Big Stars Sing for Big Mon (Bill Monroe)

This is the album that introduced me to Bill Monroe's music, as well as bluegrass in general. I had been a huge country music fan for ten years but never really took an interest to the genre that Bill Monroe is believed to have created solely by himself.

Ricky Skaggs, quite a picker in his own right, either sang or played on every single track on "Big Mon." The artists singing the songs are so perfect that you would think the songs were written just for them.

Darlin' Corey is sung by Bruce Hornsby, yes the Rock and Roll guy.

Next up, Dolly Parton beautifully sings Cry, Cry, Darlin' which is a song about how she will miss her man if ever he leaves her because he's the only one that's in her heart.

You know how much I'd miss you
If ever we should part
Cry, cry darlin' that's all I'll do
'Cause you're the one that's in my heart

Steve Wariner's version of "Heavy Traffic Ahead" has that "travelin' feel" to it which is perfect for the song that is about a band goin' around from town to town, state to state, and everywhere else and how they are never late.

In almost a haunting tone, Patty Loveless sings "Close By," which is about a wife whose husband has died. She holds a picture of him and says that soon they will finally be together.

John Fogerty is up next with my second favorite tune from the album, "Blue Moon of Kentucky." Unlike Bill's slow version, this one kicked up the tempo and gave it just a hint of a Rock'N'Roll'ish feel to it.

Walk Softly is a "duet" of sorts with Ricky Skaggs and Natalie Maines (of The Dixie Chicks) with Martie Seidel playing the fiddle and singing harmony, and Emily Robison playing the banjo as well as the dobro. I love the Dixie Chicks and that is one of the reasons this song is my favorite.

"My Little Georgia Rose" features Travis Tritt singing about the girl he met in Georgia.

Charlie Daniels does a nice job of bringing in a true old time country emotion to this next song, "I Am a Pilgrim."

Joan Osborne & Ricky Skaggs' voices blend very well on "On The Old Kentucky Shore."

A song I love to sing, "Blue Night," is sung by Ms. Mary Chapin Carpenter.

Dwight Yoakam sings "Rocky Road Blues."

The last song "Big Mon" (instrumental) is over three minutes of exciting bluegrass instrumental music. Included are fiddles, banjos, mandolins, and acoustic guitars. The players of this song are unofficially known as the group "The Red Hot Chili Pickers".

Recently there has been news of a Big Mon II coming out and as soon as it does, I know I will buy it right away.