Essential Flatt & Scruggs: 'Tis Sweet To Be Remembered CD

Recorded between 1950 and 1967. Includes liner notes by Patrick Carr.

All tracks on disc one are mono. All tracks on disc 2 are in stereo, except tracks 1-3, 14-15 which are mono.

Excepting a few years with Mercury at the beginning of their career, Flatt & Scruggs made all of their studio recordings for Columbia. This double-disc set is the most useful survey of their work for the label, spanning 1950 to 1969, and throwing in three unreleased tracks along the way. In addition to the expected sterling bluegrass, it has their occasional commercial breakthroughs ("The Ballad of Jed Clampett," "Petticoat Junction," and the version of "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" that was used as the theme to Bonnie and Clyde). Curiosity seekers will also be impressed by their cover of Bob Dylan's "Down in the Flood," recorded in late 1967, and unreleased by Dylan himself until The Basement Tapes. ~ Richie Unterberger

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

Liner Note Author: Patrick Carr.

Recording information: 11/21/1950-10/20/1967.

Photographer: Michael Ochs.

Arranger: Doc Watson.Down Beat (6/97, p.63) - 4 stars (out of 5) - "...this 34-song collection documents their casual virtuosity and unstudied ebullience..."