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"The Paganini of the banjo"'s finest moments are collected on Columbia/Legacy's aptly named Essential Earl Scruggs. Unlike many other "best-of" collections, this two-disc set gathers tracks from nearly all of the stages of Scruggs' career, from his early days as one of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys, through his genre-defining work with Lester Flatt, and a sampling of his solo career, including his appearances with Hylo Brown, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and leading his own Earl Scruggs Revue. Informative liner notes by historian Rich Kienzle, banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck, and Scruggs himself illustrate the man behind the fingers, and the recording quality of the music is clear and consistent throughout. Hearing all of this pickin' in one place really reminds the listener how vital Scruggs was in popularizing the sound of bluegrass in the '40s, '50s, and '60s, and his innovations through the '70s and '80s. While stronger collections of Flatt & Scruggs and Bill Monroe recordings are available, none showcase the man behind the banjo as completely as this fine compilation does.
© Zac Johnson /TiVo
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Art Satherley, Producer - Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - B. Monroe, Composer, Lyricist
Originally Released 1949 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Bill Monroe, Vocal - Art Satherley, Producer - Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Lester Flatt, Vocal - B. Monroe, Composer, Lyricist
Originally Released 1948 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Earl Scruggs, Banjo - Bill Monroe, Mandolin, Vocal - Art Satherley, Producer - Chubby Wise, Fiddle - Lester Flatt, Guitar - B. Monroe, Composer, Lyricist - Howard Watts, Bass
Originally Released 1949 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
E. SCRUGGS, Composer, Lyricist - Earl Scruggs, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Lester Flatt, Composer, Lyricist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - The Foggy Mountain Boys, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Murray Nash, Producer
Originally Released Prior To 1972
Earl Scruggs, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - C. Monroe, Composer, Lyricist - Lester Flatt, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - The Foggy Mountain Boys, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Murray Nash, Producer
Originally Released Prior To 1972
Russell Jones, Composer, Lyricist - Earl Scruggs, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Lester Flatt, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - The Foggy Mountain Boys, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Murray Nash, Producer
Originally Released Prior To 1972
Earl Scruggs, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Unknown, Producer - Lester Flatt, Composer, Lyricist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - The Foggy Mountain Boys, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
Originally Released 1951 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
E. SCRUGGS, Composer, Lyricist - Earl Scruggs, Banjo, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs with The Foggy Mountain Boys, AssociatedPerformer - Chubby Wise, Fiddle - Lester Flatt, Composer, Lyricist, Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - The Foggy Mountain Boys, AssociatedPerformer, with - Don Law, Producer - Margie Hunt, Executive Producer - Hoyt Dooley, Mastering Engineer - Jody Rainwater, Bass
Originally released 1951. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Earl Scruggs, Guitar - Everett Lilly, Mandolin - A.P. CARTER, Composer, Lyricist - Chubby Wise, Fiddle - Lester Flatt, Guitar, Vocal - Flatt & Scruggs, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Don Law, Producer - Jody Rainwater, Bass
Originally released 1951. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
E. SCRUGGS, Composer, Lyricist - Earl Scruggs, Banjo - Everett Lilly, Mandolin - Lester Flatt, Guitar - Flatt & Scruggs, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Don Law, Producer - Jody Rainwater, Bass - Howdy Forrester, Fiddle
Originally released 1951. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Earl Scruggs, Banjo, Vocal - Everett Lilly, Mandolin, Tenor - Lester Flatt, Composer, Lyricist, Guitar, Vocal - Flatt & Scruggs, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Don Law, Producer - Jody Rainwater, Bass, Bass Vocal - Howdy Forrester, Fiddle
Originally released 1951. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
E. SCRUGGS, Composer, Lyricist - Earl Scruggs, Banjo - Benny Martin, Fiddle - Lester Flatt, Composer, Lyricist, Guitar - Flatt & Scruggs, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Don Law, Producer - Jody Rainwater, Bass - Curley Seckler, Mandolin
Originally released 1953. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
E. SCRUGGS, Composer, Lyricist - Earl Scruggs, Banjo - Benny Martin, Fiddle - Lester Flatt, Guitar - Flatt & Scruggs, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Don Law, Producer - Curly Seckler, Mandolin - Jody Rainwater, Bass
Originally released 1952. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
E. SCRUGGS, Composer, Lyricist - Earl Scruggs, Banjo - Benny Martin, Fiddle - Bob Moore, Bass - Lester Flatt, Guitar - Flatt & Scruggs, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Don Law, Producer - Curly Seckler, Mandolin
Originally released 1953. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
N. Thomas, Composer, Lyricist - Earl Scruggs, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Unknown, Producer - Lester Flatt, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
Original released 1954 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
