NEW RELEASES
(Received December 25-January 24)

BRANDON ADAMS
HARDEST KIND OF MEMORIES
No Label, No Number (compact disc)

BAREFOOT NELLIE & CO.
SOUTH RIVER
No Label, No Number (compact disc)

BLUE MOON RISING
STRANGE NEW WORLD
Rural Rhythm RUR-1070 (compact disc)

MARK COSGROVE
UNENCUMBERED
FGM Records FGM 131 (compact disc)

BEN FREED
AMERICAN IDLE
No Label, No Number (compact disc)

GRASCALS & FRIENDS
COUNTRY CLASSICS WITH A BLUEGRASS SPIN
BluGrascal Records BGR-CD-1002 (compact disc)

STEVE KAUFMAN & MARK COSGROVE
GOODNIGHT WALTZ
Sleeping Bear Recordings SBR-1232010 (compact disc)

ROSS NICKERSON
LET’S KICK IT
Bones Records BR-3181 (compact disc)

POTTER’S CLAY
LIVE AT EVERETT MUSIC BARN
No Label, No Number (compact disc)

GARY RULEY AND MULE TRAIN
THE SOUTHERN INN AND OUT: LIVE
No Label, No Number (compact disc)

VALERIE SMITH
BLAME IT ON THE BLUEGRASS
Bell Buckle Records, No Number (compact disc)

NATHAN STANLEY
MY KIND OF COUNTRY
No Label, No Number (compact disc)

STRAY GRASS
WRITTEN IN THE STARS
Stray Grass LLC, No Number (compact disc)

ADDITIONAL RELEASES
By Les McIntyre

THE HATFIELDS & FRIENDS
THERE’S TWO SIDES OF EVERY COIN
No Label, No Number.

Randy Hatfield (guitar and vocals) is a retired coal miner who has been dabbling with bluegrass for several years. Now with family members and fellow pickers from Pike County, Ky., Randy has created an interesting assortment of original bluegrass. In fact, 12 of the 13 titles were penned by Randy’s son Keith (bass guitar) who proves to be creative composer. Noted performances include “One More Time For Mama,” “Innocent Young Lady,” “Jesus Didn’t Deserve To Die,” and a tribute to Merle Haggard, “Merle And The Strangers.” There’s Two Sides Of Every Coin is original bluegrass performed with style and grace. Hopefully the bluegrass world will be hearing more from The Hatfield’s & Friends in the very near future. (Randy Hatfield, 365 Cane Fork Rd., Kimper, KY 41539, e-mail: jollyjuggler@hotmail.com.)

HUDSON RIDGE
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
No Label, No Number.

Hudson Ridge is an acoustic group that blends bluegrass and Americana music with emphasis on crisp instrumentation and soaring vocals harmonies. On The Right Track is their latest compact disc featuring a dozen tracks with acoustic arrangements of such numbers as “The Boxer,” “If I Needed You,” and “Forever And For Always.” Other highlights include renditions of the Louvin Brothers’ “If I Could Only Win Your Love,” Louisa Branscomb’s “Steel Rails,” and “Train Long Gone.” On The Right Track is acoustic music at its finest and certain to bring to the forefront the musical talents of Hudson Ridge. (Mary Luther, 91403 Kellogg Ln., #24, Coos Bay, OR, 97420, e-mail: mluther@gmail.com.)

GEORGE THOMAS
THERE’S ROOM FOR HIM TONIGHT
No Label, No Number.

Here is a pleasant little yuletide offering from George Thomas (guitar, mandolin, banjo, and vocals). George is also assisted by Ron Stewart (banjo and fiddle). The ten selections are mostly lesser-known Christmas songs with titles like “Thought About Christmas,” “Old Brown Paper Wrappers,” and Tom T. and Dixie Hall’s “Christmas On The Farm.” There’s Room For Him Tonight is a nicely done seasonal treat with the potential of becoming a seasonal favorite in years to come. (George Thomas, 3210 Jefferson Woods Ct., Powhatan, VA 23139, e-mail: georgethomas790@comcast.net.)

RAIN CHECK
FOLLY TIME
No Label, No Number.

Rain Check is a five-person contemporary bluegrass group from a small community just west of Winston-Salem, N.C. Their latest recording project is a 14-piece collection that blends original material with arrangements of popular standards like Van Morrison’s “Tupelo Honey,” Jackson Browne’s “Doctor My Eyes” and Gordon Lightfoot’s “You Are What I Am.” The original titles include “Cold Night In New Hampshire,” “Little Brick Church,” and the instrumental “Flash’s Reel.” Folly Time is adeptly executed bluegrass that should prove popular with the fans and followers of Rain Check. (Rain Check, 1045 Greenky Dr., Pfafftown, NC 27040, e-mail: raincheck@triad.rr.com.)

MAC MARTIN & ED BROZI
SUN RACER & OTHER TRAGIC BALLADS
Patuxent Music CD 207.

