“Fast away the old year passes…” and once again, it’s time to take a look back at some of the year’s best Bluegrass records.   There were many terrific recordings – some containing all-new music, and others, compilations of older material – received by us at WHUS in 2011.  Of the 125+ CDs that were sent to WHUS, several of them contained tributes to Bill Monroe, the Father of Bluegrass who would have celebrated his 100th birthday this year.  There are plenty of other websites that will give you someone’s opinion of what the Top 10 or Top 25 or Top some-other-arbitrary-number records of 2011 were, but I’m just going to call your attention to a few CDs I really liked this year.  If you're curious about the other top BG lists, check out the PopMatters list, one of the roots music website Engine 145, or the one by Kentucky journalist, Keith Lawrence.

As for my own list, I believe there are 26 titles listed below.  They are not ranked in any order other than alphabetical.  Here's my standard disclaimer:  I am one person with one opinion.  I am neither a music critic nor an authority on how BG should sound.  I just know what I like, so read on if you'd like...

• EDDIE & MARTHA ADCOCK WITH TOM GRAY & FRIENDS - “Many A Mile” (Patuxent Music) : Eddie Adcock is one amazing guy.  In addition to being one of the two surviving members of the Classic Country Gentlemen (the other is Tom Gray), in recent years, he has undergone brain surgery to correct hand tremors which hindered his banjo playing.  He was fully conscious (and playing the banjo!) during these deep brain stimulation surgeries, so that alone makes him pretty remarkable.  This CD features Eddie & Martha’s take on 14 songs Eddie originally recorded in the 1960s while he was a member of the Country Gentlemen.  On this new CD, both Eddie & Martha are in top form.  The addition of Tom Gray only elevates the quality of the music a bit more.  
  
  
• DARIN & BROOKE ALDRIDGE – “So Much In Between” (Mountain Home) : The Aldridges are called “The Sweethearts Of Bluegrass,” and this is their third recording together.  Brooke Aldridge has a pure, honest voice, and the harmonies added by Darin are top-notch.  These two are definitely on the rise.
  
  
• TERRY BAUCOM – “In A Groove” (John Boy & Billy, Inc.) :  Terry Baucom is a tremendous banjo picker and bass singer who has recorded for many years with bands like Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Boone Creek, and IIIrd Tyme Out.  On this solo record – his first in all of the years he’s been performing and recording – Bauc is joined by a host of BG performers, including the legendary Paul Williams, Ronnie Bowman, the Gibson Brothers, and a reunion of the original Quicksilver with Doyle Lawson, Lou Reid, and Jimmy Haley.  That one track from the original DLQ makes the CD essential listening, and the other great songs are icing on the cake.
  
  
• BLUE HIGHWAY – “Sounds Of Home” (Rounder) : In the 17 year history of this band, there has only been one change of personnel, and that was only for a brief amount of time.  The stability of the band's lineup makes their sound rock solid.  Blue Highway continues their tradition of strong original material with superb musicianship and strong lead vocals from both Wayne Taylor and Shawn Lane.
  
  
• TRAVERS CHANDLER & AVERY COUNTY – “State Of Depression” (Patuxent Music) : Traditional BG is in no danger of going away while Travers Chandler is still recording and performing.  2012 looks to be a fine (perhaps breakthrough) year for the band, as they’ll be releasing a new CD on Mountain Fever Records, AND performing in August at the Podunk BG Festival (where they won the Band Competition in 2011).  Fabulous.
  
  
• MICHAEL CLEVELAND & FLAMEKEEPER – “Fired Up” (Rounder) : This is one terrific CD with lots of great music from traditional sources (Delmore Brothers, Jimmy Martin) and fun, original tunes written and sung by then-lead vocalist and guitarist Tom Adams.  Sadly, the band that is featured on this recording completely broke up within a month or so of the CD’s March release, but that’s the BG business sometimes.  Still, this is a fantastic record – Michael’s best, in my opinion.
  
  
• CROWE BROTHERS – “Bridging The Gap” (Rural Rhythm) : Brother duets are a tradition in BG and country music, and this is one of the best ones working today.  The close harmonies displayed by Josh and Wayne Crowe will, no doubt, remind you of other successful brother acts with surnames like McReynolds, Louvin, and Everly. 
  
  
• GIBSON BROTHERS – “Help My Brother” (Compass Records) : What can I say about the Gibsons that hasn’t already been said?  Eric and Leigh have long been favorites on the New England BG circuit, and after years of hard work and travel all over the place, it seems like the rest of the world now knows all about our “secret.” This CD was named Album of the Year by the International BG Music Association (IBMA) in late September, and the Gibsons also took home the award for Vocal Group of the Year.  The songs on the CD (several fine originals and a few quite good covers) are ALL terrific – listen all the way through whenever you get a chance.  Between requests and just our own general preferences, this CD was probably the one we played the most on the "BG Cafe" since its March 2011 release.  
  
  
• THE GRASCALS – “Dance ‘Til Your Stockings Are Hot And Ravelin’:  A Tribute To The Music Of The Andy Griffith Show” (BluGrascal) & “The Grascals & Friends” (Cracker Barrel) : This band released 2 CDs in 2011 – one on their own label as a tribute to some of the music heard on the much-loved “Andy Griffith Show” (think of songs like “Dooley”), and the second available only at Cracker Barrel Country Store, and featuring the Grascals in duets with country music performers like Tom T. Hall, Brad Paisley, the Oak Ridge Boys, and Dolly Parton. 
  
  
• TONY HOLT & THE WILDWOOD VALLEY BOYS – “Lost Highways & Treasured Memories” (Old Heritage Records) : It seemed like this band disappeared for a little while, but they returned in 2011 with this very fine recording.
  
  
• SIERRA HULL – “Daybreak” (Rounder) : A strong sophomore effort on Rounder Records from this 2011 graduate of the Berklee College of Music in Boston. 
  
  
• KATHY KALLICK – “Count Your Blessings:  A Bluegrass Gospel Collection” (Live Oak Records) : This is a great compilation of gospel material recorded by Kathy Kallick between 1982 and 2011, and features tracks she recorded with the Good Ol’ Persons and in a duet with Laurie Lewis, as well as a couple of incarnations of the Kathy Kallick Band.  There are also a couple of newly recorded tracks on the CD from the current Kathy Kallick Band, including a great version of Bill Monroe’s, “Lord Protect My Soul.” 
  
  
• EDGAR LOUDERMILK – “Roads Travelled” (Mountain Fever Records) : Edgar Loudermilk may not be super well-known, but fans of Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out will certainly recognize his name.  This CD is filled with fine songs all written by Edgar, and he is joined by lots of guest vocalists including Cia Cherryholmes, former employers Marty Raybon and Rhonda Vincent, as well as the aforementioned Russell Moore.  Rumor has it that a second recording may one day be heard from Edgar, and that would suit me just fine. 
  
  
• STEVE MARTIN & THE STEEP CANYON RANGERS – “Rare Bird Alert” (Rounder) : Has anyone done more this year to bring attention to the BG world and the banjo than Steve Martin?  No single person comes to mind.  Steve Martin and SCR have been travelling hard and bringing their brand of BG to LOTS of folks over the past couple of years, and “Rare Bird Alert” is their first joint recorded effort.  During his concerts, Steve Martin says that he has to perform his own material as there’s no way he can play the “chestnuts” and do them justice.  As a result, the songs on the CD (and the ones you hear in concerts) are fun and varied with moving instrumentals and fun vocals.  For all of their hard work, these combined performers were named Entertainers of the Year by IBMA in September, and it was much-deserved recognition. 
  
  
• DEL McCOURY BAND – “Old Memories : The Songs Of Bill Monroe” (McCoury Music) : In this year that marked the 100^th anniversary of Bill Monroe’s birth, there were more than a few tribute recordings to the Father of Bluegrass.  This one is unique, though, as it comes from a man who was a Blue Grass Boy for about a year in the early 1960s.  Also, the recording was only made available in two formats:  a vinyl album and a digital download.  Very cool, and an extremely fitting tribute to Big Mon. 
  
