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