David Grisman, Clarence White, Peter Rowan, Richard Greene and Bill Keith, Muleskinner: A Potpourri of Bluegrass Jam (DBK Works, 2003; originally released in 1972)
A Muleskinner is a person who drives mules, and is so called because he figuratively "skins" his mules with his whip. Don't you just love the English language? "Muleskinner Blues" is one of the most famous early examples of bluegrass songwriting; Bill Monroe, Jimmie Rodgers, and many more sang the lyrics, "Good mornin' Captain. . . " and then drove the point home with some whipcrackin' pickin'. On this fine remastering of the 1978 album, those lyrics are slightly changed, and the music is electrified, but the bluegrass feel is as potent as ever. Richard Greene's swirling fiddle and Clarence White's blistering Telecaster sound as contemporary as tomorrow, and still evoke yesterday.
This album came about after the Greene quit Seatrain; White left the Byrds; Bill Keith had said goodbye to Jim Kweskin's Jug Band; and Earth Opera said farewell to David Grisman, who went on to produce Peter Rowan's first album. They called on their pal John Kahn to play bass, added John Guerin on drums, and found themselves with a one-shot record deal and time on their hands. Two weeks later they had finished the record that's been playing on my CD player for the past month. From that fiery first track, through a collection of country and bluegrass classics, these seasoned pros never disappoint.
The harmony vocals are pure and high, the strings are picked cleanly whether on fiddle, mandolin, or guitar (acoustic or electric). Clarence White's electric adventures may be the most interesting thing here, but every song offers value. They might call it a "jam," but these fellows knew what they were doing, and where the song was going. There's no empty blowing, as you might find in some rock or jazz jams. These guys take a song and play it. They alternate vocal verses with instrumentals and take your breath away as they do. They might change a few lyrics, play plugged in and have long hair, but this is pretty authentic stuff.
Songs by Bill Monroe, like "Blue and Lonesome" and "Footprints in the Snow," are done as acoustic "jams" and placed next to "politicized" originals like "Whitehouse Blues" (". . . in 1972, we had serious blues in the White House. . . " the liner notes read). David Grisman displays the beginnings of his long career with "Opus 57 in G Minor," and Peter Rowan offers up "Runways of the Moon," some psychedelic bluegrass. Weird, but points in the direction of the Byrds. Bill Keith shows what he can do on the banjo in "Roanoke," but so do Greene, Grisman and White!
For lovers of history, bluegrass, and just good picking, Muleskinner offers an hour of pure mountain goodness.
