Gospel Bluegrass Homecoming, Vol. 1

Rating:
Summary: A BLUEGRASS MUST-HAVE!
Review: I live in Australia and thought I would try and get this DVD at my Christian Book Store. Bluegrass isn't very popular where I live, and I usually buy my music from Amazon. I was shocked when I ordered this DVD and had to pay $50 ($38 US) Dollars for it! I complained all the way home.(I'll never stray again, Amazon...Promise!) However, once I started watching the DVD (I have both volumes on CD), I was so IN AWE of every performer, to me each song was worth $50!! My 3 children absolutely love 'The Lewis Family' singing "Honey In The Rock", every time the CD is playing they will repeat that song 5-6 times! My 8 year old son, just HAD to get the DVD so he could watch them sing it and was very impressed with Little Roy's 'mouth sounds' he makes in the song. He thought there was an actual instrument that made those sounds. (YEAH, A HUMAN ONE!)
Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives, and Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder are "THE" Masters, and just keep getting better. I found myself standing from my couch (very moving) and clapping for Dr. Ralph Stanley and his Clinch Mountain Boys. What an HONOR to hear him! It was the first time I had heard Rhonda Vincent & The Rage(on CD), and she is spectacular. Jeff, Sheri and Charlotte and the Isaacs are so good, you'll play their selections twice before moving on.
The Bluegrass Greatest shine with Marty Raybon, Del McCoury, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, The Nashville Bluegrass Band and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. The raw Traditional sounds are just excellent, and I have never heard such etheral music. Jake Hess and Gloria Gaither do a wonderful reciation and song with "Sunday Meetin' Time", and the Gaither Vocal Band sing the most Beautiful rendition of "Yes, I know". It's Awesome!!
You will definitely enjoy this one. There is some fantastic instrumentals with some of the finest pickin' I've ever seen, AND heard! There is even a bonus segment with The Carter Family, with some Bluegrass History to tell. If these fine folk ever run out of places to practice, they can come 'down under'! I'll be glad to have 'em!

Rating:
Summary: All-Star line-up on this gospel bluegrass album!
Review: This is a nice album featuring an all-star lineup of musicians and singers doing gospel bluegrass. This line up includes Ricky Skaggs, Del McCoury, Marty Stuart, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Ralph Stanley, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Issacs, The Nashville Bluegrass Band, The Lewis Family, The Easters and more.

This DVD is a great listen for the most part. Unfortunately I feel the recording is marred by the cut "So Many Years, So Many Blessings" sung and played by the the Lewis Family. It seems that someone made a technical blunder leaving a special effect turned on for the vocal mics and made this song sound like Donald Duck has joined in. Since the set of the Lewis Family included a cute rendition of "Honey In The Rock" using the "Donald Duck Voice effect" effectively, my guess is that someone accidently left the effect on or had turned on the setting accidently for the "So Many Years, So Many Blessings".
Regardless of how it happened, the "So Many Years..." piece -which had some fantastic flatpicking guitar on it- is so marred by the obnoxious effect on the vocalists voices. I skip over this piece and enjoy the rest of the concert.

My recommendation is buy the DVD anyhow despite this flaw on that one cut. There is plenty on this DVD to enjoy. "The Gospel Plow" by the Nashville Bluegrass Band is flawless IMO. Ralph Stanley's "A Robin Built a Nest on Daddy's Grave" could not be done any better IMO. Rhonda Vincent's "When The Angels Sing" showcases Rhonda Vincent's beautiful voice talents. And the Finale of "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" wraps up the show with a mass band effort with duets between the various artists gathered for this concert.

If you like this album, the VOl. 2 is even better in my opinion.
It is too bad they didn't put both Vol.1 and 2 together in one package, buying both albums separately could make the collection a bit pricey for some folks.

Rating:
Summary: All-Star line-up on this gospel bluegrass album!
Review: This is a nice album featuring an all-star lineup of musicians and singers doing gospel bluegrass. This line up includes Ricky Skaggs, Del McCoury, Marty Stuart, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Ralph Stanley, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Issacs, The Nashville Bluegrass Band, The Lewis Family, The Easters and more.

This DVD is a great listen for the most part. Unfortunately I feel the recording is marred by the cut "So Many Years, So Many Blessings" sung and played by the the Lewis Family. It seems that someone made a technical blunder leaving a special effect turned on for the vocal mics and made this song sound like Donald Duck has joined in. Since the set of the Lewis Family included a cute rendition of "Honey In The Rock" using the "Donald Duck Voice effect" effectively, my guess is that someone accidently left the effect on or had turned on the setting accidently for the "So Many Years, So Many Blessings".
Regardless of how it happened, the "So Many Years..." piece -which had some fantastic flatpicking guitar on it- is so marred by the obnoxious effect on the vocalists voices. I skip over this piece and enjoy the rest of the concert.

My recommendation is buy the DVD anyhow despite this flaw on that one cut. There is plenty on this DVD to enjoy. "The Gospel Plow" by the Nashville Bluegrass Band is flawless IMO. Ralph Stanley's "A Robin Built a Nest on Daddy's Grave" could not be done any better IMO. Rhonda Vincent's "When The Angels Sing" showcases Rhonda Vincent's beautiful voice talents. And the Finale of "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" wraps up the show with a mass band effort with duets between the various artists gathered for this concert.

If you like this album, the VOl. 2 is even better in my opinion.
It is too bad they didn't put both Vol.1 and 2 together in one package, buying both albums separately could make the collection a bit pricey for some folks.