Comedian, actor, author, and banjo player Steve Martin releases his first musical recording since 1978's number 1 hit "King Tut." This is no novelty record though. It's some of the best banjo music to come down the pike in... more » a long time. The Crow features able assistance from some of Steve's pals, including Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Earl Scruggs, Bela Fleck, Tim O'Brien and Mary Black. Martin wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on this album, creating a new body of work that will stand alongside the classics for years to come.« less
Comedian, actor, author, and banjo player Steve Martin releases his first musical recording since 1978's number 1 hit "King Tut." This is no novelty record though. It's some of the best banjo music to come down the pike in a long time. The Crow features able assistance from some of Steve's pals, including Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Earl Scruggs, Bela Fleck, Tim O'Brien and Mary Black. Martin wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on this album, creating a new body of work that will stand alongside the classics for years to come.
Nancy G. (Zelda777) from LOUISVILLE, KY Reviewed on 7/6/2011...
Bought this out of curiosity, but I was wonderfully surprised. It is a top notch album. Steve Martin is an awesome banjo player and the selections are interesting and varied. The liner notes and graphics are delightful and charming. If you love bluegrass or any type of banjo music, this is a 'must have.' I did not find it boring...at all, in any shape or form or way.
Michelle S. (Chelly10s) from W HOLLYWOOD, CA Reviewed on 12/3/2009...
Cool because it's Steve Martin's life's work on the banjo, but in general, it's a little boring. Pretty flowers is an excellent song, though.
2 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.
CD Reviews
Who knew he could write this stuff?
D. Steiner | Allenspark, CO USA | 01/29/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Martin wrote 14 of the 15 songs on this album. If you like original banjo music, this is for you. Martin had help from Vince Gill, Earl Scruggs, Dolly Parton, Mary Black, Tony Trischka, Tim O'Brien and Pete Wrenick. It was produced by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's John McEuen, a high school friend of Martin's. You can get this as a download from Amazon, but you will miss out on the 24 page book by Martin about the recording, the ensemble and his long relationship with the 5-string banjo. Forty-three minutes of great stuff."
A Wild And Crazy Album
Shell-Zee | Long Island, NY | 01/30/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Comedian, actor, novelist, playwright and all around fool Steve Martin takes off his rabbit ears, removes the arrow from his head and picks up his banjo and wails. Yes, move over John Hartford, John McEuen and Earl Scruggs. Steve can really play with the best of 'em. And he's smart enough to surround himself with some of the finest country and bluegrass muscians around; Vince Gill, Dolly Parton, John McEuen and Earl Scruggs to name just a few. Like comedian Woody Allen who shows off his Dixiland chops on clarinet, Steve Martin demonstrates his outstanding Bluegrass prowess on the five string banjo...A virtuoso indeed and equally impressive his songwriting is absolutely first rate.
Honestly, this collection could easily have been recorded by the late-great John Hartford. It's just that colorful, warm and humorous. Several compositions, "Tin Roof", "Words Unspoken" and "Wally On The Run" sound as if they were recorded during John's legendary "Aeroplane" sessions. And the lovely "Blue River Waltz" has that same haunting lilt as "Untangle Your Mind", an early John Hartford composition. OK, Steve you can put the arrow back on your head now, get into your happy feet routine and show off your wild and crazy persona. Just don't be a "JERK". Don't put the banjo down. You've got so much more to say with it."
This music is so good, it deserves an honest week's pay for
Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 02/04/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo showcases Steve Martin's exceptional ability to perform very fine, bluegrass music often with some rather complicated arrangements as he plays the banjo and sings his heart out. This album gives us some great numbers and the guest appearances on the CD only make it even better--not that Steve Martin needed backup but it sounds wonderful anyway. The quality of the sound is quite good and the artwork is excellent. I also like that it comes with an extremely informative and well written booklet; and the fact that Steve Martin wrote almost all of the songs on this CD impresses me very much.
"Daddy Played the Banjo" starts the CD very well; Steve's voice never sounded better and the melody is actually rather pretty. "Daddy Played the Banjo" is a strong start for this CD and that's grand. Earl Scruggs also plays on "Daddy Played The Piano." "Hoedown at Alice's" also boasts a catchy melody and Steve plays that banjo very well. He handles the tempo and key changes like a pro and "Hoedown at Alice's" is a highlight of this album. Listen also for "Late for School;" "Late for School" has Steve singing somewhat out of pace with the tempo of the music and so I really admire "Late for School."
"Words Unspoken" is yet another highlight of this excellent album; the music is very well done and the melody is again very pleasing to the ear. "Wally on the Run" has a rather fast tempo and it places Steve squarely front and center in the spotlight--right where he belongs! "Wally on the Run" is an excellent number.
