Speaking yesterday with Sammy Shelor, he mentioned that the first of three planned 8-song EPs from Lonesome River Band is set for a February 28 release on Rural Rhythm.
This retrospective of the band’s 30 years together will be titled Chronology, with the initial CD reaching back to the very beginnings of LRB, before Shelor joined the group in 1990. It will focus on their first 1o years, from 1982 to ’92, when the band recorded a number of albums for Shar-Lynn and Rebel Records.
Back then, bass player Jerry McMillan was the band’s primary lead vocalist, with Tim Austin on guitar and a number of different musicians over the years on mandolin and banjo. Jeff Midkiff and Adam Steffey were memorable contributors on mandolin, and as this first decade came to a close, Dan Tyminski had recently taken up that position. At different points in the ’80s, Dale Perry, Brian Fesler, Randy Drisckill and Billy Wheeler played banjo with the group.
But instead of a simple re-issue of previous releases, Chronology will feature new performances of these LRB classics recorded by the current members: Shelor on banjo, Brandon Rickman on guitar, Mike Hartgrove on fiddle, Barry Reed on bass and Randy Jones on mandolin.
Shelor said that he had just finished mixing this first edition, which contains recut versions of Old Man In The Shanty and Laura Jean among the offerings, plus a new-to-LRB track, the popular old time fiddle tune, Angeline The Baker. Each of the three EPs will have one similarly new cut, according to Sammy.
Here’s a complete track listing for Volume 1:
| Close The Door Lightly When You Go Hobo Blues The Game Is Over I’m Afraid To Love You Anymore | Mary Ann Old Man In The Shanty Angeline The Baker Laura Jean |
Sounds like a great way to commemorate a thirty year career in bluegrass.
