'' Muleskinner'' is the eponymous debut album by the
progressive bluegrass
Bluegrass music is a genre of American roots music that developed in the 1940s in the Appalachian region of the United States. The genre derives its name from the band Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys. Like mainstream country music, it lar ...
group
Muleskinner
A muleskinner or mule skinner is a muleteer or mule-driver. The word may also refer to:
* Muleskinner, the mascot of St. John's Military School, Kansas, U.S.
* ''Muleskinner'', an alternate title for the album '' Jack Takes the Floor'' by Ramblin' ...
, recorded at the
Record Plant, Hollywood,
California
California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
, March 27 through April 14, 1973, and released later that year. It is their only studio album. The album was re-released by
Ridge Runner in 1978 and re-issued on a compact disc in 1994 under the title ''A Potpourri of Bluegrass Jam'', which was a banner on the front cover of the original album release.
Muleskinner
A muleskinner or mule skinner is a muleteer or mule-driver. The word may also refer to:
* Muleskinner, the mascot of St. John's Military School, Kansas, U.S.
* ''Muleskinner'', an alternate title for the album '' Jack Takes the Floor'' by Ramblin' ...
reunited
David Grisman and
Peter Rowan
Peter Rowan (born July 4, 1942) is an American bluegrass musician and composer. Rowan plays guitar and mandolin, yodels and sings.
Biography
Rowan was born in Wayland, Massachusetts to a musical family. From an early age, he had an interest ...
, who had played together in the band,
Earth Opera
Earth Opera was an American psychedelic rock group, active between 1967 and 1969 and featuring Peter Rowan and David Grisman.
History
Both Rowan and Grisman were virtuoso folk and bluegrass performers in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, ...
. They along with bassist
John Kahn
John Kahn (June 13, 1947 – May 30, 1996) was an American electric and acoustic bassist. From 1970 to 1995, Kahn was Jerry Garcia's principal musical collaborator outside of the Grateful Dead.
Biography
John Kahn was born in Memphis, Tennessee ...
would go on to form
Old & In the Way
Old & In the Way was a bluegrass group formed in 1973. It was composed of Peter Rowan (guitar, vocals), Vassar Clements (fiddle), Jerry Garcia (banjo, vocals), David Grisman (mandolin, vocals), and John Kahn (string bass). When the group was fo ...
after
Muleskinner
A muleskinner or mule skinner is a muleteer or mule-driver. The word may also refer to:
* Muleskinner, the mascot of St. John's Military School, Kansas, U.S.
* ''Muleskinner'', an alternate title for the album '' Jack Takes the Floor'' by Ramblin' ...
disbanded.
[Album review]
/ref>
Shortly after the release of the album guitarist Clarence White
Clarence White (born Clarence Joseph LeBlanc; June 7, 1944 – July 15, 1973) was an American bluegrass and country guitarist and singer. He is best known as a member of the bluegrass ensemble the Kentucky Colonels and the rock band the Byrd ...
died, and the album was subsequently dedicated to him.
The band released a live album in 1998 (recorded in 1973) and re-united for a couple of one-off performances.
Track listing
# " Muleskinner Blues" (Rodgers, Vaughn) – 3:16
# "Blue And Lonesome" (Jacobs) – 3:18
# "Footprints In The Snow" (Miller, Elliott) – 3:34
# "Dark Hollow" (Browning) – 2:48
# "Whitehouse Blues" (Traditional arr. Greene) – 2:18
# "Opus 57 in G Minor" (Grisman) – 2:26
# "Runways Of The Moon" (Roberts, Rowan) – 4:23
# "Roanoke" (Ahr) – 1:49
# "Rain and Snow" (trad., arr. Rowan) – 4:10
# "Soldier's Joy" (trad., arr. White) – 2:15
# "Blue Mule" (Rowan) – 4:28
Personnel
* Peter Rowan
Peter Rowan (born July 4, 1942) is an American bluegrass musician and composer. Rowan plays guitar and mandolin, yodels and sings.
Biography
Rowan was born in Wayland, Massachusetts to a musical family. From an early age, he had an interest ...
– vocals, guitar
* Bill Keith – banjo, pedal steel
* Clarence White
Clarence White (born Clarence Joseph LeBlanc; June 7, 1944 – July 15, 1973) was an American bluegrass and country guitarist and singer. He is best known as a member of the bluegrass ensemble the Kentucky Colonels and the rock band the Byrd ...
– acoustic guitar, electric guitar, vocals
* Richard Greene
Richard Marius Joseph Greene (25 August 1918 – 1 June 1985) was a noted English film and television actor. A matinée idol who appeared in more than 40 films, he was perhaps best known for the lead role in the long-running British TV series ' ...
– violin, vocals
* David Grisman – mandolin, vocals
* John Guerin
John Payne Guerin (October 31, 1939 – January 5, 2004) was an American percussionist. He was a proponent of the jazz-rock style.
Biography
Guerin was born in Hawaii and raised in San Diego. As a young drummer he began performing with Buddy De ...
– drums
* John Kahn
John Kahn (June 13, 1947 – May 30, 1996) was an American electric and acoustic bassist. From 1970 to 1995, Kahn was Jerry Garcia's principal musical collaborator outside of the Grateful Dead.
Biography
John Kahn was born in Memphis, Tennessee ...
– bass
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Potpourri Of Bluegrass Jam
1973 debut albums
Peter Rowan albums
David Grisman albums
Warner Records albums