L. Certain, Composer, Lyricist - G. Stacey, Composer, Lyricist - Earl Scruggs, Guitar - Chubby Wise, Fiddle - Lester Flatt, Guitar, Vocal - Flatt & Scruggs, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Don Law, Producer - Jody Rainwater, Bass
Originally released 1954. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
E. SCRUGGS, Composer, Lyricist - Earl Scruggs, Banjo - Josh Graves, Dobro - Ernie Newton, Bass - Paul Warren, Fiddle - Lester Flatt, Guitar - Flatt & Scruggs, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Don Law, Producer - Curly Seckler, Mandolin, Tenor
Originally released 1956. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
L. Certain, Composer, Lyricist - G. Stacey, Composer, Lyricist - B. Graves, Composer, Lyricist - Earl Scruggs, Banjo - Josh Graves, Dobro - Paul Warren, Fiddle - Lester Flatt, Guitar - Flatt & Scruggs, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Howard Watts, Bass - Don Law, Producer - Curly Seckler, Mandolin
Originally released 1957. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
DISC 2
E. SCRUGGS, Arranger - Earl Scruggs, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Unknown, Producer - Traditional, Composer, Lyricist - Hylo Brown, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
Original released 1959 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
E. SCRUGGS, Arranger - Earl Scruggs, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Unknown, Producer - Traditional, Composer, Lyricist - Hylo Brown & The Timberliners, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
Original released 1959 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
E. SCRUGGS, Arranger - Traditional, Composer, Lyricist - Paul Warren, Fiddle - Flatt & Scruggs, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Don Law, Producer - Jake Tullock, Bass - Curley Lambert, Guitar - Murrey M. Harman, Jr., Drums - Burkett H. Graves, Dobro
Originally released 1961. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
E. SCRUGGS, Arranger - Traditional, Composer, Lyricist - Paul Warren, Fiddle - Flatt & Scruggs, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Don Law, Producer - Jake Tullock, Bass - Curley Lambert, Guitar - Murrey M. Harman, Jr., Drums - Burkett H. Graves, Dobro
Originally released 1961. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
E. SCRUGGS, Arranger - Traditional, Composer, Lyricist - Paul Warren, Fiddle - Flatt & Scruggs, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Don Law, Producer - Jake Tullock, Bass - Curley Lambert, Guitar - Murrey M. Harman, Jr., Drums - Burkett H. Graves, Dobro
Originally released 1961. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs With Mother Maybelle Carter, AssociatedPerformer - Mother Maybelle Carter, AssociatedPerformer, with - Earl Scruggs, Baritone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Josh Graves, Dobro - A.P. CARTER, Composer, Lyricist - Paul Warren, Fiddle, Bass Vocal - Lester Flatt, Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Don Law, Producer - Jake Tullock, Bass, Baritone - Curly Seckler, Mandolin, Vocal
Originally released 1961. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Mother Maybelle Carter, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Earl Scruggs, Composer, Lyricist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Frank Jones, Producer - Lester Flatt, Composer, Lyricist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Flatt & Scruggs, AssociatedPerformer - The Foggy Mountain Boys, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Don Law, Producer
Originally Released 1964 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Mother Maybelle Carter, AssociatedPerformer, with - Earl Scruggs, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - A.P. CARTER, Composer, Lyricist - Frank Jones, Producer - Lester Flatt, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - The Foggy Mountain Boys, AssociatedPerformer, with - Don Law, Producer - Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs with Mother Maybelle Carter and The Foggy Mountain Boys, AssociatedPerformer
Originally released 1967. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
P. Henning, Composer, Lyricist - Earl Scruggs, Banjo, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs with The Foggy Mountain Boys, AssociatedPerformer - Josh Graves, Dobro - Buddy Harman, Drums - Paul Warren, Fiddle - Frank Jones, Producer - Lester Flatt, Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - The Foggy Mountain Boys, AssociatedPerformer, with - Don Law, Producer - Jake Tullock, Bass
Originally released 1962. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Bob Johnston, Producer - Earl Scruggs, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs with The Foggy Mountain Boys, AssociatedPerformer - Bob Dylan, Composer, Lyricist - Lester Flatt, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - The Foggy Mountain Boys, AssociatedPerformer, with
Originally released 1970. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Earl Scruggs, Banjo, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Randy Scruggs, Guitar - Jeff Hanna, Guitar, Vocal - Linda Ronstadt, Vocal - Vassar Clements, Fiddle - Bob Wilson, Piano - Hiriam Williams, Composer, Lyricist - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - Steve Scruggs, Keyboards - Jody Maphis, Drums - Stacey Belson, Vocal - Arloff Boguslavaki, Vocal
(P) 1972 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Earl Scruggs, Banjo, Background Vocal - M. Nesmith, Composer, Lyricist - Randy Scruggs, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal - Josh Graves, Guitar, Dobro, Background Vocal - Tracy Nelson, Background Vocal - Andy McMahon, Organ, Piano, Background Vocal - Gary Scruggs, Bass Guitar, Harmonica, Background Vocal - The Earl Scruggs Revue, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ron Bledsoe, Producer - Jody Maphis, Drums, Background Vocal
(P) 1973 Sony Music Entertainment, Inc.
