There really were no solo guitar heroes in bluegrass music (unless you count
Clarence White, who never made a solo album before his tragically young death) until
Dan Crary made this record back in 1970. Up to that point, the guitar had been almost exclusively a rhythm instrument, and even then its function often appeared to the casual observer to be limited to giving the singer something to do with his hands. This record was a fiery declaration of independence for bluegrass guitarists; it showed that the guitar could compete very well with the mandolin, banjo, and fiddle as a solo instrument in traditional music.
Crary's fleet fingers make deceptively easy work of such classic fiddle tunes as "Devil's Dream," "Forked Deer," and "Salt Creek," and his rendition of "Black Mountain Rag" has probably been as influential as
Doc Watson's -- perhaps even more so. His backing band is outstanding. This reissue was long overdue when it was released in 1992, and its only drawback is its 30-minute length. ~ Rick Anderson