It must be a great honour to have an entire musical genre created by a single person during their lifetime, according to the music history books. Mandolin player and singer-songwriter Bill Monroe is that person alone, being the Bach of Bluegrass Music. In fact, the name Bluegrass stems from his band’s name, the Blue Grass Boys. In any case, Mandolin playing is something that is frequently ignored in today’s increasingly digitised and computerised AI-driven music world with postmodern album releases just being basically a celebrity with a laptop. Having said that, this compilation is one of the most popular releases by Bill Monroe after his passing in 1996. Combining a bunch of musical genres such as Country and Jazz Music into a fluid style with Mandolin playing over his musical career, this is a good starting point for listening to the works of Bill Monroe. Let’s hear it.

Uncle Pen – Single Version begins with some fiddle and some basic low-end sounds in the background. Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys play and sing wonderfully on this song, and the musicianship and playing are really excellent. There is a very sweet Mandolin soloing on this short and awesome tune. A very traditional-sounding music piece, this is a winner throughout. The fiddle solo is pretty and lovely. Bill Monroe and his band make a fantastic piece of music for all to listen to and enjoy. The Mandolin playing is really sublime. A simple, gorgeous and melodic song with multiple people from Bill Monroe’s camp singing along here. A really cool listen. It fades out quickly at the end.

I’m Blue, I’m Lonesome begins with some frenetic Mandolin playing and launches into an uptempo piece of music that sounds like proto-Shred guitar. Singing emerges fairly quickly here, and this is a song about being sad and out. Nonetheless, this is a really solid and decent effort musically that sounds quite unlike anything else out there to this day. It is deeply rooted in Country Music tradition, with loads of awesome Mandolin and fiddle throughout. A good and sweet tune, although many non-Country Music fans likely would not like this sort of music. A good singalong piece of music that sounds outstanding to this day. A very great listen from start to finish, and an excellent song to hear about being upset.

New Mule Skinner Blues begins with some awesome Mandolin playing, fiddle and sounds great from the start. This music is certainly unique. Bill Monroe launches into a really great tune that has power and glory throughout. To be fair, the singing isn’t the greatest, but the true appeal of this music lies in the instrumental Mandolin work. A really great tune to listen to, although this is music that is a really acquired taste throughout. A gorgeous song, all in all, this sounds terrific. Nonetheless, good music for fans of Country Music and Bluegrass.

Nine Pound Hammer begins with pleasant banjo and Mandolin. This is a very bright, clean and unique jam throughout. Bill Monroe and fiddle join the scene shortly afterwards, and this tune sounds amazing. A really cool, awesome and dynamic tune to listen to, provided you are okay with Bluegrass Music. A really powerful, loveable and gorgeous tune to listen to, complete with some falsetto vocals throughout. Great Bluegrass music to hear, this sounds absolutely fantastic throughout. Very listenable and enjoyable from start to finish. This sounds spectacular from start to finish. The Mandolin playing is insanely good. This ends suddenly after two minutes in length.

Blue Moon Of Kentucky begins with some nice fiddle, and Mandolin playing and sounds insanely good yet different. Bill Monroe sings sweetly on this song, and this original Bluegrass tune is magical. A unique and historic take on Country Music in a unique and lovely way. Soon into it, we launch into an uptempo and awesome tune at the drop of a hat, complete with Mandolin soloing throughout. A very great listening experience from start to finish, and this sounds really joyous and wonderful throughout. It ends quickly after two minutes in length.

I Saw The Light begins with some Mandolin playing and unified singing from Bill Monroe and his friends. This is about finding God, which is a deeply spiritual and religious experience, should one ever do so. The Mandolin playing throughout this song is really insane. This is a good, traditional piece of music that sounds interesting and wonderful. This music is historically important, regarding of whether you like Country and Western-influenced Bluegrass Music or not. The music alternates between singing and Mandolin soloing throughout. Bill Monroe plays some extremely cool Mandolin with some decent chops to boot. A good listening experience from start to finish, and fairly memorable. It slows down with a neat singing conclusion at the end of it all.

Footprints In The Snow begins with some more fiddle and launches into a sweet Bluegrass music jam. Bill Monroe sings very sweetly in this song, and the music is very pristine and well-played. This music would definitely appeal to folks in Southern USA, and the music is well performed and really joyous to listen to. The music and playing, in particular the Mandolin playing, is extremely good. The second half of the song has more of a fiddle solo to boot. A really decent tune that deserves repeat listens. It ends just before three minutes in length, and it does sound sweet. Worth listening to.

You’re Drifting Away begins with some sweet Mandolin, and launches into a nicely recorded and sung piece of music about trying to find God in a life that would otherwise be worthless. This sounds moving and extremely good. There is a nice Mandolin solo, along with an acoustic guitar as well. A good song about some interesting Christian concepts throughout, this music is a real joy to listen to. Despite its religious overtones, this is quite a good song to listen to. The Mandolin chops by Bill Monroe are really fantastic, and this music is absolutely gorgeous. A simple piece of music from a less stressful time, there is a false ending before this finishes with vocals and acoustic guitars, insisting the listener to find Jesus and pray. Good if you like Christianity mixed with music.

