Jim & Jesse Story: 24 Greatest Hits CD

Jim & Jesse might be bluegrass's most famous act next to Bill Monroe, and they certainly have the catalog to back up the claim. While THE JIM & JESSE STORY is a fantastic collection, the set does not include the duo's original performances--all of the songs are re-recordings of their most famous hits from sessions in the early '90s with former members of the Virginia Boys. Despite this, Jim & Jesse have never made a sub par recording and these performances have the duo's heavenly harmonies and stellar picking aplenty. This 2007 reissue features four previously unreleased tracks from the original sessions--"Where Do We Go From Here?," "Are You Tired of Me Darling?," "Rider in the Rain," and "Those Brown Eyes." THE JIM & JESSE STORY is not the best collection of the duo's most classic performances--for that, try JIM & JESSE: 1952-1955--but these readings pop and are a worthy introduction.

By the time Jim and Jesse McReynolds recorded THE JIM & JESSE STORY for CMH in 1990, the duet had been major stars of the bluegrass scene for nearly 40 years. As you might imagine, a group with that much history has a pretty sizeable repertoire to draw from. It should come as no surprise, then, that this album--which contains 24 of Jim & Jesse's most popular numbers--is a wall-to-wall delight.

THE JIM & JESSE STORY demonstrates some of the versatility that has allowed the group to prosper in the ever-changing music business. The group works out on such diverse fare as John Prine's "Paradise," Hank Snow's "Golden Rocket," and their own truck-driving classic, "Diesel On My Tail." Of course, there's plenty of straightforward bluegrass here as well, such as "Sleepy-Eyed John" and the group's signature tune, "Just Wondering Why." The years, thankfully, had done little to dull the brothers' remarkable harmony singing, nor is Jesse's signature mandolin playing in any way diminished. Accordingly, THE JIM & JESSE STORY is a fine introduction to one of bluegrass' greatest and most enduring acts.

Audio Remixers: Jesse McReynolds; Billy Troy.

Recording information: Sound Stage Studio, Nashville, TN.

Photographer: Ken Kim.

Unknown Contributor Role: Billy Troy.

Jim & Jesse: Jim McReynolds, Jimmy Capps, Bobby Thompson (guitar); Keith McReynolds (bass instrument); Don McHan, Jesse McReynolds, Jim Buchanan, Lloyd Green, Allen Shelton, Blaine Sprouse, Carl Jackson.

Personnel: Don McHan (vocals, guitar); Jesse McReynolds (vocals, mandolin); Jim McReynolds (vocals); Lloyd Green (dobro); Allen Shelton, Bobby Thompson, Carl Jackson (banjo); Jim Buchanan, Blaine Sprouse (fiddle).