Carrying the Tradition, the Lonesome River Band's 1991 album for Rebel, became one of the records that defined hard-driving bluegrass at the start of the decade. The Virginia-rooted band's lineup here — Tim Austin on guitar, Dan Tyminski and Ronnie Bowman trading lead vocals, and Sammy Shelor's banjo — caught a group hitting full stride, and several of its songs became staples of the early-1990s festival circuit. Shelor's playing, rooted in the Scruggs tradition but sharpened by his own competitive drive, anchors an ensemble that prized tight arrangement and vocal blend over individual display. 'Sitting on Top of the World' and 'I'm Coming Back But I Don't Know When' show the band's instinct for setting traditional material beside contemporary songwriting. Carrying the Tradition rewards repeated listening for its internal architecture as much as for its surface energy.
Tracklist
- 1 Sitting on Top of the World Source Recording 1:59
- 2 I Can't Get You Off My Mind 3:29
- 3 Heartless Love 3:32
- 4 Listen To The Word Of God 4:50
- 5 You Gotta Do What You Gotta Do Source Recording 3:32
- 6 The Game is Over Source Recording 2:35
- 7 Cabin of Love Source Recording 2:21
- 8 Money in the Bank Source Recording 2:33
- 9 Hobo Blues 3:54
- 10 Fireball Mail Source Recording 2:14
- 11 I’m Coming Back But I Don’t Know When alt version 2:43
- 12 Counting The Days 2:53
- 13 My Sweet Blue-Eyed Darlin’ Source Recording 2:26
- 14 I’m Coming Back But I Don’t Know When alt version
