Bluegrass Special, Vol. 3, released by MCA in 1976 (subtitled 1950-1959), is the third entry in the label's series of Bill Monroe archival compilations — a selection of his vintage Decca recordings from the 1950s, the decade that established the post-Flatt-and-Scruggs Blue Grass Boys and produced some of his most enduring originals. The lead vocal on most cuts is Monroe's own, though selected tracks feature singers like Jimmy Martin from his time in the band. The series gave MCA a vehicle to keep the Decca catalog circulating during Monroe's still-active recording career, and Volume 3 in particular preserves the 1950s working-band sound that would influence every bluegrass generation that followed.
Tracklist
- 1 When the Cactus Is in Bloom (Take 1, Breakdown) 1:11
- 2 When the Cactus Is in Bloom (Take 2) 2:06
- 3 Sailor's Plea (Take 1) 3:03
- 4 Sailor's Plea (Take 2) 3:02
- 5 Sailor's Plea (Take 3, Breakdown) 1:41
- 6 Sailor's Plea (Take 4) 2:47
- 7 Sailor's Plea (Take 5, Breakdown) 2:38
- 8 Sailor's Plea (Take 6) 2:38
- 9 My Carolina Sunshine Girl (Take 1, Breakdown) 2:28
- 10 My Carolina Sunshine Girl (Take 2, Breakdown) 0:46
- 11 My Carolina Sunshine Girl (Take 3) 2:40
- 12 My Carolina Sunshine Girl (Take 4, Breakdown) 2:34
- 13 My Carolina Sunshine Girl (Take 5) 2:41
- 14 Ben Dewberry’s Final Run alt version 2:52
- 15 Ben Dewberry’s Final Run alt version 2:52
- 16 Ben Dewberry’s Final Run alt version 2:52
- 17 Peach Pickin' Time in Georgia (Take 1, 2 False Starts) 0:32
- 18 Peach Pickin' Time in Georgia (Take 2, False Start, Breakdown) 1:33
- 19 Peach Pickin' Time in Georgia (Take 3,false Start) 2:28
- 20 Those Gambler's Blues (Take 1, Breakdown) 2:22
- 21 Those Gambler's Blues (Take 2, False Start, Breakdown) 1:28
- 22 Those Gambler's Blues (Take 3, False Start) 2:49
- 23 Highway of Sorrow alt version 2:20
- 24 Highway of Sorrow (Take 2) 2:56
- 25 Highway of Sorrow (Take 3) 2:55
- 26 Rotation Blues (Take 1) 3:27
- 27 Rotation Blues (Take 2) 3:06
- 28 Rotation Blues (Take 3, Breakdown) 1:50
- 29 Rotation Blues (Take 4, Breakdown) 0:52
- 30 Rotation Blues (Take 5) 3:04
- 31 Rotation Blues (Take 6, Breakdown) 1:45
- 32 Rotation Blues (Take 7, Breakdown) 0:46
- 33 Rotation Blues (Take 8, Breakdown) 2:37
- 34 Rotation Blues (Take 9) 2:54
