Bluegrass Special, released on Epic in 1963, was the first album Jim & Jesse and the Virginia Boys cut for the label, opening the most commercially visible chapter of the brother duo's career. Jim McReynolds's clear high tenor and Jesse McReynolds's innovative crosspicking mandolin — a technique Jesse essentially invented, adapting fiddle-style bowing to the mandolin — gave the pair a sound smoother and more polished than much of their competition. The Virginia Boys backed them with the tight, unshowy precision the brothers demanded. The repertoire moves between traditional bluegrass, brother-duet material, and the country-leaning songs that would increasingly mark their Epic years. Bluegrass Special captures Jim & Jesse at a pivotal moment, carrying the close-harmony tradition of the brother acts into a more modern, professionally produced setting.
Tracklist
- 1 Sweet Little Miss Blue Eyes alt version 1:58
- 2 Somebody Loves You Darling alt version 2:24
- 3 She Left Me Standing on the Mountain Source Recording 2:09
- 4 Don't say goodbye if you love me 2:45
- 5 I Wish You Knew Source Recording 2:28
- 6 When it's time for the whippoorwill to sing 2:22
- 7 Grave in the valley 3:12
- 8 Blue bonnet lane 2:08
- 9 Are You Missing Me alt version 2:27
- 10 Congratulations, anyway! 2:15
- 11 Pickin' and a-grinnin' 2:22
- 12 Stoney Creek 1:52
