Fifty Years Of Bluegrass Hits, Vol. 1

CHM raids the vaults yet again, drawing on tried and true bluegrass classics by the likes of the Osborne Brothers, Mac Wiseman, Jim & Jesse, and Rose Lee Maphis. There's nothing here that bluegrass aficionados haven't heard before or have elsewhere, but with over an hour's worth of music and solid musicianship all the way through, 50 Years of Bluegrass Hits isn't a bad place for a newcomer or casual fan to start. Standards like "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" and "Muleskinner Blues" share space with virtuosic almost-novelties such as Benny Martin's "Dueling Fiddles," as well as a few gospel-tinged numbers. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide