Album Bluegrass Gospel by Bill Monroe Review

Blue Grass Special is not another Bill Monroe "best of" package but a collection that concentrates on the master's pre-bluegrass work, featuring recordings made in 1940 and 1945. While listeners can certainly enjoy these songs for what they are - good music - many will be searching for traces of what would later be labeled bluegrass. The first 16 cuts feature guitarist Clyde Moody, violinist Tommy Magness, and bassist Bill Westbrook, and were recorded before wartime restrictions curtailed studio activity. The lead vocal on a song like "Six White Horses" brings to mind the smooth, relaxed delivery of Lester Flatt. The fiddle, not the mandolin, drives the song, however, and there is no trace of harmony singing. The fiddle even takes the lead position on the instrumental "Katy Hill". On the early-1945 recordings, there is the curious inclusion of an accordion. Played by Sally Ann Forrester, this instrument creates lots of atmosphere on "Kentucky Waltz". It also has the effect of adding Cajun spice to Appalachian folk on "Rocky Road Blues", creating a unique hybrid (Cajun-grass?). On the last few cuts, a new sound begins to emerge that would be associated with Monroe for the next 50 years. This collection will appeal to different groups for different reasons. Old-time music lovers will enjoy a portrait of Monroe before he strayed from his roots while hardcore bluegrass fans will enjoy tracing his footsteps as they moved toward a brand new genre. Either way, Blue Grass Special offers a closer look at a moment in time when the music that would one day be called bluegrass came into being.

Review by allmusic.com

Tracks on this album

#	Track title	Track length	Preview	Download
1	01 Mule Skinner Blues [Live]	3:07	preview song 01 Mule Skinner Blues [Live]	Download track 01 Mule Skinner Blues [Live]
2	01 New Mule Skinner Blues	2:31	preview song 01 New Mule Skinner Blues	Download track 01 New Mule Skinner Blues
3	02 Uncle Pen	2:47	preview song 02 Uncle Pen	Download track 02 Uncle Pen
4	02 You Won't Be Satisfied That Way [Live]	2:38	preview song 02 You Won't Be Satisfied That Way [Live]	Download track 02 You Won't Be Satisfied That Way [Live]
5	03 Uncle Pen [Live]	2:23	preview song 03 Uncle Pen [Live]	Download track 03 Uncle Pen [Live]
6	03 Walking in Jerusalem	2:01	preview song 03 Walking in Jerusalem	Download track 03 Walking in Jerusalem
7	04 On and On	2:49	preview song 04 On and On	Download track 04 On and On
8	05 Ole Slew Foot [Live]	2:45	preview song 05 Ole Slew Foot [Live]	Download track 05 Ole Slew Foot [Live]
9	05 White House Blues	2:14	preview song 05 White House Blues	Download track 05 White House Blues
10	06 Happy on My Way	2:11	preview song 06 Happy on My Way	Download track 06 Happy on My Way
11	06 Sweet Little Miss Blue Eyes [Live]	2:18	preview song 06 Sweet Little Miss Blue Eyes [Live]	Download track 06 Sweet Little Miss Blue Eyes [Live]
12	07 Blue Moon of Kentucky	2:09	preview song 07 Blue Moon of Kentucky	Download track 07 Blue Moon of Kentucky
13	07 Please Be My Love [Live]	3:04	preview song 07 Please Be My Love [Live]	Download track 07 Please Be My Love [Live]
14	08 I Wish You Knew [Live]	2:43	preview song 08 I Wish You Knew [Live]	Download track 08 I Wish You Knew [Live]
15	08 Scotland	1:56	preview song 08 Scotland	Download track 08 Scotland
16	09 Love Please Come Home [Live]	2:24	preview song 09 Love Please Come Home [Live]	Download track 09 Love Please Come Home [Live]
17	09 Midnight on the Stormy Deep	3:45	preview song 09 Midnight on the Stormy Deep	Download track 09 Midnight on the Stormy Deep
18	Nine Pound Hammer Is Too Heavy - Monroe Brothers	2:14	preview song Nine Pound Hammer Is Too Heavy - Monroe Brothers	Download track Nine Pound Hammer Is Too Heavy - Monroe Brothers
19	10 Kentucky Mandolin	3:06	preview song 10 Kentucky Mandolin	Download track 10 Kentucky Mandolin
20	10 Train 45 (Heading South) [Live]	2:39	preview song 10 Train 45 (Heading South) [Live]	Download track 10 Train 45 (Heading South) [Live]
21	11 Bonny [Live]	2:07	preview song 11 Bonny [Live]	Download track 11 Bonny [Live]
