Various Artists - Appalachian Stomp: Bluegrass Classics

Like many Rhino compilations, this is geared more to the novice or the casual fan than the aficionado, but that's not a criticism. If someone wants a basic primer of the bluegrass sound past and present that manages to be accessible and avoid unduly clichéd track selection, this 18-song compilation fits the bill well. Most of the biggest names are here (Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, the Dillards, the Stanley Brothers, the Kentucky Colonels, J.D. Crowe, Ricky Skaggs, Alison Krauss), as are some of the genre's top standards ("Blue Moon of Kentucky," "Orange Blossom Special," "Uncle Pen," "Foggy Mountain Breakdown"). The inclusion of Flatt & Scruggs' "The Ballad of Jed Clampett," Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell's "Dueling Banjos," and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" may rankle purists, but it clears the path to listeners who are only familiar with the idiom through these songs, and may find a lot more that they'll like on the less overexposed performances on this anthology. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alice McEuen Vocals (Background) Alison Krauss Fiddle, Vocals, Performer, ? Art Stamper Fiddle Barry Poss Producer Benny Martin Fiddle Betty Travis Vocals (Background) Bil VornDick Producer Bill Baker Vocal Harmony, Fiddle, Vocals Bill Emerson Vocal Harmony, Vocals, Banjo Bill Monroe Tenor (Vocal), Vocals, Mandolin Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys Performer Bill Napier Guitar Billy Ray Banjo Blue Grass Boys Performer Bob Moore Bass Bobby Hicks Fiddle Bobby Osborne Vocals, Mandolin Bobby Slone Bass Brent Truitt Mandolin Buddy Harman Drums Carter Stanley Vocals, Guitar Charlie Cline Fiddle Charlie Waller Vocals, Vocal Harmony, Guitar Chet Flippo Vocals (Background) Chris Clarke Remastering Chris Strachwitz Producer Chubby Anthony Fiddle Clarence White Guitar Clinch Mountain Boys Performer Coco Shinomiya Artwork Curly Seckler Mandolin, Guitar Dale Sledd Vocals, Guitar Dan Hersch Remastering Dean Webb Vocals, Vocal Harmony, Mandolin Del McCoury Performer, Vocals, Guitar Dewey Renfro Bass Doc Watson Vocals (Background), Guitar Don Law Producer Doug Dillard Banjo, Vocals Earl Scruggs Banjo, Performer Ed Pearl Producer Edd Mayfield Guitar Eddie Adcock Vocals, Banjo, Vocal Harmony Emmylou Harris Vocals, Vocal Harmony Eric Weissberg Arranger, Performer, Banjo Ernie Newton Bass Foggy Mountain Boys Performer Frank Jones Producer Fred Cross Vocals (Background) George Shuffler Bass Gloria Belle Vocals (Background) Gordon Terry Fiddle Grady Martin Guitar Hal Rugg Guitar (Steel), Guitar Hargus "Pig" Robbins Piano Harry Silverstein Producer Hoke Jenkins Banjo Howard Watts Bass J.D. Crowe Performer, Banjo, Baritone (Vocal), Vocals, Producer Jake Tullock Bass James Austin Producer, Compilation Producer Jeff Hanna Vocals (Background) Jeff White Guitar, Vocals, Vocal Harmony Jerry Carrigan Drums Jerry Douglas Dobro Jesse McReynolds Mandolin, Vocals Jim Cox Bass Jim Dickson Producer Jim McReynolds Vocal Harmony, Vocals, Guitar Jim Williams Mandolin Jimmie Fadden Harp Jimmy Bond Bass Jimmy Ibbotson Vocals (Background) Jimmy Martin Guitar, Vocals, Performer Joe Allen Bass Joel Price Baritone (Vocal), Bass John Duffey Vocals, Arranger, Mandolin John McEuen Mandolin John Pennell Bass Johnny "Country" Mathis Guitar Joseph Allen Bass Ken Nelson Producer Larry Murray Vocals (Background) Lawrence Blackwell Bass Les Thompson Vocals (Background) Lester Flatt Vocals, Performer, Guitar Louise Scruggs Vocals (Background) Marc Pruett Banjo Mark A. Humphrey Liner Notes Mark Humphrey Liner Notes Martha Flippo Vocals (Background) Merle Travis Guitar Mike Carr Vocals (Background) Mike Harman Banjo, Vocal Harmony, Vocals Mike Seeger Producer Mitch Jayne Vocal Harmony, Vocals Mother Maybelle Carter Autoharp, Vocals New South Performer Osborne Brothers Performer Palmer Williams Mandolin Patrick Milligan Annotation, Liner Notes, Compilation Producer, Producer Paul Warren Fiddle Paul Williams Mandolin Pete "Oswald" Kirby Dobro Rachel Gutek Design Ralph Stanley Banjo, Tenor (Vocal), Vocals Randy Scruggs Vocals (Background) Ray Edenton Guitar Ray Martin Vocals (Background) Red Taylor Fiddle Richard Bock Producer Ricky Skaggs Producer, Vocals, Performer, Tenor (Vocal), Mandolin Rodney Dillard Guitar, Vocals Roger Bush Bass Roland White Mandolin Roy Acuff Vocals Roy Huskey Jr. Bass Rudy Lyle Banjo Sonny James Fiddle Sonny Osborne Banjo, Vocals Steve Mandell Guitar, Performer Steve Scruggs Vocals (Background) The Country Gentlemen Performer The Dillards Performer The Kentucky Colonels Performer The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Performer The Stanley Brothers Performer Thomas Hart Benton Paintings, Cover Painting Tony Rice Vocals, Guitar Tracy Schwarz Assistant Producer Vassar Clements Fiddle Victor Battista Bass Virginia Boys Performer Wayne Yates Vocals, Mandolin, Vocal Harmony William McEuen Producer