  
• RUSSELL MOORE & IIIRD TYME OUT – “Prime Tyme” (Rural Rhythm) : Another terrific 3TO CD featuring award-winning vocalist, Russell Moore. 
  
  
• JOE MULLINS & THE RADIO RAMBLERS – “Hymns From The Hills” (Rebel) : An all-gospel recording from Ohio-based radio magnate, Joe Mullins, and his mighty fine band. 
  
  
• IVAN ROSENBERG & THE FOGGY HOGTOWN BOYS – “The Hogtown Sessions” (Vole-O-Tone Records) : Everything about this CD brings the word "retro" to mind, from the vintage, 1960s-looking album cover to the choice of traditional material on the CD.  This is a combined effort by Oregon resophonic guitarist Rosenberg (who also, BTW, won an IBMA Award in 2009 as the co-writer of Dan Paisley’s “Don’t Throw Mama’s Flowers Away”) and Toronto’s Foggy Hogtown Boys.  Fun, with a slightly rough edge.
  
  
• CODY SHULER & PINE MOUNTAIN RAILROAD – “Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain Railroad” (Steeltown Records) : Another very good CD from North Carolina-based songwriter/bandleader Shuler and PMRR. 
  
  
• JUNIOR SISK & RAMBLERS CHOICE – “The Heart Of A Song” (Rebel) : It’s hard to mistake Junior Sisk as anything but a traditional BG singer, especially when the CD starts off with a song titled, “A Far Cry From Lester And Earl” – a bit of commentary on contemporary BG.  At least one “Best of…” list I've seen named this as the #1 BG recording for 2011.
  
  
• CHARLIE SIZEMORE – “Heartache Looking For A Home” (Rounder) : What’s not to like about a CD that features a song sung by Attorney Sizemore called, “No Lawyers In Heaven?”  There’s plenty of other great songs and vocals here, too, including Sizemore’s harmony singer/former employer, Ralph Stanley, on “Red Wicked Wine.” 
  
  
• WAYNE TAYLOR & APPALOOSA – “It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Day!” (Self-Produced) : It would be difficult to find a CD with a more positive title than this one (emphasized with the exclamation point), and the music on the disc is mighty fine, too.  Since his retirement from the U.S. Navy and Country Current, this Wayne Taylor has put together a top-notch band which includes mandolin great Emory Lester, bass player Kene Hyatt, and Lee Marcus on the banjo (who also had a fine solo CD he released this year called, “Grandpa’s Pond”).  It's a little ways down the road, but this band is scheduled to play at the 2013 Podunk Bluegrass Festival in East Hartford.  If you can hear them at a festival before then, though, do it -- they are tremendous.
  
  
  
• VARIOUS ARTISTS – “I’ll Take Love:  From The Pen Of Louisa Branscomb” (Compass Records) : This CD features a lot of talented folks (Dale Ann Bradley, Josh Williams, the Whites, David Peterson, and others) singing songs written by psychologist Branscomb.  While she may still be best-known as the songwriter of “Steel Rails” (recorded by both Alison Krauss and the late John Denver), Branscomb is an amazing talent – take a listen.
  
  

• VOLUME FIVE – “Children Of The Mountain” (Mountain Fever Records) : This is the second CD from this relatively-new band, and is even better than their first (which was on my list of favorites for 2010).  Lead vocals on this CD are shared by fiddler Glen Harrell and former band member, Adam Duke, but every cut is strong and enjoyable.  There are a fair number of originals showcased on the CD, but also a couple of Monroe tunes, and a great version of a classic Don Williams country song ("Good Ole Boys Like Me").  CD #3 is being recorded as 2011 comes to a close, so I’ll look forward to hearing it in the new year.
  
  
• MISSY WERNER BAND – “Three Kinds Of Lonesome” (Self-Produced) : Missy Werner is a great singer from Ohio, and she sings in a clear, honest, and totally believable style.  This is a name we’ll be hearing more of in 2012, I’m quite certain.
  
  

For 2012, I look forward to hearing great new recordings from the Spinney Brothers, Chris Jones & the Nightdrivers, and many others.  We'll enjoy them together in the "Bluegrass Cafe" on Sundays from 4-7PM.  Be sure to join us whenever you can, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

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