The Best Bluegrass

This is for all the bluegrass fans who enjoy the music of Bill Monroe . There are four tapes in the box with over four hours and twenty minutes of Bill Monroe music. The music is from 1936 to 1994. The box is a book type about 10 inches long and 6 inches wide. The box is a heavy type paper cover. It has a very attractive picture of Bill Monroe and his famous mandolin. Some of the songs on the first tape are:

My Long Journey Home

What would You Give In Exchange For Your Soul

Muleskinner Blues

Crying Holy Unto My Lord

Back Up And Push

Goodbye Old Pal

Heavy Traffic Ahead

Wicked Path Of Sin

It's Mighty Dark To Travel

Bluegrass Breakdown

Can't You Here Me Callin'

My Little Georgia Rose

I'M On My Way To The Old Home

I'm Blue, I'm Lonesome

Uncle Pen

Lord Protect My Soul

Raw Hide

Brakeman's Blues

Sugar Coated Love

Christmas Time's A Coming

The First Whippoorwill

In The Pines

Footprints In The Snow

Walking In Jerusalem

The first tape contains 24 songs. The first cassette tape is from 1936 to 1952, And the lyrics tell about the hard life these people lived. I love the song Back Up And Push, this is a traditional instrumental song that is played moderately fast. Another song, Mule Skinner Blues is a traditional song that the lyrics tell about men working with mules that are building a new road. The times were hard and this song reflects this period. The men were paid a dollar and a dime each day.

The second tape has 27 more songs. The voice of Bill Monroe is unforgettable. He has a distinctive voice and sings plain music. The music tells a story and it is played from the heart. You do not have to be a professional singer to sing bluegrass. These simple songs for pleasure make up a unique collection.

The third tape has 24 more songs. The ones I like best are John Henry and Memories of Mother and Dad.

Bill Monroe became know as the father of bluegrass. His music evolved from the simple folk and country music of everyday life in Kentucky. He was born Sept.13,1911. In 1945 he added Earl Scruggs who had a unique banjo style. He then added Lester Flat, this made a distinctive sound.

The fourth tape was from the years 1970 to 1994, and I feel this to be the best of all the tapes recorded by Bill Monroe. The songs I like best from the forth tape are Kentucky Waltz, a simple 3/4 time song. I also like, Get Up John, which is a fast instrumental song with great mandolin and fiddle solo parts with the famous 3 finger banjo roll. I also like, My Sweet Blue-Eyed Darling, that was a song that featured Ricky Skaggs.

My final thoughts on these tapes are a very pleasant experience. They are great for uplifting a spirit. Bill Monroe has passed on religious messages in many of his songs. We all can use uplifting in our lives. I would recommend these tapes to everyone who likes bluegrass music. I really believe there is only one Bill Monroeand this is the last of this great music.