Mac Martin (guitar and vocals) and the Dixie Travelers are longtime bluegrass legends in and around their home base of Pittsburgh, Pa. Early in his career, Mac met and performed with fellow picker Ed Brozi (guitar and vocals). In 1970 and again in 1972, the duo recorded a series of numbers that came to be known as the Shadyside Sessions. Mandolin player Bob Artis also appears on several tracks. In all, a total of 63 songs were committed to tape. Now Patuxent Music has released 21 selections from those sessions. The performances reflect a variety of influences including the Carter Family, the Blue Sky Boys, and the Bailes Brothers. The title song recounts the story of a tragic plane crash that occurred near Pittsburgh in 1936. Other numbers include “The East Bound Train,” Jimmie Rodgers’ “Moonlight And Skies,” “The Lover’s Return,” and others. Sun Racer And Other Tragic Ballads is old-time vocals at its best and will be eagerly welcomed by anyone who has followed the music careers of Mac Martin and Ed Brozi over the years. (Patuxent Music, P.O. Box 572, Rockville, MD 20848, www.pxrec.com.)

BLUE MAGGIE
RADIO BLUE
No Label, No Number.

This latest release from West Virginia’s Blue Maggie proves to be a mixed bag of tricks. There is no doubt that they are a talented trio with potential, especially considering Cheryl Patrick’s vocals and songwriting talents. In fact, she contributes seven of the twelve titles. The downside lies with the performances and overall production which does not rise to the level expected of an effective bluegrass album. For example, the vocals are ragged in places and the overall recording quality is as if the sessions took place in someone’s living room. On several selections, the endings are sloppily chopped off. The amateurish quality of the proceedings restricts overall interest to a narrow audience. It is hoped that future recording endeavors will place greater emphasis on the quality of the production. (Blue Maggie, 704 6th St., Charleston, WV 25302, www.bluemaggiebluegrass.com.)

LOUIE SETZER AND THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN BOYS
WISH I WERE THERE
No Label, No Number.

Louie Setzer has often been dubbed the “man with the titanium tonsils” and with this latest release, it’s obvious that he is indeed one of the best-kept secrets in bluegrass music. The 16 selections are mostly recognized bluegrass standards, but performed in a vigorous style as no one else but Louie Setzer can do. Featured are “Mr. Engineer,” “Letter Edged In Black,” “It Rains Just The Same In Missouri,” and the instrumental “Route 6 Ramble.” Wish I Were There is exciting mainstream bluegrass at its best and certain to attract a host of new fans to the music of Louie Setzer. (AMB Music, 664 Homestead St., Simpson, PA 18407, www.louiesetzer.com.)

THE FOGGY HOGTOWN BOYS—SCOTCH & SOFA—FOGHOG-005. This latest project from Canada’s Foggy Hogtown Boys successfully blends bluegrass and old-time music into a cohesive production. The proceedings get off to a rousing start with the title song, an instrumental composed by bandmembers Chris Quinn and John Showman, and concludes 15 tracks later with “Hog Of The Forsaken.” In between are such musical treats as Brenda Lee’s “Coming On Strong,” “Little Sadie,” “Raleigh & Spencer,” “Crying Heart Blues,” “The Devil’s Train,” and others. Scotch & Sofa is a highly entertaining production and clearly illustrates why the Foggy Hogtown Boys are one of Canada’s most demonstrative musical aggregations. (Chris Coole, 37 Constance St., Toronto, ON, M6R 1S3, Canada, www.foggyhogtownboys.com.)

COMPILATIONS AND REISSUES

THE BAILES BROTHERS
THE BAILES BROTHERS 2010
Gusto GT7-2169-2.

Twenty songs from this popular brother group. Includes “Dust On The Bible,” “Sweeter Than The Flowers,” “Bull Frog Boogie,” and “Muddy Sea Of Sin.” (Gusto/King Records, 1900 Elm Hill Pike, Nashville, TN 37210, www.gospelusa.com.)

J.D. CROWE AND THE NEW SOUTH
HOLIDAY IN JAPAN
Right Cut Records NSM 0075.

Two discs, 23 songs. Liner notes include an interview with J.D. by Brian Fesler. Musicians include Tony Rice, Jerry Douglas, Ricky Skaggs, Bobby Sloane. Songs included “Sin City,” “Freeborn Man,” “God’s Own Singer,” and “Take This Hammer.” (Right Cut Records, P.O Box 41004, Nashville, TN 37204.)

VARIOUS ARTISTS
THE ROUNDER RECORDS STORY
Rounder 11661-3295-2.

Eighty-seven songs on four discs covering four decades 1970-2000. Extensive liner notes by Geoffrey Himes. Musicians include not only expected bluegrass artists such as Krauss, Crowe, and King, but also George Thorogood, Gatemouth Brown, Buckwheat Zydeco, and Rory Block. Songs include “The Crow,” “Me And John And Paul,” “Fluxology,” and “Mama’s Hand.” (Rounder Records, One Rounder Way, Burlington, MA 01803, www.rounder.com.)