Rocky Road Blues begins with energetic fiddle, acoustic guitar and Mandolin throughout, with some banjo as well. This is a great song based on 12 Bar Blues, and it sounds wonderfully energetic. There is a banjo solo here, which is pretty wacky. This is likely some of the most unusual sounding Country and Bluegrass Music that you will ever hear. A Mandolin solo that is nicely played is in the second half of this song, and the music is fine and fantastic throughout. A very nice and upbeat listen from start to finish. It ends with a double bass playing. Different, all right.

Cry Cry Darlin’ begins with some slow fiddle work, and launches into a very much an attempt at melancholy in Bluegrass fashion. To be fair, this isn’t the greatest song by Bill Monroe from this compilation. It’s not outright bad, but it does sound a little out of place. Having said that, the Mandolin playing is really wonderful here. This short piece of music and musicianship is definitely different to hear. A very interesting but ordinary-sounding piece of music, this is not that good, to be fair. Fortunately, it ends after nearly two minutes in length. This is not quality music here.

Scotland – Instrumental is a piece with Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys. It begins with an upbeat fiddle and launches into a Country/Western Bluegrass tune that has some very loud fiddle throughout. There is also banjo and some really sensationally played Mandolin here. The music is very good, even without lyrics here. This is the sort of music that elderly couples born in the 1950s could dance to. A good tune, even if the prominent fiddles can be a bit much at times. Worth listening to. It fades out just before two minutes in length.

Gotta Travel On begins with banjo, Mandolin and double bass, immediately launching into a good song about travelling and the change in seasons over time. A real cowboy or redneck-sounding sort of tune (in relation to its audience appeal, anyway), this music is an interesting listen nonetheless. The fiddle solo is really excellent here, and the music sounds powerful and lively. A really decent and melodic song, this is definitely a great song for those in rural USA who dig the more historical cowboy side of their country. A mixture of Mandolin and banjo soloing present here is quite awesome. Bill Monroe sings about longing for one’s lady, and other cowboy-styled pursuits. Excellent listening. It ends dramatically.

The Long Black Veil is a slower and more melodic tune than what we expect from this compilation. Bill Monroe sings in a high falsetto delivery about being tried in court. This is a traditional Country Music tale in the vein of Bluegrass that is dramatic, different and not that good of a song, to be fair. It’s not outright bad, but this is a bit of an acquired taste musically. There is a bittersweet fiddle solo here briefly before this returns to the song at hand. A sad lament set to music, but this could have been a little better musically. It’s over just before three minutes in length. It’s okay but not fantastic.

Toy Heart begins with fiddle and Mandolin, launching straight into an uptempo tune. This has Bill Monroe singing about being taken for a fool in a relationship, and the music and sounds are typically Bluegrass, yet joyous to listen to. The banjo and Mandolin playing in particular are fantastically awesome, and this sounds fresh and enjoyable to this day. One of the better pieces from this album, it sounds gorgeous and majestic throughout. A great tune, the Mandolin solo in the second half is very gorgeous to listen to. Nonetheless, a very enjoyable piece of music to hear. Good for two minutes of music.

Jimmy Brown The Newsboy is a bit different, starting slower with some more prominent fiddle. This song is about a metaphorical story about being the newspaper delivery boy in the USA. A great listening experience, with some great banjo and Mandolin throughout. This does sound great, and the music throughout is a good tale about growing up in poverty. Nonetheless, very awesome to listen to. The Mandolin and fiddle solos duke it out in the second half, and this music sounds very amazing. Decent to hear.

Fireball Mail begins with fiddle, acoustic guitar and banjo to boot. This sounds quite fresh and upbeat. Bill Monroe rips into some high-octave Country-styled vocals, and this is a very interesting and decent story set to music about a lady of fancy. This sounds superb, and the banjo and acoustic guitars throughout sound really awesome. A good listen, although again, this is very much an acquired musical taste. There is a fiddle solo throughout the second half that is sweet. All in all, another solid cut to listen to and enjoy. A really good tune. It concludes with repeated vocals and finishes after two and a half minutes long.

Kentucky Waltz is a slower tune with some prominent fiddle and banjo. It sounds gorgeous throughout, and this has some image-evoking lyrics about Kentucky at night. In any case, this sounds super sweet and is a nice way to finish off this excellent compilation. In any case, this song is about the prospect of finding love. A furious Mandolin solo is near the midsection of this song, adding some interesting flavour musically to the mix. This is followed by a fiddle solo that sounds really good. A good and youthful-sounding piece of Bluegrass Music that sounds rich and powerful, and it has a bit of melancholy to it. A good finish to a solid album release that encapsulates what Bluegrass Music was, and is, about.

This is a good compilation that has its ups and downs. For the most part, this is fairly good but some songs are real stinkers, probably because Bill Monroe did not pick the tracks himself as this was released posthumously. However, this doesn’t mean you should ignore this album. In fact, Bill Monroe created Bluegrass Music and his reputation is forever in the music history books for that. Having said that, the music here requires quite an acquired taste to enjoy it. Should you listen to this album? It really depends on if you dig Country Music styled offshoot genres musically, otherwise don’t bother with this release.

A good example of a true musical pioneer.

7/10