Off The Record, Vol. 2: Live Duet Recordings, 1963-1980
A 45-minute trip to bluegrass heaven, these 17 songs combine the talents of two unparalleled musical forces: Bill Monroe, the inventor of bluegrass, master of the mandolin, and owner of a bone-chilling, mountain tenor voice; and Doc Watson, the flatpicking genius with a soulful, mellow vocal tone. Much of the material stems from the legendary Monroe Brothers recordings. Their sublime harmonies carry plaintive ballads including "What Would You Give in Exchange for Your Soul" and "Banks of the Ohio," and uptempo numbers such as "You Won't Be Satisfied That Way." The roaring fiddle tunes are simply mind-blowing: "Soldier's Joy," "East Tennessee Blues," and "Fire on the Mountain" all rank as virtuosic masterpieces. If it's possible, the pairing exceeds all expectations.--Marc Greilsamer