Search - The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band :: Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy

One of the best overlooked albums of all time

mark eastman | Chapel Hill, NC USA | 05/23/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Yes, this is the Nitty Gritty's best album they ever released! When I discovered it in the early 70's, I must have played it 50 times in a couple of months (no minor feat, I had a couple of hundred lp's by that time), lent it to a friend and never saw it again. Well, I just found a mint copy among a collection I just purchased and had the pleasure of becoming reacquainted with "an old friend". Following in the tradition of Sweetheart of the Rodeo by the Byrds, Poco and Buddy Holly, among other influences diverse and many, "Uncle Charlie" is a very hard record to pigeonhole. It comebines elements of folk-rock, country, boogie and blues, old timey, bluegrass and rock 'n roll. But in each and every of it's 20+ songs (some short, some instrumental, some 3+ minutes), the band never sounded better, fresher, more at peace with themselves and the world. Highlights, all vocals, are Mr. Bojangles (the best version I've heard with due respect to Jerry Jeff Walker), Some of Shelley's Blues, Living without You, Rave On, House at Pooh Corner and my favorite on the album and maybe the best "lost" country rock song just waiting to be discovered, Propiniquity (written by Mike Nesmith along with Shelley's Blues). On side 2, you get to hear a bit of Uncle Charlie playing and talking. Somehow, his "appearance" doesn't detract from the album but seems to add to it's charm. If you like roots rock, buy this album and hear what roots rock sounded like 30 years ago."

Uncle Charlie and His Dog Teddy

Cynthia Davis | Jackson's Gap, Al United States | 09/05/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love this CD! I recommend it to everyone who loves bluegrass. It is my favorite Nitty Gritty Dirt Band album. I had the original album,from 1970, and have listened to it so much that it is absolutely wore out. Thus I found the remake on the CD and immediately purchased it. One word for this - Awesome!"

Best country album ever (tied with Nashville Skyline)

E. Green (bdylan@bu.edu) | Boston University | 04/30/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"OK...so obviously I'm a Dylan fan, but that doesn't negate the act that this is the best country album ever. ohmygod...I mean, there are like 22 tracks on Uncle Charlie, and each and every one of them is immenently listenable. "Bojangles," (best version ever, by the way) "Shelley's Blue" and "Santa Rosa," just for started. Plus, Ibbotson and the rest of the Dirt Band sounded heavenly on the album, their voices as sweet as silky summer air. Everyone should own this album. It is the Good Book of country."