Seldom Scene - 15th Anniversary Edition
A host of country and bluegrass stars were on hand at this 1986 concert to celebrate the work of the trailblazing bluegrass quintet. Mandolinist John Duffey leads the quintet itself from traditional blues to John Fogerty's "Big Train from Memphis" to the spiritual "Take Me in Your Lifeboat." The numerous special guests each add their own flavor: Charlie Waller sings plaintively on Merle Travis' "Dark as a Dungeon"; Tony Rice's amazing flatpicking highlights a supercharged "You Don't Know My Mind"; Linda Ronstadt and Ricky Skaggs delicately cover the gospel "Drifting Too Far from the Shore"; and Emmylou Harris interprets Gram Parson's "Wheels." The diverse performances are fitting considering the progressive Seldom Scene's broad musical tastes.--Marc Greilsamer