Nashville Bluegrass Band: Americana Master Series, The Best Of The Sugar Hill Years

Release Date: July 10, 2007

1. Rock Bottom Blues 2:54
2. The Boys Are Back In Town 2:15
3. Don’t Let Our Love Die3:06
4. Biggest Liars In Town 2:36
5. The Fool 2:30
6. Blue Train 2:49
7. Waitin’ For The Hard Times To Go 3:15
8. When I Get Where I’m Goin’ 2:52
9. Backtrackin' 2:58
10. Tear My Stillhouse Down 2:32
11. Red Clay Halo 2:51
12. Blue Cadillac 3:15
13. Fiddlin’ Bill 2:51
14. Travelin’ Railroad Man Blues 3:08
15. There’s A Better Way 3:11
16. Rockin’ Chair Money 2:38 

Compilation produced by Fred Jasper

Americana Master Series, The Best Of The Sugar Hill Years

This new series presents the award-winning music of Sugar Hill’s Americana Masters. Researched and compiled from the artist’s body of work on Sugar Hill Records, these tracks were culled from radio chart toppers, fan mail, downloads, and songs and tunes that are recurrent favorites at live performances.

The series is designed to provide longstanding fans with a collection of favorites. For new fans, this series offers concise entry into the artistic output of these seminal artists—with liner notes that can help them to discover more and to delve more deeply into the artist’s catalog.

THE NASHVILLE BLUEGRASS BAND

Considering how many fiddle and banjo groups have formed in Music City, it’s a wonder some ordinary hackers didn’t make off with the name Nashville Bluegrass Band. Instead, providence reserved that simple, profound moniker for one of the few bands that could live up to it. Beholden neither to first generation conservatism nor newgrass eclecticism, the Nashville Bluegrass Band has truly forged its own sound, one rooted in the blues with an acute awareness of gospel and folk traditions. Their music has an ease to it that contrasts with the edgy fire-balling of some contemporary bluegrass bands. Instead, when Alan O’Bryant and Pat Enright match their voices in close harmony and when mandolinist Mike Compton and fiddler Stuart Duncan offer their refined compliments to the songs, a certain mood is created, one discovered early on and refined over two decades of history.

They formed in 1984 to support a tour by country veteran Vernon Oxford and Grand Ole Opry comedienne Minnie Pearl. O’Bryant, Enright and Compton were founders; Duncan came along not long after. NBB may have benefited from the fact that it was never the sole outlet for its musicians. All have been in-demand session men who were thus able to bring a range of experience and growth to the band when it came time to perform or record.

At the heart of the NBB sound is Pat Enright’s complex voice, mournful and joyful at the same time, a beacon of the blues. His solo take here on “Biggest Liars In Town” is ripe with tension and pathos. And when Enright and O’Bryant sing together, as on the gallant and heart-sick title track of their celebrated album Waitin’ For The Hard Times To Go, it’s profoundly moving.

While several bass players have moved through the NBB lineup over the years, it’s been a rather stable group, the biggest change being a stretch when Mike Compton was replaced by Roland White (Compton returned a few years ago). Each brought a certain character to the band while supporting the essential NBB swing. Duncan’s fiddling is a wonder in itself, hard-core and dark at times, nimble and modern at others.

The NBB has followed its muses far and wide. They’ve been among the first to pick up on the material of important young writers like Gillian Welch and Kate Campbell. They sought out and worked extensively with gospel greats the Fairfield Four. They’ve played the White House and around the world, including shows in China, Iraq, Bangladesh and Bahrain. They’ve wowed the crowd at Carnegie Hall. And disguised as the Soggy Bottom Boys, they were an integral part of the most significant event in roots music of the past ten years, the multi-platinum soundtrack of the film O Brother, Where Art Thou? and the Down From The Mountain tour that followed.

