Search - Tony Rice :: Guitar

Tony Rice was and is THE MAN!

12/09/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tony plays his signature licks for the first time on his own recording. This recording is one of the reasons he is the most copied guitar player ever. Backed up by pros like J.D Crowe and Bobby Sloane along with his brother Larry, Tony stretches out for the first time and he stretches WAY out compared to the playing of the day (other than Clarence all we had were leads by people like Carter Stanley). This CD is truly a guitar player's dream. When you hear it you will either sell your guitar because you know there is no hope or you will practice your tail off to try to capture just a little of Tony's tone. Like my brother, this was introduced to me as a youngster and I have spent my entire life since hearing this recording trying to copy a little of that tone. No other recording has ever hit me like this one, it changed my life. This is the best acoustic guitar CD ever (except for another one or two of Tony's) Buy it and be thankful Tony let you hear it!!!"

Classic Tony

01/10/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In this early solo recording, Tony blazes the fretboard with his signature licks that would set the new standard for flatpickers to come. From the opening bluesy licks of Freeborn Man, the Clarence White influenced Faded Love, standards like Salt Creek, John Hardy and Nine Pound Hammer and the extended jam of Lonesome Reuben this CD is a must have for all bluegrass fans. The banjo of JD Crowe and mando of Larry Rice are excellent with both using some very bluesy licks throughout. One thing very noticeable is the high voice in which Tony sings. On later albums he sang in more of a baritone which is natural for him. I heard that the reason he has had voice problems in recent years was from the strain of singing forced early in his career."

This stunning album shows promise of what's to come

J. Allen Bull | 11/28/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is, I believe, the first solo recording by Tony Rice. As such, it is somewhat unrefined, (particularly in terms of recording techniques) especially compared to his later work, but this does not matter. I remember discovering this album in high school (thanks to a benevolent uncle) and being completely amazed by what I heard. I had heard bluegrass guitar pickers before, but Tony's combination of phenomenal technique, exquisite tone, and hard-core bluegrass combined with spectacular jazz licks completely redefined what I thought of as guitar playing. My opinion hasn't changed for 20 years. Tony's performance of the "Freeborn Man" is absolutely incredible, as are his renditions of "Windy and Warm", on which he also plays bass, and his version of "Lonesome Reuben", which is long in minutes and seconds but is still not long enough. Variation after variation pour forth from the old Martin, and it seems like Tony could have gone on all day were it not for the limitations of the vinyl LP album. This album is a mandatory part of the collection of anyone who is a guitar fan. There is no better flatpicker than Tony Rice -- and this is only his first album!"