Search - Sam Bush :: Circles Around Me

Sam Bush
Circles Around Me
Genres: Country, Pop

Track Listings (14) - Disc #1
1. Circles Around Me
2. Diamond Joe
3. You Left Me Alone
4. The Old North Woods
5. Roll on Buddy, Roll On
6. The Ballad of Springbean & Estelle
7. Blue Mountain
8. Out on the Ocean
9. Gold Heart Locket
10. Junior Heywood
11. Midnight on the Stormy Deep
12. Apple Blossom
13. Souvenir Bottles
14. Whisper My Name

CD Details

All Artists: Sam Bush
Title: Circles Around Me
Members Wishing: 5
Total Copies: 0
Label: Sugarhill
Original Release Date: 1/1/2009
Re-Release Date: 10/20/2009
Genres: Country, Pop
Styles: Bluegrass, Outlaw Country
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 015891405520

Synopsis

Album Description

Sam Bush's eighth solo album and sixth with Sugar Hill, Circles Around Me, is an aurally inspiring mix of bluegrass favorites and complementary new songs. "I don't know why, but it felt right at this moment in my life to go back and revisit some things that I've loved all my life, which is bluegrass and, unapologetically, newgrass," says Bush. "After all these years of experimenting--and there's experimentation on this record too--I've come full circle." Produced by three-time GRAMMY® winner Bush, the 14-song set includes appearances by Del McCoury, Edgar Meyer, Jerry Douglas and, thanks to the discovery of an old demo, New Grass Revival co-founder Courtney Johnson (posthumously). The album also employs the phenomenal talent of Bush's band: Scott Vestal, Stephen Mougin, Byron House and Chris Brown.

CD Reviews

Another great album from Sam Bush

Walter Windish | 11/01/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although I don't always agree with all his lyrics, I always enjoy his material. I've got all the Newgrass stuff on vinyl and am a fan of the mandolin.

Speaking of vinyl, the tune "Apple Blossom" was recorded in 1976 and features a duet between Sam on Fiddle and the late Newgrass Revival banjo man Courtney Johnson. It's a short, but sweet instrumental, followed directly, on track 13 with "Souvenir Bottles," which first appeared on their 1979 album "Barren County." This 8+ minute version has a great guitar, banjo, mandolin solo. Sweet.

The title track is a nice mellow piece. "Diamond Joe" starts off like "8 More Miles to Louisville," but is a nice up tempo vocal. "You left me alone" has got some nice banjo/mando work in the context of an upbeat broken-heart song. "The Old North Woods" is a 4 minute sweat instrumental with nice banjo and mandolin lines and a bowed cello adding a bit of extra mellow.

"The Ballad of Stringbean and Estelle" is a mournful ballad telling the story of the murder of banjo man David "Stringbean" Akeman and his wife in 1973, as they were shot upon his return home from a gig at the Opry.

Having a soft spot for the mandolin, "Blue Mountain" is a great fast-paced tune with lots of great mando work. Scott Vestal and Stephen Mougin are no slouches on banjo and guitar either!

The rest of the tunes are worthwhile as well. Not a clunker on the disc.

Oh yeah, after the 2:24 last song "Whisper my Name," keep listening for another 30 seconds and you'll be treated to four minutes of Hot Tomales! Enjoy."

Primo Sammy

Cain Knobel | Colorado | 10/21/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The short review of "Circles Around Me" is this release is newgrass through and through and sounds as much like classic Sam Bush. Never mind the jazz/rock numbers of the past couple CDs, they were good, this music is where Sam's heart lives even it likes to stray from time to time. This release is to be added to "Howlin' At the Moon" and "Glamour and Grits" to the must haves in the Sam Bush library. Every track, from the instrumentals that are bit more progressive, to the Monroe covers are worthy of many listens. It's good the King has found his way back home."