****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I bought this mainly for historical value because it was Charlie Waller's original band, but got so much more. Waller's harmonizing was pristine even in those early years. Almost all bluegrass compilation CDs you buy have songs on them that are familiar, with maybe a couple originals...but every single track is brand new to me & all of them are good to better to best. My personal favorites are "Whose Red Wagon?" & "Lonesome Road" (both w/Charlie Waller & you can distinguish his voice)," & "Lonesome Wind." "Talking Banjo" is cute & original with a guy talking to a banjo like it were a child; "Don't Come Running Back To Me" starts off sounding a little rough but that quickly becomes endearing. You can hear the influences of both Mac Wiseman (crooning)& Jimmy Martin (whoops & barks) in Buzz, who sounds completely @ home & sure of his gift...& gift it is. His mandolin playing seems way ahead of its time & I'd have to say I tho't of John Duffey (late of Seldom Scene) when I heard his virtuosity. I was overjoyed to unexpectedly find on here Bill Emerson, who I just met & saw playing live; Bill Harrel, who has been a favorite for years, & Scott Stoneman, who is legendary back home. Even the liner notes are an exciting read. If you were sitting on a fence thinking about buying this one, jump off on the right side & pull out your credit card...I've played it to death & so will you.
