Track Listing

1. Mule Skinner Blues [Live]
2. You Won't Be Satisfied That Way [Live]
3. Uncle Pen [Live]
4. Blue Moon of Kentucky [Live]
5. Ole Slew Foot [Live]
6. Sweet Little Miss Blue Eyes [Live]
7. Please Be My Love [Live]
8. I Wish You Knew [Live]
9. Love Please Come Home [Live]
10. Train 45 (Heading South) [Live]
11. Bonny [Live]
12. When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again [Live]
13. Hit Parade of Love [Live]
14. Mary Ann [Live]
15. Sunny Side of the Mountain [Live]
16. Free Form Man [Live]
17. Tennessee [Live]
18. Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms [Live]
19. Feudin' Banjos [Live]
20. Ballad of Jed Clampett [Live]
21. Roll on Buddy, Roll On [Live]
22. I Wonder Where You Are Tonight [Live]
23. Orange Blossom Special [Live]
24. Fiddler Roll Call/Down Yonder [Live]
25. Soldier's Joy [Live]
26. Grey Eagle [Live]
27. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot [Live]

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #168341 in Music
• Released on: 1991-07-01
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
Recorded in June 1973 at the seventh annual Bill Monroe Bluegrass Festival in Indiana, Bean Blossom not only showcases Monroe's Blue Grass Boys, but also his most-famous disciples. Jim & Jesse, Jimmy Martin, and Lester Flatt, a solo act since 1969, each deliver high-quality, hard-driving traditional bluegrass before they all return to the stage for the grand finale. Although each artist is worthy of greater exploration, this zesty set serves as a useful introduction to each one's particular stylistic traits: Monroe's prototypical high, lonesome wail; Jim & Jesse's seamless brother harmonies; Martin's aggressive vocals and urgent rhythms; and Flatt's mellow, conversational phrasing. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews

It's not perfect, but you're not either
At times exhilarating, at times frustrating, this recording of the huge Bill Monroe Bluegrass Festival from 1973 must have been like a hayseed Woodstock. Huge acts, including Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys, Lester Flatt and the Nashville Grass, Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys, Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys, James Monroe and the Midnight Ramblers, and literally a dozen fiddlers all showed up, in fine form, playing and singing what have become bluegrass classics like Uncle Pen, the Sunny Side of the Mountain, Free Born Man, the Ballad of Jed Clampett, Ole Slew Foot, and about 20 more. Hampered (like every festival I've ever attended) by poor sound quality at times, the recording preserves all the onstage banter, the introductions, and the glitches along with the amazing musicianship and tight, 'high lonesome' harmonies. The closest thing to attending a bluegrass festival with an all-star cast short of buying a ticket and going - although you're too late for Bill Monroe, who's now singing tenor harmony with Elvis.

Heavenly
I am happy to say that I was at Beanblossom to see this as it was being recorded. Although there was some of the Grant Turner-type encouragement from the wings to get the audience to applaud at just the right times, it was, simply, a gathering of giants. They're almost all gone. Bill, Jimmy Martin, Lester, Jim McReynolds ... it just about brings tears to my eyes to listen to Jimmy Martin, especially. Skip the James Monroe stuff ... he sounds (and looked like) he was coming off a weeklong meth binge. It was also the first time I saw (the great) Marty Stuart, playing mandolin in Lester's band. A scrawny little hillbilly-punk lookin' kid who could play like crazy. After one of Bill's sets, I walked up to his bus parked nearby and walked in on (the great) Kenny Baker, who signed an album and indulged my gushing fandom. This is a GREAT album.

Check itunes
I have nothing to add about this CD, a great introduction to bluegrass. However, before you spend $50.00 to buy a used copy, you should check out itunes, where you can get it for $11.99.