The 1940S Recordings

For more than 20 years Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs plied their trade together as peerless bluegrass musicians, firstly as employees of the man many consider to be the architect of the genre Bill Monroe and then as leaders of their own band of bluegrass all-stars across three decades. This month Jasmine presents the first half of a 2CD salute to Lester and Earl, covering more than 15 years of bluegrass greatness. This first volume begins with the best of their recordings as members of Mr. Monroe's Bluegrass Boys and carries through to their Earliest recordings as bandleaders in their own right. Included among them are many songs that have become bluegrass standards that are still performed by contemporary bands to this day such as 'Little Cabin Home On The Hill', 'Down The Road' and 'Will You Be Loving Another Man'. Possibly the most famous of the early Foggy Mountain Boys recordings, 'Foggy Mountain Breakdown' took on a new life in 1968 when the recording featured here was used in the film 'Bonnie And Clyde', winning a Grammy in 1969 more than 20 years after it was recorded. Along with those of their former employer Mr. Monroe, these are the recordings that shaped the contemporary bluegrass sound. More will be heard soon, on a second volume that brings the best of their remaining Mercury sides together with their 1950s Columbia classics.