What at first looks like an impressive retrospective of Jimmy Martin’s long and outstanding career turns out to be something of a disappointment. Martin has the reputation (deserved) of maintaining a tight & solid band right up to today, but almost all of the 25 cuts on this new disc suffer in comparison to prior recordings of the same songs. In addition, the constant “hyping” and mention of chart success in the live portions of this album get very tiresome very quickly. The most interesting aspect of the album is the 6-song segment from a 1959 jam session at a fan’s house (this with J. D. Crowe & Paul Williams). The rest of the album comes from 1990 and 1992 recordings—a nice cut of CORA IS GONE with Ricky Skaggs and a duet with Jimmy Dickens may be the most interesting of the other tracks. SOPHRONIE, OCEAN OF DIAMONDS, 20/20 VISION, JIMMY’S MULE, LITTLE MAGGIE, ROSE OF OLD KENTUCKY, RUBY, etc.
Track Listing
MADE IN THE SHADE (IF A TREE DON'T FALL) IF TEARDROPS WERE PENNIES GRANT TURNER INTRODUCTION 20/20 VISION LOST TO A STRANGER PETE, THE BEST COON DOG IN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE OCEAN OF DIAMONDS SOPHRONE MANSION ON THE HILL ROSE OF OLD KENTUCKY SUNNY SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN BIG JAM INTRO MOLLY AND TENBROOKS JIMMY'S MULE PUT MY LITTLE SHOES AWAY RUBY WIDOW MAKER DON'T LET ME CROSS OVER IF WE NEVER MEET AGAIN (THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN) DARLIN' CORY IT TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE LITTLE MAGGIE HONEY, YOU DON'T KNOW MY MIND WILL THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN FREE BORN MAN
Artists
JIMMY MARTIN LEONA WILLIAMS RAY MARTIN JET WILLIAMS MARTY STUART PAUL WILLIAMS JIMMY DICKENS RICKY SKAGGS GARY BREWER J.D. CROWE JOSH GRAVES GRANT TURNER
