Dayton to Knoxville: 1949-1952

• Artist: The Osborne Brothers
• Rating:
• Release Date: January 01, 2000
• Total Time: 43:35
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Country

Review

Before they plugged their mandolin and banjo into guitar amps, before they hired a drummer and basically served as godfathers of the progressive bluegrass movement that took off the in '60s, Bobby and Sonny Osborne led a straight-ahead bluegrass band that had more in common with Flatt & Scruggs than with stylistic descendants like the New Grass Revival (or even the Country Gentlemen). The second disc in this four-volume series documents the group's early years, when their repertoire leaned heavily towards Louvin Brothers songs and crowd-pleasing patriotic novelty tunes. On this program, the latter are represented by "Alabama" and the rather maudlin "Wrap My Body in Old Glory When I Go," neither of which is a bad song, but both of which are just a bit over the top lyrically. The Louvin material includes excellent versions of "Seven Year Blues" and "I'm Gonna Love You One More Time." But the best tracks on this disc are the last two, both of them featuring the young Jimmy Martin on lead vocals and guitar. These two selections, "Can't You Hear Jerusalem Mourn" and "Across the Sea Blues," are demo recordings salvaged from beat-up acetate transfers, and the sound quality is abysmal. But the performances are spectacular -- Martin's voice is at its piercing best, and the blend he achieves with Bobby Osborne is hair-raising. Most of this album will be of primary interest to bluegrass historians, but those last two tracks will be worth the price of the album to any bluegrass lover. ~ Rick Anderson, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Y'all Come	Arlie Duff	Osborne Brothers	(2:22)
My Tears Don't Show	Carl Butler	Osborne Brothers	(2:33)
I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blues Eyes	Traditional	Osborne Brothers	(3:08)
Take My Ring from Your Finger	Ira Louvin, Charlie Louvin	Osborne Brothers	(2:26)
Alabama	Eddie Hill, Ira Louvin, Charlie Louvin	Osborne Brothers	(2:47)
Wrap My Body in Old Glory When I Go	Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith	Osborne Brothers	(2:27)
Seven Year Blues	Ira Louvin, Charlie Louvin	Osborne Brothers	(2:17)
I'm Gonna Love You One More Time	Ira Louvin, Charlie Louvin	Osborne Brothers	(2:33)
Is It Too Late Now?	Lester Flatt, Jimmie Davis	Osborne Brothers	(2:28)
I Wonder Where You Are Tonite	Johnny Bond	Osborne Brothers	(2:49)
Little Rosewood Casket	Traditional	Osborne Brothers	(3:34)
Love Is a Danger		Osborne Brothers	(3:17)
I Cried Again	Autry Inman	Osborne Brothers	(2:49)
I'm Waiting to Hear You Call Me Darling	Lester Flatt, Chuck Johnson	Osborne Brothers	(2:33)
Can't You Hear Jerusalem Mourn	Traditional	Osborne Brothers	(2:16)
Across the Sea Blues	Jimmy Martin	Osborne Brothers	(3:16)

Credits

Bobby Osborne (Vocals), John Eberle (Mastering), Terry Eldredge (Vocal Harmony), Rebecca Pittard (Art Direction), Bobby Osborne (Tenor (Vocal)), Tom Riggs (Executive Producer), Sonny Osborne (Producer), Sonny Osborne (Guitjo), Ben Surratt (Mixing), Sonny Osborne (Baritone (Vocal)), Sonny Osborne (Vocal Harmony), Ben Surratt (Engineer), Bobby Osborne (Arranger), Sonny Osborne (Photo Courtesy), Terry Smith (Bass), Jimmy Martin (Guitar), Steve Chandler (Engineer), Terry Eldredge (Guitar), Tom Riggs (Concept), Charlie Cline (Banjo), Jimmy Martin (Vocals), Steve Chandler (Mixing), Tom Riggs (Liner Notes), Sonny Osborne (Banjo), Bobby Osborne (Mandolin), Sonny Osborne (Concept), Glen Duncan (Fiddle), Gene Wooten (Guitar (Resonator)), Rebecca Pittard (Design), Sonny Osborne (Arranger), Kathy Bowen (Production Coordination), Sonny Osborne (Vocals), Eddie Stubbs (Liner Notes), Curley Ray Cline (Fiddle), Merle "Red" Taylor (Fiddle), Bobby Osborne (Vocal Harmony), Terry Eldredge (Vocals), Gene Wooten (Vocals), Ernie Newton (Bass), Rebecca Pittard (Guitjo)