Live at the Ryman

 (9 customer reviews)

Marty's music has always been rock and roll, country, bluegrass, honky-tonk, rockabilly and blues all rolled up in one package. These songs are no different. He is a Master musician, artist and singer. The next best thing to being at the Ryman and seeing him live is this record. This is Marty at his best. He gives it his all and you can hear it in his music. Surrounded by other greats such as Stuart Duncan, Charlie Cushman, Josh Graves, Eddie Stubbs and the Superlatives it doesn't get any better than this record. If you want to hear what country music should sound like, buy this record.

My understanding was that this was going to be THE bluegrass album from Marty that so many of us have been waiting for ever since "Busy Bee Cafe." This isn't that album. However, it is a disc with a whole lot of exceptional picking. In addition to the Fabulous Superlatives, Marty is joined by Uncle Josh Graves, Charlie Cushman and Stuart Duncan.

There are no tunes on this CD that are commonly recognized as bluegrass. There are good songs presented acoustically. Blues tunes such as "Sure Wanna Keep My Wine," "No Hard Time Blues," and great instrumentals like "Shuckin' The Corn," and "Mr. John Henry, The Steel Drivin' Man," and even great version of "Orange Blossom Special" keep "Live at the Ryman" ripping and roaring.

So, thanks for the nod toward bluegrass, Marty. Many of us still believe that you are one of the consummate mandolin players around and that one of these days, you give us a superb studio bluegrass album. And thanks once again for keeping the true...Read more

Playing Time - 42:42 -- It's been a number of years since I caught Marty Stuart live at a bluegrass festival at the Frontier Ranch near Columbus, Ohio. At the time, I thought his show was a little too country with its electric guitars and drums, but he was still very well received by the large crowd in attendance. This live bluegrass album is a very welcome acoustic treat that takes the consummate entertainer back to his professional bluegrass roots that first began after he heard Bill Monroe & The Sullivan Family at the Natl. Guard Armory in Jackson, Alabama in 1970. By 1972 (at age 13), the Mississippi native was playing mandolin and lead guitar with Lester Flatt & the Nashville Grass. Lester affectionately called him "Little Marty Stuart." After seven years with Lester, he spent six with Johnny Cash. Marty's also worked with Bob Dylan, Crystal Gayle, Anne Murray, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Jackson, The Sullivan Family, Travis Tritt and many others.

Since joining the Grand...Read more