanted" (a single   
   > CD), a nice Hylo Brown anthology of 1960s Starday sides (a single CD),   
   > and a great compilation of 3 King/Starday artists titled "Cabin On A   
   > Mountain" (a single CD featuring Jimmy Martin & Bob Osborne; Vern &   
   > Ray; and the Stoneman Family).  This box set contains selections from   
   > all of he above releases plus much, much more.   
   >   
   > For those who have already bought the above mentioned collections there   
   > is still plenty of new material here.  Of that, I am especially pleased   
   > with sides by Charlie Moore (as a soloist), Charlie Moore & Bill   
   > Napier; Red Allen & Frank Wakefield; Connie & Joe; Leon Jackson &   
   > Johnny Bryant; the Flat Mountain Boys, the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers, the   
   > Kentucky Travelers, the Wright Brothers, Jimmie Williams & Red Ellis;   
   > Bill Harrell (as a soloist), Don Reno & Bill Harrell; and Larry Sparks.   
   > Not quite as enjoyable to me, but interesting all the same, are sides   
   > by Wade Mainer, J.E. Mainer, Mac O'Dell, The Lewis Family, Bill & Mary   
   > Reid; Carl Story, Bill Duncan & The Harmony Mountain Boys; Bill   
   > Clifton, The Easter Brother & The Green Valley Quartet; Shannon Grayson   
   > & His Golden Valley Boys; J.D. Crowe & The New South; II Generation,   
   > and New Grass Revival.   
   >   
   > Favorite songs?  Too many to list!  But "desert island" picks include   
   > "A Heart Never Knows," "Backslider," "Blue Eyed Darling," "Cabin On A   
   > Mountain," "Carolina Mountain Home," "Choo Choo Coming," "Cold And   
   > Windy Night," "Down Where The Still Waters Flow," "Dreaming," "Going Up   
   > Home To Live In Green Pastures," "Goodbye And So Long To You," "Goodbye   
   > Little Darlin'," "Home Is Where The Heart Is," "How Mountain Girls Can   
   > Love," "I Only Exist," "I Wouldn't Change You If I Could," "Love Please   
   > Come Home" (2 versions), "My Lonely Heart," "Reno Bound," "Think Of   
   > What You've Done," "Toils, Tears, And Trouble," "Trouble Round My   
   > Door," "Welcome Home," "What Can I Do," and "When I Safely Reach That   
   > Other Shore."   
   >   
   > In summary, this box set is essential for fans of classic bluegrass   
   > music.  For those new to bluegrass music, it serves as an excellent,   
   > affordable introduction to many great artists in their prime.   
   >   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)