Strange Creek Singers / Arhoolie CD-9003

Description

CD 9003

Featuring Mike Seeger Alice Gerrard Hazel Dickens Tracy Schwarz and Lamar Grier. The Strange Creek Singers were a group of friends who made these recordings between 1968 and 1970. They also happened to be some of the best known names in Old Time and Bluegrass Music. Mike Seeger is from the famous Seeger family and is a mainstay of Old Time Music; Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard went on to form Hazel and Alice one of the most influential female vocal groups in Bluegrass and Old Time Music; Tracy Schwarz was in the New Lost City Ramblers along with Mike and continues as a force in Old Time and Cajun Music; and banjo picker Lamar Grier gained his fame playing with Bill Monroe and added his Scruggs style banjo to these sessions although he no longer performs today.

1. When I Can Read My Titles Clear
2. In The Pines
3. Sunny Side Of Life
4. Poor Old Dirt Farmer
5. Sally Ann
6. I Truly Understand That You Love Another
7. Old Black Choo Choo
8. Today Has Been A Lonesome Day
9. No Never No
10. New River Train
11. Get Acquainted Waltz
12. Will The Circle Be Unbroken
13. Black Lung
14. Difficult Run Pt.2

REVIEW

“Although there is considerable instrumental ability here it’s the singing that really makes the album – solos duets trios and quartets that are just terrific. The general style is bluegrass but includes old-time songs hymns original numbers and songs by modern country writers. No room here to describe all the good things on this record; each track brings new combinations – banjo duets fiddle duets new vocal groupings etc. Let me just mention Tracy Schwarz’s very tragic-funny ‘Poor Old Dirt Farmer’ and the album’s tour-de-force Hazel Dickens’ unaccompanied ballad ‘Black Lung.’ A great record.”

(Sing Out!)