Craft Recordings has announced a June 5 release for their remastered vinyl edition of the seminal 1977 recording, Tony Rice, his first with Rounder Records. The digitally-remastered audio will also be offered for streaming and download.
An instant classic, this project was initially delivered during Tony’s California sojourn, while he was part of the David Grisman Quintet. As much as east coast grassers enjoyed the early Dawg music, many thirsted to hear Rice playing bluegrass as well. Tony Rice delivered in spades, with an all-star cast including Grisman on mandolin, Darol Anger and Richard Greene on fiddle, the almighty J.D. Crowe on banjo, Jerry Douglas on reso-guitar, and Todd Phillips on bass.
For years, some people have called this the “Rattlesnake album,” for the Grisman tune by that name on the record. But it was always a self-titled project.
Some of the iconic cuts include Rice’s moving vocal takes on Hills of Roane County, Mr. Engineer, Don’t Give Your Heart to a Rambler, and Banks of the Ohio. Pickin’ tunes also set this one apart, with a bit of Dawg music in Rattlesnake and Plastic Banana, plus hard-driving grass with Farewell Blues, Stoney Creek, Big Mon, and Temperance Reel.
Banks of the Ohio is now out as a single at popular download and streaming services online.
Though it has remained available digitally, the vinyl pressings have been out of print for more than 40 years.
Created in cooperation with Rounder, pre-orders for the $30 LP can be placed now for Tony Rice, remastered from the original tapes (all analog), with an identical cover. Craft also has a special Tony Rice package adding this album to two other previous Rice re-issues (Backwaters and Church Street Blues) for $70.
Audio CDs will be available for $10.
Hats off yet again to Craft Recordings for their work in keeping these important recordings in print on LP. Check their online catalog for many other important bluegrass titles from artists like Alison Krauss & Union Station, J.D. Crowe & The New South, Tony Trischka, Béla Fleck, and others.
