Byron Berline Fiddle & A Song CD

FIDDLE & A SONG features Byron Berline performing with a variety of singers and with the bands California, Sundance, The Doo Wah Riders and The Sherman Oaks Presbyterian Church Quartet. Berline is a member of both California and Sundance.

Principally recorded at Rainbow Garage, Van Nuys, California; Champagne Studios, Nashville, Tennessee; Don Ross Studio, Eugene, Oregon between November 8, 1994 and February 6, 1995. "Fiddler's Dream" was recorded in 1983. Includes liner notes by Byron Berline.

FIDDLE & A SONG was nominated for a 1996 Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album. "Sally Goodin" was nominated for Best Country Instrumental Performance.

Byron Berline's Fiddle & a Song is a star-studded affair with numerous guests, for the most part recorded in 1995. It's hard to beat "Sally Goodin," a traditional bluegrass favorite, with veterans Bill Monroe and Earl Scruggs prominently featured. But there are other worthwhile tracks as well; ex-Sundance member Vince Gill sings lead and plays guitar on "Rose of Old Kentucky" and "Sweet Memory Waltz," while Mason Williams wrote "Skippin' Along on Top" in honor of Berline and sings lead in this humorous ditty as well. Berline is even joined by the Sherman Oaks Presbyterian Church Quartet (where Berline and his wife are longtime members, with Bette Berline playing piano and singing soprano) for a heartfelt treatment of the hymn "Were You There?" Of course, the leader's magical fiddle is in the center of every track, and bluegrass fans should consider this one of Byron Berline's finest recordings. ~ Ken Dryden

Personnel: Byron Berline (vocals, fiddle); Vince Gill, Rick Cunha, Lindy Rasmusson (vocals, guitar); Bill Monroe (vocals, mandolin); Ken Liebenson (vocals, accordion, piano); Bette Berline (vocals, piano); Steve Spurgin (vocals, bass, drums); Mason Williams, Jann Browne, Donna Falco, Ellie Doud, Frank Heckadon (vocals); John Moore (guitar, mandolin, background vocals); Randy Scruggs, Dan Crary (guitar); Jay Dee Maness (steel guitar); Skip Conover (lap steel); Dennis Caplinger, Earl Scruggs, John Hickman (banjo); Jerry Mills (mandolin); Pete Wasner, Ella Rose Halloran (piano); Ken Lynard, Doug Haywood, Don Whaley (bass, background vocals); James Monroe, Bill Bryson (bass); Ed Eblin, Hal Blaine (drums).

Engineers: Randy Best (track 1); Rick Cunha (tracks 2, 4-5, 7-9, 11-12); Walter New (track 3); Don Ross (track 6); Brett Bacon (track 10).

Personnel: Byron Berline (vocals, fiddle, background vocals); Lindy Rasmussen, Rick Cunha (vocals, guitar, background vocals); Vince Gill (vocals, guitar); Ken Liebenson (vocals, accordion, piano); Steve Spurgin (vocals, drums, background vocals); Jann Browne (vocals, background vocals); Mason Williams (vocals); Frank Heckadon (bass voice); Dan Crary, Randy Scruggs (guitar); JayDee Mannes (steel guitar); Skip Conover (lap steel guitar); Dennis "Cannonball" Caplinger, John Hickman (banjo); John Moore (mandolin, background vocals); Jerry Mills (mandolin); Bette Berline, Pete Wasner (piano); Ed Eblin, Hal Blaine (drums); Doug Haywood, Don Whaley (background vocals).

Recording information: Champagne Studios, Nashville, TN; Don Ross Studio, Eugene, OR; Rainbow Garage, Van Nuys, CA; Skyline Studios, Topanga Canyon, CA.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Earl Scruggs; Alan Wald; Jack Skinner; California; Sundance; Mark Cohen; Bill Monroe; Doo Wah Riders.

Arranger: Byron Berline.Dirty Linen (4-5/96, p.67) - "...showcases a variety of fiddle styles....The first five cuts are as perfect as can be..."