22	11 Walk Softly on My Heart	2:35	preview song 11 Walk Softly on My Heart	Download track 11 Walk Softly on My Heart
23	12 The Lee Weddin' Tune	1:57	preview song 12 The Lee Weddin' Tune	Download track 12 The Lee Weddin' Tune
24	12 When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again [Live]	2:23	preview song 12 When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again [Live]	Download track 12 When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again [Live]
25	13 Hit Parade of Love [Live]	2:59	preview song 13 Hit Parade of Love [Live]	Download track 13 Hit Parade of Love [Live]
26	13 Kentucky Waltz	3:06	preview song 13 Kentucky Waltz	Download track 13 Kentucky Waltz
27	14 Mary Ann [Live]	3:02	preview song 14 Mary Ann [Live]	Download track 14 Mary Ann [Live]
28	14 My Last Days on Earth	4:39	preview song 14 My Last Days on Earth	Download track 14 My Last Days on Earth
29	Eyed Darlin'	2:55	preview song Eyed Darlin'	Download track Eyed Darlin'
30	15 Sunny Side of the Mountain [Live]	2:56	preview song 15 Sunny Side of the Mountain [Live]	Download track 15 Sunny Side of the Mountain [Live]
31	16 Southern Flavor	3:17	preview song 16 Southern Flavor	Download track 16 Southern Flavor
32	17 Tennessee [Live]	2:46	preview song 17 Tennessee [Live]	Download track 17 Tennessee [Live]
33	18 Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms [Live]	2:53	preview song 18 Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms [Live]	Download track 18 Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms [Live]
34	19 Feudin' Banjos [Live]	2:12	preview song 19 Feudin' Banjos [Live]	Download track 19 Feudin' Banjos [Live]
35	20 The Ballad of Jed Clampett [Live]	2:05	preview song 20 The Ballad of Jed Clampett [Live]	Download track 20 The Ballad of Jed Clampett [Live]
36	21 Roll on Buddy, Roll On [Live]	3:06	preview song 21 Roll on Buddy, Roll On [Live]	Download track 21 Roll on Buddy, Roll On [Live]
37	22 I Wonder Where You Are Tonight [Live]	3:01	preview song 22 I Wonder Where You Are Tonight [Live]	Download track 22 I Wonder Where You Are Tonight [Live]
38	23 Orange Blossom Special [Live]	2:30	preview song 23 Orange Blossom Special [Live]	Download track 23 Orange Blossom Special [Live]
39	Down Yonder [Live]	4:10	preview song Down Yonder [Live]	Download track Down Yonder [Live]
40	25 Soldier's Joy [Live]	2:35	preview song 25 Soldier's Joy [Live]	Download track 25 Soldier's Joy [Live]
41	26 Grey Eagle [Live]	4:05	preview song 26 Grey Eagle [Live]	Download track 26 Grey Eagle [Live]
42	Banks Of The Ohio	3:33	preview song Banks Of The Ohio	Download track Banks Of The Ohio
43	Crawdad Hole - You Get A Line And I'll Get A Pole	3:52	preview song Crawdad Hole - You Get A Line And I'll Get A Pole	Download track Crawdad Hole - You Get A Line And I'll Get A Pole
44	East Tennessee Blues	2:12	preview song East Tennessee Blues	Download track East Tennessee Blues
45	Fire on the Mountain	1:48	preview song Fire on the Mountain	Download track Fire on the Mountain
46	Foggy Mountain Breakdown	2:46	preview song Foggy Mountain Breakdown	Download track Foggy Mountain Breakdown
47	Kentucky Mandolin	1:58	preview song Kentucky Mandolin	Download track Kentucky Mandolin
48	Appalachian Stomp	2:40	preview song Appalachian Stomp	Download track Appalachian Stomp
49	Blue Moon Of Kentucky	3:02	preview song Blue Moon Of Kentucky	Download track Blue Moon Of Kentucky
50	Footprints In The Snow	2:40	preview song Footprints In The Snow	Download track Footprints In The Snow
51	Mule Skinner Blues	3:00	preview song Mule Skinner Blues	Download track Mule Skinner Blues
52	Blue Grass Special	2:29	preview song Blue Grass Special	Download track Blue Grass Special
53	Cotton - Eyed Joe	5:11	preview song Cotton - Eyed Joe	Download track Cotton - Eyed Joe
54	Cotton-Eyed Joe	5:11	preview song Cotton-Eyed Joe	Download track Cotton-Eyed Joe
55	Going Down The Road Feeling Bad	2:14	preview song Going Down The Road Feeling Bad	Download track Going Down The Road Feeling Bad
56	In The Pines	3:13	preview song In The Pines	Download track In The Pines
57	Orange Blossom Special	2:30	preview song Orange Blossom Special	Download track Orange Blossom Special
