, grandfather of the movement, has had a profound influence on American music. Not only did he pioneer the playing of fiddle tunes on a flattop guitar, but through his incessant touring has brought music to a larger audience. This release captures not only , but almost a dozen family members at the height of their power and has been deservingly hailed as a classic recording. Right from the opening track, and family send the listener on an amazing journey into the American musical past and present. Incidentally, their performance of is certainly the equal of 's in terms of surreal country, capturing as it does race relations, commentary on shoe strings, as well directions for catching a groundhog. On a weepy tale of that conflates religious and personal love, a haunting female voice sings almost off-key accompanied only by a fiddle that doubles on the melody. On the instrumental offers a droning, -influenced version of this song staple of Mississippi river communities. Some of the family's best work is found in the scattered about the album. features a beautiful, uplifting three-part harmony, as does which contains the wickedly abject refrain, "I'm paying now/the penalty." A fabulous record that's a must-listen for any serious fan of American music. ~ Brian Whitener