"If you're into bluegrass banjo, this cd is a great sampling of some old time bluegrass standards as well as some unusual tunes. There are no vocals on this CD. The song renditions are not squeeky clean. There are imperfections in the way they are performed and I think this human element gives the music more power. It's is not mixed, overdubbed, synthisized or pasturized. It's a great collection of bluegrass instrumentals the way bluegrass was meant to be performed. By human musicians with traditional mountain instruments. Simply fantastic."
For banjo history buffs...
surfandsand | 01/20/2003
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Raymon Fairchild belongs to an exclusive group of super pickers that Bela Fleck has credited with providing inspiration for his own work. Fairchild's picking is raw and fast, and his sound is straight from the mountains. Listening to Fairchild and his unique 3-fingered style is a little like watching a Ken Burns documentary- like finding a missing piece of a puzzle- you'll begin to see the whole picture in the history of the 5 string banjo.
These recordings vary in quality from poor to fair, but each seems faithful to the original."
Banjo lovers: Get it now, you will not be sorry
rellenwood@rmgauges.com | Maryland, United States | 02/24/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As i've heard, this man is over 50 years old. He lives in Fancy Gap, North Carolina, and has a restaurant with entertainment. This is one of the best banjo players I've ever heard. He plays exceptionally clean, and is one of the fastest pickers I've ever heard. He ranks right up with Earl Scruggs, Douglas Dilliard and all the other super pickers. Just listen to the first song, "Whoa Mule" and you will see the merit of this album."
Raymond Rules!
Brian Fairchild | San Antonio, TX United States | 11/18/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I feel I know a little about this, because I'm Raymond's cousin. Being born and raised in N.C. my father told me stories of the family getting together and "pickin' n' grinnin' " on weekends out on the front porch in the country up in the mountains of N.C. (Not Maggie Valley by the way). My dad raised me on bluegrass and plays the mandolin, as I do now. Raymond was the first bluegrass music I ever heard. My favorite song of his as always been "Whoa Mule." I've seen Raymond perform live many times along with my Dad. The thing that's amazing about Raymond is that he has very bad vision if not legally blind. He's such a gracious soul that comes from a family deep-rooted in blugrass music from the Appalachain Mountains of N.C. Anything he puts out is so crisp, fresh, and real. He has lived and loved the life of bluegrass music. He and my Dad, who heard him play so often when they were "nobodies," have inspired me and rekindled my love for bluegrass music because it represents me, my roots, and where I'm from. You can listen to Flat and Scruggs, Ricky Scaggs, or whomever else, but the next one you should listen to is Raymond. He wails on the banjo.......even if I still think the mondolin is the greatest instrument ever made. He's my cousin and he works damn hard to bring REAL bluegrass music to those who REALLY love it."