The Country Gentlemen, released by Vanguard in April 1973 (VSD 79331), was recorded in 1972 by the lineup Charlie Waller put together after John Duffey and Eddie Adcock had both left. Waller rebuilt the group with Doyle Lawson on mandolin (he had joined in September 1971), Bill Emerson, a founding member back since 1970, on banjo, and Bill Yates on bass, and moved it from Rebel to Vanguard. Waller sings lead, and Emerson and Lawson take the harmony parts. Ricky Skaggs plays fiddle, and the sleeve lists him as a guest along with Mike Auldridge on dobro and Al Rogers on drums. Jack Lothrop produced the album and wrote the sleeve notes.
Most of the songs are by contemporary songwriters: Gordon Lightfoot’s “Don Quixote” and “Mother of a Miner’s Child,” John Prine’s “Paradise” and “Souvenirs,” Paul Simon’s “The Leaves That Are Green,” Kris Kristofferson’s “Casey’s Last Ride,” Steve Young’s “Travelling Kind,” Steve Goodman’s “The City of New Orleans” and “Catfish John” by Allen Reynolds and Bob McDill. “Bringing Mary Home,” co-written by Duffey, and two traditional songs, “House of the Rising Sun” and “One Morning in May,” complete the twelve tracks. It was also Emerson’s last album with the band; he left again and joined the U.S. Navy in 1973.
Tracklist
- 1 Floyd 4:03
- 2 Travelin' On 3:10
- 3 80 Proof Rain 4:53
- 4 Lights Go Red 3:33
- 5 Let Our Souls Run Free 5:36
- 6 Katie 4:57
- 7 Countin' the Miles 4:19
- 8 The House of the Rising Sun Source Recording 3:27
- 9 Christmas Eve in the Middle East 4:19
- 10 Coal Miners' Creed 5:19
- 11 Red Dirt 4:21
- 12 The End of Something 4:36
- 13 Heaven in the Hill Country 4:01
- 14 Catfish John alt version 2:31
- 15 House of the Rising Sun alt version 3:27
- 16 Paradise alt version
- 17 Preaching, Praying, Singing alt version 1:46
- 18 The City of New Orleans alt version
- 19 The Leaves That Are Green alt version
