All tracks have been digitally remastered using HDCD technology.
Personnel: Dan Tyminski, Doc Watson, Dudley Connell, Lilly Isaac, Joe Isaac, Gene Libbea, John Berry , Greg Luck, Rev. W.L. Richardson, Bill Yates, Walter Settles, John Cowan, John Hartford, Mollie O'Brien, Peter Rowan, Ralph Stanley, Ronnie Bowman, Tony Rice, Barry Bales, Bob Amos, Allen Mills, Charlie Sizemore, Tim Surrett (vocals); Ricky Skaggs (tenor, baritone); Don Rigsby, Doyle Lawson, Kent Dowell, Mike Lantz, Alan O'Bryant, Pat Flynn , Russell Moore, Steve Amedee, Tim O'Brien, Pat Enright, Lorin Rowan, Wilson Waters (tenor); Chris Rowan, Rick Allred, James Hill, Jim Mills, Jim Watson, John Magnie, Mike Compton, Scott Vestal, Stuart Duncan, B‚la Fleck, Bob Dick (baritone); Mark Hembree, Isaac Freeman, Ron Lynam, Anthony Choice, Otis Dillon, Ray Deaton, Roland White, Sam Bush, Kevin Maul, Charlie Waller (bass voice).
Audio Remasterer: David Glasser.
Illustrator: Sue Meyer.
Photographers: Peter Nash ; Antoine Guilleminot; Gary Isaacs; Se¤or McGuire.
Arrangers: Doc Watson; Doyle Lawson; The Courtry Gentlemen; Jim Watson; Peter Rowan; Ricky Skaggs; Tony Rice; Kevin Maul.
The Sugar Hill label's roster of bluegrass, folk, and country artists is rich with outstanding singing ensembles, and this compilation shows them off at their best, performing traditional gospel music without instrumental accompaniment. The styles vary. Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver and the Nashville Bluegrass band both dip into the African-American gospel tradition with "Climbing Up the Mountain" and "Father I Stretch My Hand to Thee," respectively. Tony Rice and Ricky Skaggs deliver "Talk About Suffering" from their celebrated duo album, in a style that harks back to that of brother duos like the Blue Sky Boys and the Delmore Brothers. And Don Rigsby teams up with Ralph Stanley and a host of helping voices in a hair-raising version of "Vision of a Golden Crown." Perhaps the most impressive performance, though, is Doc Watson's solo rendition of "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," a traditional hymn whose simple and unadorned melody floats effortlessly on Watson's voice. Highly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson
Professional Reviews
Dirty Linen (4-5/00, p.75) - "...Tim and Mollie O'Brien have perhaps the liveliest track...while Ricky Skaggs takes the sentimental side....It's a collection that should appeal to all fans of good acoustic music or just plain good singing."
