Lyrad's Random 10

There's no doubt about the greatness of Earl Scruggs. His banjo is legendary and his work making "mountain music" with Lester Flatt after both left Bill Monroe's tyrannical band was, to me, better than the music's inventor. In any event, scores of praise have been laid on Flatt & Scruggs over the years and there's no good reason to lay it on thicker. The recording (one of 50 billion) of "Orange Blossom Special" was done at the Newport Folk Festival sometime between 1959 and 1966, the discs are not clear when the individual recordings were made, and is released on Vanguard's "Best of Bluegrass" 3-disc set. This set, along with it's companion "Best of Blues," is highly recommeded and an essential set in my collections. These years were right at the heart of the folk revival and, while there was a lot of cheese that came out, there was a lot of real respect for the tradition at that point that really hasn't been seen since.

1. Earl Scruggs--Orange Blossom Special
2. Mose Allison--The Gettin' Paid Waltz
3. The Fugees--No Woman, No Cry
4. Artie Shaw and His Orchestra--Traffic Jam
5. Angelo Badalamenti--Montage (from the soundtrack to The Straight Story)
6. Mystery Girls--Brown Bag Blues
7. Miles Davis--Drad Dog
8. Oscar Benito--El Canelazo
9. Ramblin' Jack Elliot--Talking Fisherman Blues
10. Manitas de Plata--Mi Sentimento