Some say that the overwhelming success of the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack album led to the most recent resurgence of Bluegrass music, but that's simply not so. Bluegrass had been growing in popularity for several years as America went in search of it's roots. Generations unborn at the time bluegrass originated in the 1940s have discovered that no music is more satisfying to hear or to play. It is, in many respects, all American music rolled into one. In 1955 Uncle Jim O'Neal started Rural Rhythm with a few dollars and lot of dreams. He knew he couldn't produce all the bluegrass and oldtime country records, so as he used to say, he just "made the best of it". On this 25 song "Best Of" collection, we hear the traditional side of bluegrass played by some of it's finest legends in bluegrass such as Mac Wiseman, Reno & Smiley, Don Reno, Red Smiley, Hylo Brown, Bill Harrell, Earl Taylor, Tater Tate, Jim Greer, and more culled from the treasure trove of over 4,000 recorded masters produced over the past 60 years by Rural Rhythm Records.

Tracklist:

Shady Grove - Red Smiley ; the Bluegrass Cut-Ups 01:14
Foggy Mountain Top - Earl Taylor ; Jim McCall, the Stoney Mountain Boys 02:10
Lonesome Road Blues - Hylo Brown, Timberliners 02:08
I'm a Man of Constant Sorrow - Don Reno, Bill Harrell, the Tennessee Cut-Ups 02:09
Sally Goddin' - Tater Tate, Red Smiley ; the Bluegrass Cut-Ups 01:01
Over in Gloryland - Mac Wiseman 01:45
Rolling in My Sweet Baby's Arms - the Frosty Mountain Boys, Raymond Fairchild 01:30
Take This Hammer - Red Smiley ; the Bluegrass Cut-Ups 01:53
Little John Henry - Hylo Brown, Timberliners 02:52 1
Worried Man Blues - Don Reno, Bill Harrell, the Tennessee Cut-Ups 02:04 1
Kansas City Railroad Blues - Don Reno, Red Smiley, the Tennessee Cut-Ups 01:49 1
Where You Gonna Hide ? - Earl Taylor ; Jim McCall, the Stoney Mountain Boys 01:28 1
Rabbit in the Log - the Frosty Mountain Boys, Raymond Fairchild 01:24 1
The Tie That Bind - Jim Greer ; the Mac-O-Chee Valley Folks 01:57 1
Pretty Polly - Earl Taylor ; Jim McCall, the Stoney Mountain Boys 01:43 1
Little Maggie - Red Smiley ; the Bluegrass Cut-Ups 01:07 1
Cotton Eyed Joe - Mac Martin ; His Dixie Travelers 01:20 1
Working on a Building - Hylo Brown, Timberliners 01:33 1
John Hardy - Jim Greer ; the Mac-O-Chee Valley Folks 02:01 2
Salty Dog Blues - Red White ; the Dixie Blue Grass Band 01:51 2
Cripple Creek - the Frosty Mountain Boys, Raymond Fairchild 01:51 2
Rock About My Sarah Jane - Red Smiley ; the Bluegrass Cut-Ups 01:12 2
Old Joe Clark - Earl Taylor ; Jim McCall, the Stoney Mountain Boys 01:49 2
Keep on the Sunny Side - Don Reno, Bill Harrell, the Tennessee Cut-Ups 01:54 2
Sitting on Top of the World - Hylo Brown 02:34

UPC: 732351050129
Label: Rural Rhythm
Release Date: 8.19.16
Format: CD

Essential Bluegrass - 25 Classics / Various - Essential Bluegrass - 25 Classics / Various (CD)