Jimmy Martin 20 Greatest Hits

 

I was not familiar with Jimmy Martin specifically as a solo bluegrass artist until my old friend Ray Brandes posted one of his songs on Facebook, but I unknowingly knew his work with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys, who gave Jimmy his start in the biz. He clashed with Monroe personally - both too hot-headed, apparently - and went his own way with his Sunny Mountain Boys who won over the bluegrass crowd with his simple harmonies, catchy melodies and strong rhythm. With a long, although volatile career, he had many hits, traveled extensively and appeared on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's Will the Circle Be Unbroken Volumes II and III.

This budget release has very little info other than an basic overview of the man in the liner notes, but the music speak volumes for Jimmy! Opening with his classic, oft-covered, upbeat calling card "Freeborn Man", he moves into a harmony-filled take on "Truck Drivin' Man" (rock'n'rollers will know this from The J. Geils Band version on Blow Your Face Out) with some different/extra lyrics, there's a great banjo breakdown in "Pete, The Best Coon Dog", and some extraordinary harmonies in "Beautiful Brown Eyes". "Uncle Pen" sounds like it's made for square dancin', there's the compulsory "Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky", "Don't Let Your Sweet Love Die" and "Honey, You Don't Know My Mind" are in a similar vein, even melodically, while the harmony-drenched morbid ballad "Widow Maker" is considered his signature hit.

Back to the upbeat bluegrass in "Lover's Lane" (although, for some unspoken reason, Jimmy does not get the girl), more fine banjo pickin' in "Sweet Little Maggie", three-part harmonies dominate the lovelorn "I Know You're Married", the Boys do an excellent job on "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" (another obligatory bluegrass tune, but always fun), there's another ode to his hunting dog (complete with barkin') in "Run Pete Run", he gets autobiographical in "Bluegrass Singing Man", goes fullblown hillbilly in "One Woman Man", he longs for his lost love in "Who's Calling You Sweetheart", there's another bouncy instrumental in "Taylor Made Sally Good" and they close things out with the traditional "Knoxville Girl".

While I might dispute his title of "King of Bluegrass", he certainly is among the royalty of the genre. Great comp!