1. Country Comfort (w/ Elton John)
2. Borrowed Love (w/ Dwight Yoakam)
3. Ring Of Fire (w/ Billy Bob Thornton)
4. True Love Never Dies (w/ Gary Scruggs and Travis Tritt)
5. The Angels (w/ Melissa Etheridge)
6. Fill Her Up (w/ Sting)
7. Foggy Mountain Breakdown (Instrumental) (w/ Steve Martin and Jerry Douglas)
8. Somethin' Just Ain't Right (w/ Randy Scruggs)
9. I Found Love (w/ Vince Gill and Rosanne Cash)
10. Blue Ridge Mountain Blues (w/ John Fogerty)
11. Passin' Thru (w/ Don Henley and Johnny Cash)
12. Foggy Mountain Rock/Foggy Mountain Special (Instrumental Medley) (w/ Earl Scruggs and Marty Stuart)
Amazon.com
As Earl Scruggs broadened his horizons into country-rock in the early 1970s, two albums much like this one appeared, featuring cameos from Bob Dylan, the Byrds, Linda Ronstadt, Joan Baez, etc. Now as then, the results are mixed. Sir Elton John renders a mature, definitive "Country Comfort." Dwight Yoakam's newly penned "Borrowed Love," "True Love Never Dies" with Travis Tritt, and John Fogerty's "Blue Ridge Mountain Blues" all honor bluegrass traditions. Vince Gill and Rosanne Cash ("I Found Love"), Marty Stuart ("Foggy Mountain Rock"/"Foggy Mountain Special"), and Johnny Cash with Don Henley (the eerie "Passin' Thru") are focused and flawless. The misfires are equally spectacular. Billy Bob Thornton's "Ring of Fire" doesn't bode well for his 2001 country album. Not only are Melissa Etheridge and Sting out of their element, their overwhelming performances relegate Scruggs to the distant background. Likewise, his signature instrumental "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" buckles under the weight of 10 guest pickers including Steve Martin and Paul Shaffer. All-star tributes can be a bear to manage. Given that reality, 8 out of 12 ain't bad. --Rich Kienzle
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Earl Scruggs and Friends
- Audio CD: 0 pages (2001-08-28)
- Publisher: Mca Nashville
- Label: Mca Nashville
- Studio: Mca Nashville
- Average Customer Review:
 based on 17 reviews
- Sales Rank in Music: #93597
Avg. Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: The Steve Martin Secret 2006-10-30
Comment: Okay, this album is incredible, as much for the celebrity participation as the quality. The celebrities add their own touches to Earl's Superlative work. However, the most interesting celebrity participant isn't even mentioned on the album, Steve Martin. He plays a signficant part on Track 7, Foggy Mountain Breakdown. The song went on to win a Grammy.
Maybe they didn't mention him on the album since people would expect a comedy routine, but give a listen to Track 7 to gain a broader appreciation for one of our nation's formost novelists, essayists, actors, comedians, banjo artists and all-around brilliant guys-- STEVE MARTIN!
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great CD 2006-08-29
Comment: If you like all types of music, you will love this CD. I enjoy each and every song on this recording. How many other CDs can I say the same about? None.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Earl Scruggs and friends 2006-03-03
Comment: Excellent- but it is Earl Scruggs after all so it could only be excellent!
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: regarding the "all hands on board" jam 2006-01-11
Comment: Whenever there's a "cast of thousands" of great musicians, the wow factor is for the experience more than the excellence. I'm reminded of the "Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary" concert, where at the end they had all those legends on 2 or 3 songs. It was just amazing to hear and, if you had the video, see all those wonderful musicians on the stage at the same time. It just wasn't that important how great it sounded (or didn't).
In fact, check THAT (the Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Concert) out if you can find it.
Don't forget, a big part of the respect for Earl Scruggs is the influence that he's had and his willingness to try new things. A master of his instrument, a creative genius and (I met him once many years ago), a really nice guy.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: If you've never imagined enjoying bluegrass... (4.5 stars) 2003-04-27
Comment: I'm a fan of bluegrass/country, but not in a big way. I saw the video for "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" and liked it so I checked out the CD and got it. I think it's great and I think even people who don't enjoy the more 'traditional' bluegrass can enjoy this compilation.I think Elton does a superb job; his voice transfers so easily into the country mode you don't give it a second thought. His is my favorite song, although "I Found Love" (V. Gill) is close behind. My favorite instrumental is "F. M. Breakdown". One may expect the song to fold given the cornucopia of musicians that are involved (as the Amazon reviewer noted), but I like it. Billy Bob may try to sound too much like Cash but does decently. Etheridge's voice may overpower Scruggs but it's still worth a listen. Fogerty does admirably. So does Henley, but he doesn't have a country voice. The only one I don't like is Sting, but I'm not a Sting fan either. And of course, all of the registered country players (Yoakam, Cash, etc.) perform very well, as expected. In my opinion, this album is worth your money, whether your coming from a bluegrass- or a pop-listening background.
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Earl Scruggs and Friends
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