58	Pike County Breakdown	2:34	preview song Pike County Breakdown	Download track Pike County Breakdown
59	Rocky Top	2:38	preview song Rocky Top	Download track Rocky Top
60	Rollin' My Sweet Baby's Arms - Live	2:27	preview song Rollin' My Sweet Baby's Arms - Live	Download track Rollin' My Sweet Baby's Arms - Live
61	Walk Softly On My Heart	2:36	preview song Walk Softly On My Heart	Download track Walk Softly On My Heart
62	Wayfaring Stranger	4:28	preview song Wayfaring Stranger	Download track Wayfaring Stranger
63	Y'all Come	2:16	preview song Y'all Come	Download track Y'all Come
64	Blue Yodel No. 7	2:51	preview song Blue Yodel No. 7	Download track Blue Yodel No. 7
65	Bluegrass - Bill Monroe - White House Blues Live	2:04	preview song Bluegrass - Bill Monroe - White House Blues Live	Download track Bluegrass - Bill Monroe - White House Blues Live
66	Danny Boy	2:32	preview song Danny Boy	Download track Danny Boy
67	Fire On The Mountain	1:48	preview song Fire On The Mountain	Download track Fire On The Mountain
68	Foggy Mountain Top	2:46	preview song Foggy Mountain Top	Download track Foggy Mountain Top
69	I Hear A Sweet Voice Calling	4:31	preview song I Hear A Sweet Voice Calling	Download track I Hear A Sweet Voice Calling
70	I Saw The Light	1:19	preview song I Saw The Light	Download track I Saw The Light
71	John Henry	1:32	preview song John Henry	Download track John Henry
72	Kentucky Mandolin	3:07	preview song Kentucky Mandolin	Download track Kentucky Mandolin
73	Letter From My Darling	3:23	preview song Letter From My Darling	Download track Letter From My Darling
74	Mule Skinner Blues - Blue Yodel No. 8	3:05	preview song Mule Skinner Blues - Blue Yodel No. 8	Download track Mule Skinner Blues - Blue Yodel No. 8
75	Nine Pound Hammer	2:21	preview song Nine Pound Hammer	Download track Nine Pound Hammer
76	Orange Blossom Special	2:31	preview song Orange Blossom Special	Download track Orange Blossom Special
77	Raw Hide	2:39	preview song Raw Hide	Download track Raw Hide
78	Salt Creek	2:27	preview song Salt Creek	Download track Salt Creek
79	Shady Grove	2:10	preview song Shady Grove	Download track Shady Grove
80	Six White Horses	3:02	preview song Six White Horses	Download track Six White Horses
81	Turkey In The Straw	1:10	preview song Turkey In The Straw	Download track Turkey In The Straw
82	Bill Monroe & The Bluegrass Boys - Going Down the Road Feeling Bad	2:14	preview song Bill Monroe & The Bluegrass Boys - Going Down the Road Feeling Bad	Download track Bill Monroe & The Bluegrass Boys - Going Down the Road Feeling Bad
83	DOC WATSON BILL MONROE	3:33	preview song DOC WATSON BILL MONROE	Download track DOC WATSON BILL MONROE
84	I'm On My Way To The Old Home by Bill Monroe	2:27	preview song I'm On My Way To The Old Home by Bill Monroe	Download track I'm On My Way To The Old Home by Bill Monroe
85	I'm Sittin' On Top Of The World by Bill Monroe	2:21	preview song I'm Sittin' On Top Of The World by Bill Monroe	Download track I'm Sittin' On Top Of The World by Bill Monroe
86	In The Pines by Bill Monroe	3:14	preview song In The Pines by Bill Monroe	Download track In The Pines by Bill Monroe
87	My Little Georgia Rose by Bill Monroe	3:08	preview song My Little Georgia Rose by Bill Monroe	Download track My Little Georgia Rose by Bill Monroe
88	New River Train by Bill Monroe	3:39	preview song New River Train by Bill Monroe	Download track New River Train by Bill Monroe
89	Nine Pound Hammer by Bill Monroe	2:21	preview song Nine Pound Hammer by Bill Monroe	Download track Nine Pound Hammer by Bill Monroe
90	On And On by Bill Monroe	2:49	preview song On And On by Bill Monroe	Download track On And On by Bill Monroe
91	Sitting Alone In The Moonlight by Bill Monroe	2:29	preview song Sitting Alone In The Moonlight by Bill Monroe	Download track Sitting Alone In The Moonlight by Bill Monroe
92	With Body And Soul by Bill Monroe	3:07	preview song With Body And Soul by Bill Monroe	Download track With Body And Soul by Bill Monroe
93	Bill Monroe & Doc Watson - Turkey In The Straw	1:10	preview song Bill Monroe & Doc Watson - Turkey In The Straw	Download track Bill Monroe & Doc Watson - Turkey In The Straw