(2022) David Grisman - Early Dawg [Deluxe Edition]  


Review:
Early Dawg originally released on LP by Sugar Hill Records in 1980. This deluxe edition includes the original 16 tracks, combined with 13 previously unpublished tracks and David’s first recorded mandolin instrumental, “Mandolin King Rag” from the Even Dozen Jug Band LP, released on Elektra Records in 1964. Among these performances are the earliest recordings of Dawg’s first original compositions, “Cedar Hill”, “Fanny Hill”, “Opus 57”, “Opus 38” and his only banjo tune — “New York Ramble”, played by Winnie Winston and later renamed “Dawggy Mountain Breakdown”, the “Car Talk” theme recorded with Earl Scruggs. This music is presented chronologically, spanning the decade between 1963-1973 and features Del and Jerry McCoury, Bill Keith and many other incredible musicians who inspired the “early Dawg.”

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Long before he developed his unique style of “Dawg Music,” mandolinist David Grisman was steeped in bluegrass, though he was even stretching its conceived boundaries early in his professional career. This album combines live recordings from 1966 and one track from 1973, with the supporting musicians including Del McCoury (guitar and vocals) and Jerry McCoury (bass), with banjo player Bill Keith and guitarist Artie Rose added on selected tracks. Grisman performs traditional bluegrass favorites, including excellent adaptations of several classic tunes by Bill Monroe (one of the mandolinist’s musical heroes), plus a few examples of his early compositions, including the Django Reinhardt-influenced “Opus 57” and the equally intricate “Opus 38,” both of which were still part of his active performing repertoire decades later. Frank Wakefield, a great mandolinist who helped Grisman master the instrument, guests on a 1973 performance of “Black Mountain Rag.”  — AMG


   


Track List:
01 - Mandolin King Rag
02 - Cedar Hill
03 - Bluegrass Breakdown
04 - White House Blues
05 - Auld Lang Syne
06 - Cedar Hill (studio)
07 - Fanny Hill (studio)
08 - Follow the Leader
09 - New York Ramble
10 - Opus 57
11 - Opus 38
12 - Little Sadie
13 - Out of Joint
14 - Sugar Hill Ramble
15 - Caravan
16 - Fanny Hill (live)
17 - Little Maggie
18 - Bluegrass Twist
19 - Shenandoah Breakdown
20 - The Prisoner's Song
21 - John Henry
22 - Raw Hide
23 - Dark Hollow
24 - Dear Old Dixie
25 - Hit Parade of Love
26 - Hey Hey Bartender
27 - Salty Dog Blues
28 - Love Please Come Home
29 - I Wonder Where You Are Tonight
30 - Black Mountain Rag


Media Report:
Genre: bluegrass
Country: USA
Format: FLAC
Format/Info: Free Lossless Audio Codec, 16-bit PCM
Bit rate mode: Variable
Channel(s): 2 channels
Sampling rate: 44.1 KHz
Bit depth: 16 bits


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