The accolades have been many, including two Grammy Awards for best bluegrass album and two Entertainer of the Year nods from the International Bluegrass Music Association. But to hear them live, one suspects the most rewarding part of the NBB effort is their effortless ensemble feeling, something musicians can spend a lifetime looking for. The members of NBB are each great players, but they embrace the band ideal with humility and consummate skill, which is why they represent Nashville and bluegrass so well.

Craig Havighurst
Nashville, March 2007

1. ROCK BOTTOM BLUES
Michael Dowling (Pinspotter Music, ASCAP)  
From the album The Nashville Bluegrass Band: The Boys Are Back In Town SUG-3778  
Pat Enright: Guitar, Lead Vocals
Alan O'Bryant: Banjo, Tenor Vocals
Stuart Duncan: Fiddle
Roland White: Mandolin
Gene Libbea: Bass  

2. THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN
Donald Humphries, Patrick Enright & Stuart Duncan (O'Banyon Music, BMI)
From the album The Nashville Bluegrass Band: The Boys Are Back In Town SUG-3778  
Pat Enright: Guitar, Tenor Vocals
Alan O'Bryant: Banjo, Lead Vocals
Stuart Duncan: Fiddle, Baritone Vocals
Roland White: Mandolin
Gene Libbea: Bass, Bass Vocals  

3. DON'T LET OUR LOVE DIE
Alan O'Bryant & Michael Dowling (Morganactive Songs Inc., ASCAP/Pinspotter Music, ASCAP) 
From the album The Nashville Bluegrass Band: The Boys Are Back In Town SUG-3778  
Pat Enright: Guitar, Tenor Vocals
Alan O'Bryant: Banjo, Lead Vocals
Stuart Duncan: Fiddle
Roland White: Mandolin
Gene Libbea: Bass  

4. BIGGEST LIARS IN TOWN
Don Humphries (O'Banyon Music, BMI)
From the album The Nashville Bluegrass Band: Home of the Blues SUG-3793  
Pat Enright: Guitar, Lead Vocals
Alan O'Bryant: Banjo, Tenor Vocals
Stuart Duncan: Fiddle
Roland White: Mandolin
Gene Libbea: Bass  

5. THE FOOL
Naomi Ford (Mother Texas Music, ASCAP) 
From the album The Nashville Bluegrass Band: Home of the Blues SUG-3793  
Pat Enright: Guitar, Lead Vocals
Alan O'Bryant: Banjo, Tenor Vocals
Stuart Duncan: Fiddle, Baritone Vocals
Roland White: Mandolin
Gene Libbea: Bass  

6. BLUE TRAIN
David R. Allen (Sony/ATV Tunes, ASCAP)
From the album The Nashville Bluegrass Band: Home of the Blues SUG-3793  
Pat Enright: Guitar, Tenor Vocals
Alan O'Bryant: Banjo, Lead Vocals
Stuart Duncan: Fiddle, Baritone Vocals
Roland White: Mandolin
Gene Libbea: Bass  

7. WAITIN' FOR THE HARD TIMES TO GO
James W. Ringer (Folklore Productions, Inc., ASCAP)
From the album The Nashville Bluegrass Band: Waitin' for the Hard Times to Go SUG-3809  
Pat Enright: Guitar, Lead Vocals
Alan O'Bryant: Banjo, Tenor Vocals
Stuart Duncan: Fiddle
Roland White: Mandolin
Gene Libbea: Bass  

8. WHEN I GET WHERE I'M GOIN'
Mark D. Sanders & David R. Allen (Universal MCA Music Pub., ASCAP/Major Bob Music Co., Inc., ASCAP)
From the album The Nashville Bluegrass Band: Waitin' for the Hard Times to Go SUG-3809  
Pat Enright: Guitar, Tenor Vocals
Alan O'Bryant: Banjo, Lead Vocals
Stuart Duncan: Fiddle, Baritone Vocals
Roland White: Mandolin
Gene Libbea: Bass  

