Rotten Taters (self-released, 2011) is a solo studio album from Nashville mandolinist Mike Compton, recorded in Australia and presenting Compton's voice and two handmade instruments — an F5 mandolin and an H5 mandola — without any additional accompaniment. Compton plays mandolin and mandola and sings throughout; no other musicians appear on the record. The entirely solo format strips his playing to its essentials, focusing the listener on his vintage Monroe-style mandolin approach outside the ensemble bluegrass context that characterizes most of his other recordings. Compton had been a central figure in Nashville acoustic music since the 1980s and '90s, associated with John Hartford, Jack Lawrence, and other leading figures; Rotten Taters offers the most direct available statement of his unaccompanied mandolin and vocal voice as a performing and recording artist.
Tracklist
- 1 From One to Twelve 3:38
- 2 Forever Has Come to an End 4:07
- 3 Hallie's Hornpipe 2:56
- 4 Dust and Ashes/He Rose from the Dead 3:48
- 5 Post Oak Grove 3:57
- 6 I'll Tell You About the Women 1:45
- 7 Rotten Taters 4:05
- 8 Wood Butcher's Walkabout 3:29
- 9 Yankee Gal 2:10
- 10 Midnight Hour Blues 3:46
- 11 Torment of Billie 4:09
- 12 Jimmy Fell Off the Wagon 2:57
- 13 How You Want Your Rollin' Done 3:22
- 14 Dear Honey 5:34
- 15 Jenny Lynn Source Recording 2:52