A Vision was Don Rigsby’s first solo album, released on CD by Sugar Hill in 1998 (SHCD 3873). Its thirteen songs, mostly bluegrass gospel, were recorded at River Tracks Studio in Louisa, Kentucky. Rigsby sings lead and plays mandolin on most of the program. Rigsby had been a member of the Lonesome River Band, with which he recorded One Step Forward (1996), Finding the Way (1998) and Talkin’ to Myself (2000).
The guests are a large part of the record. Ralph Stanley sings lead on “Rose Among the Thorns,” a Stanley composition, with J.D. Crowe on banjo and harmony, and again on the unaccompanied “Vision of a Golden Crown,” where Rigsby, Ricky Skaggs and Otis L. Dillon sing the other parts. Skaggs also sings harmony on “Over in Gloryland,” one of three traditional pieces arranged by Rigsby; the others are “Higher Than I,” sung by Rigsby alone and unaccompanied, and “Drifting Too Far from the Shore.” Ruby Rakes wrote “Wings of Angels,” “Angel of Death” and “That Home Far Away.” “Wings of Angels” has Crowe on banjo, Jason Carter on fiddle, Barry Bales on bass and Greg Luck on guitar and harmony. Dan Tyminski, David Parmley and Ray Deaton sing on “Angel of Death,” and John Berry sings harmony on three tracks. Sonya, Rebecca and Ben Isaacs are the harmony singers on “Little Spirit Man,” written by Rigsby and Jeff Weaver.
Tracklist
- 1 Wings of Angels Source Recording 2:21
- 2 Little Spirit Man 5:32
- 3 Rose Among The Thorns 2:49
- 4 I’ve Just Seen the Rock of Ages alt version 3:07
- 5 Over In The Gloryland 3:42
- 6 Angel Of Death 2:56
- 7 Higher Than I 4:02
- 8 That Home Far Away alt version 2:32
- 9 On A High, High Mountain 3:07
- 10 God Needed My Mother 2:29
- 11 Drifting Too Far From the Shore alt version 3:11
- 12 It Is Jesus 3:42
- 13 Vision Of A Golden Crown 2:52
