Marty Stuart Compadres: An Anthology Of Duets CD

Nashville has rarely looked as kindly on an eclectic spirit as it does on Marty Stuart. Ever the iconoclast--one album he's bluegrass, the next he's gospel, the next he's dabbling in R&B--Stuart still remains a Nashville insider. His new collection, COMPADRES: AN ANTHOLOGY OF DUETS, offers only two unreleased tracks, but acts as a great primer for Stuart's career of genre wanderlust.

Audio Remasterer: Jim DeMain.

Liner Note Author: Geoffrey Himes.

Recording information: AbTrax Recording, Nashville, TN; Big Javelina Studios, Nashville, TN; Blackbird Studios, Nashville, TN; Bradley's Barn, Mount Juliet, TN; Cash Cabin, Hendersonville, TN; Hounds Ear; Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood, CA; OmniSound, Nashville, TN; SOund Kitchen, Franklin, TN; Station West, Nashville, TN; The Ark, Hendersonville, TN; The Sound Emporium, Nashville, TN; Treasure Isle Studios, Nashville, TN; Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN.

Editors: Carlos Grier; Don Cobb.

Photographers: George Day; Bill Thorup; Bob Dylan.

The standouts are many: "Rawhide," with former mentor Lester Flatt, shows off his mandolin mastery; "Crying, Waiting, Hoping" finds Stuart and Steve Earle ripping through a Buddy Holly standard; and two Staples Singers' appearances--on "The Weight" and "Move Along Train"--point to Stuart's ability to mesh with non-country artists. There's a veritable parade of country legends here as well, including Loretta Lynn ("Will You Visit Me On Sunday") and George Jones ("One Woman Man"); Stuart's wife, Connie Smith, contributes two tracks, and his former father-in-law, Johnny Cash, even helps out with "Doin' My Time" from 1992's THIS ONE'S GONNA HURT YOU. While the genre-hopping feels a little herky-jerk, the listener can't help but be overwhelmed by the breadth of Stuart's talent--and the reach of his Rolodex.

Personnel: Marty Stuart (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar, mandolin); Willie Watson (vocals, acoustic guitar); Brian Glenn (vocals, upright bass); Harry Stinson (vocals, drums); Mavis Staples (vocals); Lester Flatt, B.B. King, Biff Watson (guitar); Richard Rodney Bennett (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, steel guitar); Mac McAnally (acoustic guitar, slide guitar); Del McCoury, Don Potter, Larry Byrom (acoustic guitar); Kenny Vaughan, Stuart Smith, Billy Walker, Jr., Brian Ahern (electric guitar); Gary Hogue, Robby Turner, Terry Crisp (steel guitar); Jerry Douglas (dobro); Earl Scruggs, Critter Fuqua, Kenny Ingram, Kevin Hayes (banjo); Ricky Skaggs, Stuart Duncan, Ketcham Secor (fiddle); Jimmy Joe Ruggiere (harmonica); Matt Rollings, Barry Beckett, Hargus "Pig" Robbins (piano); Steve Nathan (keyboards); Glenn Worf (acoustic bass); Morgan Jahnig (upright bass); Jim Keltner, Kenny Aronoff, Steve Turner , Eddie Bayers, Chad Cromwell (drums).

Audio Mixers: Chuck Turner; Chuck Seitz; Drew Bollman; Tony Collins; Jamie Tate; Joe McGrath; Joey Turner ; John Hampton; John Kelton; Justin Niebank; Mark Nevers; Peter Coleman; Bob Clearmountain.