9. BACKTRACKIN'
Michael Dowling (Pinspotter Music, Inc., ASCAP)
From the album The Nashville Bluegrass Band: Waitin' for the Hard Times to Go SUG-3809  
Pat Enright: Guitar, Tenor Vocals
Alan O'Bryant: Banjo, Lead Vocals
Stuart Duncan: Fiddle
Roland White: Mandolin
Gene Libbea: Bass, Baritone Vocals  
with special guest
Jerry Douglas - Resophonic Guitar  

10. TEAR MY STILLHOUSE DOWN
Gillian Welch (Irving Music, BMI/Say Uncle Music, BMI)
From the album The Nashville Bluegrass Band: Unleashed SUG-3843  
Pat Enright: Guitar, Lead Vocals
Alan O'Bryant: Banjo, Harmony Vocals
Stuart Duncan: Fiddle
Roland White: Mandolin
Gene Libbea: Bass  

11. RED CLAY HALO
Gillian Welch (Irving Music, Inc., BMI)
From the album The Nashville Bluegrass Band: American Beauty SUG-3882  
Pat Enright: Guitar, Harmony Vocals
Alan O'Bryant: Banjo, Lead Vocals
Stuart Duncan: Fiddle, Harmony Vocals
Roland White: Mandolin
Gene Libbea: Bass  

12. BLUE CADILLAC
Bill Dale (Little Laurel Music, BMI)
From the album The Nashville Bluegrass Band: American Beauty SUG-3882
Pat Enright: Guitar, Lead Vocals
Alan O'Bryant: Banjo, Harmony Vocals
Stuart Duncan: Fiddle
Roland White: Mandolin
Gene Libbea: Bass  

13. FIDDLIN' BILL
Jake Landers, Vasser Clements & Ben Johnson (Gandy Music, BMI)
From the album The Nashville Bluegrass Band: American Beauty SUG-3882  
Pat Enright: Guitar, Lead Vocals
Alan O'Bryant: Banjo, Harmony Vocals
Stuart Duncan: Fiddle
Roland White: Mandolin
Gene Libbea: Bass  

14. TRAVELIN' RAILROAD MAN BLUES
Traditional 
From the album The Nashville Bluegrass Band: Twenty Year Blues SUG-3959  
Pat Enright: Guitar, Lead Vocals
Alan O'Bryant: Banjo
Stuart Duncan: Fiddle
Mike Compton: Mandolin
Dennis Crouch: Bass  

15. THERE'S A BETTER WAY
Niall Turner, Don Poythress & Terri-Lynn Weaver (Scarlett Roper Music, BMI/BMG Songs, Inc., ASCAP)
From the album The Nashville Bluegrass Band: Twenty Year Blues SUG-3959  
Pat Enright: Guitar
Alan O'Bryant: Banjo, Lead Vocals
Stuart Duncan: Fiddle
Mike Compton: Mandolin
Dennis Crouch: Bass  

16. ROCKIN' CHAIR MONEY
Bill Carlisle & Lonnie Glosson (Edwin H. Morris & Company, Inc., ASCAP)
From the album The Nashville Bluegrass Band: Twenty Year Blues SUG-3959  
Pat Enright: Guitar, Lead Vocals
Alan O'Bryant: Banjo, Baritone Vocals
Stuart Duncan: Fiddle, Tenor Vocals
Mike Compton: Mandolin
Dennis Crouch: Bass  

THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN: Produced by Jerry Douglas. Originally released in 1990.
HOME OF THE BLUES: Produced by Jerry Douglas. Originally released in 1991.
WAITIN' FOR THE HARD TIMES TO GO: Produced by Jerry Douglas. Originally released in 1993.
UNLEASHED: Produced by Jerry Douglas. Originally released in 1995.
AMERICAN BEAUTY: Produced by The Nashville Bluegrass Band and Mark Howard. Originally released in 1998.
TWENTY YEAR BLUES: Produced by The Nashville Bluegrass Band. Originally released in 2004.  

Compilation produced by Fred Jasper
Re-mastered by David Glasser, Airshow Mastering, Boulder, CO
Photography by Jim McGuire, Nashville, TN
Design by Sue Meyer, suemeyerdesign.com