THE GREENBRIAR BOYS
Big Apple Bluegrass (Vanguard)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

---

Probably the best of all the city-billy bands that came out of the Great Folk Square, the Greenbriar Boys were the leaders of the bluegrass contingent around New York City's Washington Square Park, hence the title of this compilation. Gathered from various artist collections, the band's own albums, rehearsal tapes and outtakes from the Vanguard vaults, the collection offers 7 previously unreleased tracks and sixteen of them make their first appearance on CD.

They might have been city boys, but their bluegrass credentials were solid, with a first place finish in the band competition at the fabled Union Grove Fiddler's Convention in 1960. There's as much hot picking here as you'll hear from any Appalachian born and bred band, and while the high lonesome quality of their vocals may have been developed in the canyons between Manhattan high rises, their love of the music shines through every word. This is yet another "more is better" situation, and I'm hoping there's even more to come.

Track List:

Love Bug * Darby Ram * Methodist Pie * Mississippi Sawyer * Danville Girl * Coot From Tennessee * The Great Assembly * Take A Whiff On Me * Cabin In Gloryland * Honky Tonk Girl * Gotta Travel On * Way Down In The Country * Ain't No Grave Gonna Hold My Body Down * Rambling Round * Stay All Night * Shine On Me * Roll On John

© 2003 - Shaun Dale