Randy Scruggs Crown Of Jewels CD

"A Soldier's Joy" won the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance. "Lonesome Ruben" was nominated for the same award.

CROWN OF JEWELS is aptly named--every track is a gem. Randy Scruggs, son of legendary banjo player Earl Scruggs, is a top songwriter, producer and instrumentalist who's worked with, well, everyone. For CROWN OF JEWELS, he called in favors right and left to assemble an all-star cast, and they've created what sounds like the world's hippest country/rock mix tape.

Guests include Trisha Yearwood, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Vince Gill, Travis Tritt, Rosanne Cash, Bruce Hornsby, Joan Osborne and John Prine. Much of the material is brand new, but even old chestnuts like "Amie" and "Wildwood Flower" get new spins--the latter song is the first recorded duet between Emmylou Harris and Iris Dement, for example. A definite highlight is the Dylanesque rocker "Passin' Through," a duet between Scruggs and Osborne. But CROWN OF JEWELS truly shines on the instrumental tracks ("Travel On," "A Soldier's Joy"), which feature players whose sheer virtuosity will have your jaw dropping in amazement.

All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology.

Personnel: Randy Scruggs (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 12-string guitar, dobro, background vocals); Bruce Hornsby (vocals, piano, organ, synthesizer); John Prine, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Rosanne Cash, Travis Tritt, Joan Osborne (vocals); George Marinelli, Reggie Young (electric guitar); Roger McGuinn (12-string guitar); Lee Roy Parnell (slide guitar); Dan Dugmore (steel guitar); Jerry Douglas (dobro); Earl Scruggs (banjo); Stuart Duncan, Tammy Rogers (mandolin, fiddle); Marty Stuart (mandolin); David Davidson , David Angell (violin); Kristin Wilkinson (viola); John Catchings (cello); Delbert McClinton (harmonica); Reese Wynans (piano, organ); Steve Nathan (piano, synthesizer); Chuck Leavell (piano); Kenny Aronoff (drums, tambourine); Harry Stinson, Paul Leim, Owen Hale, Chad Cromwell (drums); Ron Reynolds, Tom Roady (percussion); Gary Chapman , Iris DeMent, Jeff Hanna, John Hiatt, Matraca Berg, Amy Grant (background vocals).

Audio Mixer: Steve Marcantonio.

Liner Note Author: Randy Scruggs.

Recording information: SCruggs Sound Studio, Nashville, TN.

Photographers: Sarah Osborne; Louise Scruggs; Bridget Petraitis; Mark Tucker ; Randy Scruggs.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Dan Dugmore; Delbert McClinton; Earl Scruggs; Emmylou Harris; Gary Chapman ; Harry Stinson; Iris DeMent; Jeff Hanna; Jerry Douglas ; John Hiatt; John Prine; Lee Roy Parnell; Marty Stuart; Mary Stuart; Matraca Berg; Amy Grant; Roger McGuinn; Rosanne Cash; Sam Bush; Stuart Duncan; Tammy Rogers; Travis Tritt; Trisha Yearwood; Vince Gill; Joan Osborne; Bruce Hornsby.

Personnel includes: Randy Scruggs (vocals, guitar); Travis Tritt, Emmylou Harris, Iris DeMent, Bruce Hornsby, John Prine (vocals); John Hiatt, Matraca Berg, Amy Grant (background vocals); Vince Gill, Joan Osborne, Trisha Yearwood, Lee Roy Parnell, Rosanne Cash, Sam Bush, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Gary Chapman, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Jeff Hanna, Delbert McClinton, Roger McGuinn, Tammy Rogers, Earl Scruggs, Harry Stinson, Marty Stuart.

Entertainment Weekly (8/7/98, p.79) - "Who knew that Earl's son--a producer and multi-instrumentalist--could sing? Joan Osborne, Rosanne Cash, Lee Roy Parnell, Bruce Hornsby, and others...join him here for a stylistically schizophrenic, but mostly thrilling melding of talent..." - Rating: B+