The Old Country Church from Mike Scott

Rural Rhythm Christian is preparing tomorrow’s release for The Old Country Church, their second project for banjo player and vocalist Mike Scott. Unlike his previous album of Gospel music, 2011’s Take Me Lord and Use Me, this new one is all instrumental, featuring 13 favorites played in the bluegrass way.

Scott is a first-rate banjo picker, and he is joined here by Adam Steffey on mandolin, Rob Ickes on reso-guitar, Bryan Sutton and Tim Stafford on guitar, Aubrey Haynie on fiddle, and Ben Isaacs on bass. Together they run through familiar numbers like Will The Circle Be Unbroken, I’ll Fly Away, Precious Memories, I Saw The Light and several others.

Mike says that making this record reminds him of home…

“I was born and raised in the Appalachian Mountains of East Tennessee. I first heard many of these good old Gospel songs in ‘The Old Country Church’ where I grew up. Sunday afternoons with dinner on the ground is a wonderful memory of fun, friends, food and fellowship. This was just a way of life at our house too.

Following the railroad tracks down Piney Flats Road in Watauga, TN is our family’s old two-story farmhouse where I grew up with a big front porch. Friends and family didn’t have to call before coming over. If they saw us out on the porch, they just stopped by, often bringing a basket of homegrown vegetables or some homemade jellies and jams. Before I knew it, Dad had an audience for me and would say, ‘Mike, get that banjo out.’ I played many of these ‘Old Country Church’ songs since most folks were familiar with them. To this day, I still love to have these gatherings and fellowship in the same way……the same songs!”

Here’s a taste of a song that is being put forward to bluegrass radio, Scott’s banjo treatment of Where The Soul Of Man Never Dies.

 

The complete track listing includes:

1. Will The Circle Be Unbroken
2. The Old Country Church
3. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
4. Pass Me Not
5. When The Saints Go Marching In
6. Where The Soul Of Man Never Dies
7. I’ll Fly Away
8. Where The Roses Never Fade
9. When The Angels Carry Me Home
10. Precious Memories
11. Victory In Jesus
12. What A Friend We Have In Jesus
13. I Saw The Light

All 13 tracks can be downloaded now for radio play at Airplay Direct, and The Old Country Church will be available for sale on Tuesday, June 24.

UPDATE:  These tracks had been previously released in 2005 as Sunday Bluegrass, and before that as Appalachian Sunday Bluegrass.