Track Listing

1. Tipper
2. Monroe's Hornpipe
3. Jerusalem Ridge
4. New Chance Blues
5. Blackberry Blossom
6. Medley: Fiddler's Dram/ Whiskey Before Breakfast
7. Whitewater
8. Lost Indian
9. Stoney Point
10. Misty Morning
11. Gold Rush
12. Foggy Mountain Creek
13. Stoney Creek
14. Home Sweet Home
15. Bill Cheatham
16. Stoney Lonesome
17. Soldier's Joy
18. Cheyenne
19. Big Mon
20. Birdland Breakdown
21. Fort Tobacco

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5779 in Music
• Released on: 2003-11-11
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .23 pounds

Album Description
No other guitarist in the last thirty years has had a greater impact on bluegrass music than Tony Rice. His hard-driving rhythm playing brings out the best in any soloist or vocalist, and his fleet-fingered solos have set a standard to which others yet aspire. This all-instrumental collection brings together many of the best tracks from Tony's own albums, as well as recordings with Bela Fleck and the Bluegrass Album Band. Featured and accompanying musicians include Darol Anger, Norman Blake, Sam Bush, Fred Carpenter, Vassar Clements, J.D. Crowe, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Bela Fleck, Jimmy Gaudreau, Richard Greene, David Grisman, Bobby Hicks, Doyle Lawson, Todd Phillips, John Reischman, Larry Rice, Ron Rice, Wyatt Rice, Mark Schatz, Rickie Simpkins, Ronnie Simpkins and Doc Watson.

Customer Reviews

Tony Rice and "The" Guitar
Tony Rice is the greatest acoustic guitarist I've ever heard. His right hand knows what the left hand is doing. The tone and balance in his style haven't been equaled although every flatpicker after him owes him a debt of gratitude. The tunes are fiddle toons for the most part with a fantastic supporting cast which has been the norm for Tony throughout his recording history. This is a great collection spaning much of his career.

The collection showcases the fine instrument the man plays as well. I first heard and saw this guitar in person about 25 years ago and it sounds even better today. It's as legendary as the current owner. The instrument was obscure for it's first 25 years. Then it was purchased in 1960 for Clarence White by his father for a mere $35. Tony Rice purchased it in 1975. The 1935 Martin D28 is the finest guitar of it's kind in the world. And it's no accident that Tony Rice owns and plays it.

kcoyner

Highly Influential Flat Picker
In his liner notes, guitarist Ron Block simply states that Tony Rice "epitomizes the best in bluegrass and acoustic music." This 20-track collection clearly makes a strong argument to support that claim. Along with Doc Watson and the late Clarence White (whose guitar is now owned by Rice and featured on the cover), no one has had the kind of incluence on a generation of guitar pickers as Tony Rice. Each of these songs is a gem, and showcases Rice's prowess in a bluegrass setting. [Although the final two tracks owe more to David Grisman's "dawg" grass than bluegrass.]

While none of these are new recordings, they reflect the consistently high quality music Rice has recorded over the decades on Rounder with the Tony Rice Unit, the Rice Brothers, the Bluegrass Album Band and other projects.

In addition to the liner notes by Block, Rice provides commentary for each of the albums 20 tracks (musicians are listed, too) as well as a page-long essay on the Martin guitar featured on these songs. Overall, it is a solid introduction. [Running Time - 69:31] VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

State of the art Bluegrass Flatpicking
For the past thirty years Tony Rice has been acknowledged as the towering figure in the field of bluegrass guitar. This album features the flatpicking instrumentals that developed that stellar reputation. Tony is a master of speed, taste, and tone. Along with Tony, the album features a who's who of the top bluegrass instrumentalists providing backup and sharing solos. This collection is outstanding and easily rates five stars.