"Clawhammer Medley" is also very good; and I especially like "Banana Banjo." "Banana Banjo" strikes me with its fine melody and the banjo sounds great along with the string work in the musical arrangement. The CD even ends strong with "The Crow;" this is a memorable tune and it leaves you wanting more.
With all this fine music I can't help but admit that I wish the CD lasted a bit longer; but quality is what you get on this album if bluegrass music is your thing. Who knew Steve Martin could play the banjo so well? Again, I'm very impressed. Of course, Steve gets great help from Vince Gill, Dolly Parton, Mary Black, actor Eugene Levy and, as I noted above, Earl Scruggs--just to name a few!
I highly recommend this for bluegrass fans; and maybe fans of country and even other types of music will appreciate this CD as well. I truly hope that Steve Martin releases another album like this one very soon.
Thank you, Steve!
"
"The most expensive banjo album in the history of the univer
T. Fisher | 09/09/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I owe a great debt to Steve Martin's banjo playing. When I was 11 I heard his first comedy album, "Let's Get Small" and its tantalizing banjo tidbits -- like his impression of a banjo-playing Richard Nixon performing "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" on the tarmac after arriving in China. I was so impressed that I asked my parents for a banjo for Christmas. In later years I started playing guitar and ukulele, as well. I can quite literally say that Steve Martin put the gift of music in my life -- thank you, Steve!
Despite my permanent soft spot for Steve Martin's banjo playing, however, I can still say objectively that this is a really good record. It is also, Martin insists in the liner notes, "the most expensive banjo album in the history of the universe." That should count for something!
The record makes it perfectly clear that he can not only play the banjo -- he can write music as well. The quality of the tunes would do most professional bluegrass musicians very proud indeed.
Still, I held off on buying this record for a long time, because I was concerned some material might be recycled from his earlier LP The Steve Martin Brothers. Side 1 (of the original vinyl LP) featured Steve Martin the wild-and-crazy standup comedian, while Side 2 was by Steve Martin the denim-clad hippie-freak banjo warrior.
Many of the tunes on this CD were indeed included on that earlier album, but the versions here are new, with completely different recordings. Where the earlier album had some pretty wild, outside-the-box bluegrass arrangements for banjo and flute, this new CD is usually more traditional in instrumentation -- lots of guitar and mandolin breaks, for example.
One cool exception is "Saga of the Old West", which Martin says was inspired in part by Ravi Shankar. The middle break really does push the envelope with a sitar-style banjo groove, with tablas and Indian-sounding woodwinds coming in for the end. Pretty far-out thinking that betrays Steve Martin's 1960s roots.
I have only two gripes about the record. First, it is too short -- total CD run time 43:26! I know this is longer than Flatt & Scruggs' Foggy Mountain Banjo, but come on, Steve. Second, the tracks featuring vocals (four of them, out of 15 total) work less well for me than the instrumental tracks.
Also, I would recommend the CD instead of the MP3 download because you get a very cool 24-page booklet written by Steve Martin and explaining fun facts about each of the tracks. It's great all around!
"
Oh Steve, Why Did You Wait So Long?
kjenfan | United States | 05/26/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Steve Martin's banjo playing was always one of my favorite parts of his comedy routines. You could tell he was really good at it, but of course, the laughs always overshadowed the banjo playing.
Looks like that little 'glitch' has been corrected at last. With "The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo" Martin wows us with one fine piece of strumming after another. The music is joyous, infectious, emotional -- a pure pleasure to listen to.
The CD starts out strong with Tim O'Brien's fine vocals on "Daddy Played the Banjo". But it's the sentiment that Martin and the legendary Earl Scruggs put into the banjo playing that makes this song shine. And then, a jaw-droppingly fast "Pitkin County Turnaround" gets everybody's toes a-tappin'. One great song after another. "Hoedown at Alice's" takes me back to a simpler era in time. You can't help but break out into a grin while listening to this.
And of course, there is the beautiful "Pretty Flowers". Having Vince Gill and Dolly Parton as vocalists on your album can never hurt! This is lovely. Another very pleasant surprise is the inclusion of Irish legend Mary Black (and one of my all-time favorite singers) on "Calico Train".
"Clawhammer Medley" lets the listener experience the depth of Martin's talent as he shows his mastery of a five-finger playing style known as clawhammer. Great tune.
I could go on, but you get the idea. Considering how few people seem to have been aware that he is an exceptionally talented banjo player, I'd say the last laugh is on Steve.
FANTASTIC album. I can't recommend it highly enough.
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1
Nancy G. (Zelda777) from LOUISVILLE, KY 
Michelle S. (Chelly10s) from W HOLLYWOOD, CA 
