Bluegrass came into being, at least in our modern understanding of the genre, alongside recorded music. That means we have recordings from the earliest bluegrass stars up until now. Rest assured, there are countless fantastic bluegrass albums, but a few are on another level altogether. These essential albums belong in every bluegrass lover’s collection.
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1. Knee Deep in Blue Grass — Bill Monroe (1958)
Bill Monroe is often called “The Father of Bluegrass,” even giving the genre its name. His first album with his band, the Blue Grass Boys, was released in 1958. The album is now considered one of his best, but its greatness also comes down to its historical significance. Although the group had released 28 singles since the mid-1940s, Knee Deep in Blue Grass was the first studio album to feature Monroe’s signature style and categorize it, opening the door to a whole new world of roots music. Of course, Monroe’s sheer talent is also worth a listen, from his manic pacing to his mandolin and banjo pickin’.
2. Live at Carnegie Hall! — Flatt & Scruggs (1963)
Flatt & Scruggs were undoubtedly some of the most influential and prestigious musicians in the bluegrass world. But their live 1963 album, Live at Carnegie Hall!, was more than just great—it was a performance that made bluegrass history. For one thing, it was the first time bluegrass had ever been performed at Carnegie Hall, which had up until then been mainly reserved for more “prestigious” music. Flatt & Scruggs changed all that and ushered in a newfound respect for bluegrass as it fought for recognition against the increasingly popular genre of rock and roll. The set included both bluegrass standards and originals by the duo.
3. Will the Circle Be Unbroken — Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (1972)
As the second generation of bluegrass players became prominent, the first began to feel pushed aside. Much of this was in light of the folk revival of the 1960s, which pushed bluegrass toward mainstream popularity and left older stars like Doc Watson and Bill Monroe unsure where they fit in. In 1972, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band released Will the Circle Be Unbroken, a compilation album that aimed to unite the old bluegrass generation with the new. The result is a two-volume album featuring bluegrass standards with some of the greatest musicians of the genre, including Earl Scruggs, Merle Travis, Mother Maybelle Carter, and many others.
4. Crossing the Tracks — Béla Fleck (1979)
The first generation of bluegrass instrumentalists had Earl Scruggs and Ralph Stanley among the greatest banjo players. The second had Béla Fleck. Widely considered one of the greatest banjo players in bluegrass history, Fleck released his first album, Crossing the Tracks, in 1979 when he was just 20. But it was already apparent that he was destined for greatness. The album includes traditional bluegrass and folk songs and several original songs by the banjoist. Crossing the Tracks was just the beginning for this bluegrass great, but it accurately predicted a titanic career ahead of him; in 2020, Fleck was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.
[RELATED: Belá Fleck’s Homecoming LP ‘My Bluegrass Heart’ Honors His Heroes While Passing the Torch]
5. Skaggs & Rice — Tony Rice & Ricky Skaggs (1980)
Instruments play a vital part in bluegrass music, and indeed, many bluegrass musicians focus on instrumental music rather than songs with vocals. Take, for example, guitarist Tony Rice and mandolinist Ricky Skaggs, who teamed up in 1980 for an instrumental album. It would be easy to overlook an album with only mandolin and guitar, but Rice and Skaggs knew how to make their music stand out. The album is a journey into the art of both instruments, showing how deeply the artists understand them and how intricately they have planned the trip.
6. I’ve Got That Old Feeling — Alison Krauss (1990)
Alison Krauss was only 19 when she released I’ve Got That Old Feeling in 1990. However, she was already an established bluegrass star by then, having recorded three albums throughout the previous decade and won awards for her talent for fiddling. I’ve Got That Old Feeling stands out because it marked her career maturation, becoming her first work to enter the country charts and earning the star her first Grammy Award. The album is excellent in its own right. Still, it’s especially significant in its hints at the greatness of Krauss’ future as the queen of modern bluegrass.
Photo by David Redfern/Redferns