Earl Scruggs, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - M. Clements, Composer, Lyricist - Ron Bledsoe, Producer
(P) 1973 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Bob Dylan, Composer, Lyricist - The Earl Scruggs Revue, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ron Bledsoe, Producer
(P) 1974 Sony Music Entertainment
Earl Scruggs, Composer, Lyricist - The Earl Scruggs Revue, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ron Bledsoe, Producer
(P) 1974 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Rodney Crowell, Background Vocal - Earl Scruggs, Banjo, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal - Randy Scruggs, Producer, Engineer, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin - John Thompson, Producer, Engineer - Byron Berline, Fiddle, Background Vocal - Jerry Douglas, Dobro - Bob McDill, Composer, Lyricist - Tom T. Hall, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - TOM BROWN, Engineer - ROSANNE CASH, Background Vocal - Clyde Brooks, Drums - The Oak Ridge Boys, Background Vocal - Paul Uhrig, Bass - Gene Sisk, Piano - Tricia Johnson, Assistant Engineer - Earl Scruggs & Tom T. Hall, AssociatedPerformer
(P) 1982 Sony Music Entertainment
J.R. Cash, Composer, Lyricist - R. Cash Jr., Composer, Lyricist - Johnny Cash, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Bob Johnston, Producer - The Earl Scruggs Revue, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - The Earl Scruggs Revue and Johnny Cash, AssociatedPerformer
(P) 1976 Sony Music Entertainment
E. SCRUGGS, Composer, Lyricist - Earl Scruggs, Banjo, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal - Randy Scruggs, Producer, Engineer, Guitar - John Thompson, Producer, Engineer - Jerry Douglas, Dobro - Glenn Meadows, Mastering Engineer - Bobby Hicks, Fiddle - TOM BROWN, Engineer - Ricky Skaggs, Guitar, Mandolin, Background Vocal, Vocal - Lester Flatt, Composer, Lyricist - Paul Uhrig, Bass - Gene Sisk, Piano - Steve Scruggs, Assistant Engineer - Tricia Johnson, Assistant Engineer
(P) 1983 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
E. SCRUGGS, Composer, Lyricist - Earl Scruggs, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Randy Scruggs, Producer
(P) 1984 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Album review
"The Paganini of the banjo"'s finest moments are collected on Columbia/Legacy's aptly named Essential Earl Scruggs. Unlike many other "best-of" collections, this two-disc set gathers tracks from nearly all of the stages of Scruggs' career, from his early days as one of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys, through his genre-defining work with Lester Flatt, and a sampling of his solo career, including his appearances with Hylo Brown, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and leading his own Earl Scruggs Revue. Informative liner notes by historian Rich Kienzle, banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck, and Scruggs himself illustrate the man behind the fingers, and the recording quality of the music is clear and consistent throughout. Hearing all of this pickin' in one place really reminds the listener how vital Scruggs was in popularizing the sound of bluegrass in the '40s, '50s, and '60s, and his innovations through the '70s and '80s. While stronger collections of Flatt & Scruggs and Bill Monroe recordings are available, none showcase the man behind the banjo as completely as this fine compilation does.
© Zac Johnson /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 40 track(s)
- Total length: 01:44:01
- Main artists: Earl Scruggs
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Columbia - Legacy
- Genre: Country
(P) 2004 Sony Music Entertainment
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