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Ron Rigsby & One Way Track - Great Day In May

(RRRainbow RRR-4309) 1984

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I don't have a copy of this LP, but about 4 years ago I found an MP3 rip whilst searching through the dusty corners of the internet. You can also now find it on youtube...

By my reckoning James Price would have been just 19 when this album was released in 1984, and it's not half bad. If the banjo player also looks familiar too, that's 'cause it's Ron Rigsby - Don Rigsby's brother. (Don of course did the Doctor's Orders tribute and a whole bunch of other stuff).

Shortly after the album came out, it was reviewed in the March '85 edition of 'Bluegrass Today' which hit the nail on the head:- "First impressions of this record were excellent; the band obviously have put a lot of care into this album. Recording is for the most part, very good. Instrumentally the band is super. James Price would be an asset to any band judging by his performances on this album on mandolin, fiddle, and lead guitar. Ron Rigsby plays an excellent traditional-styled bluegrass banjo. Randy and Marsha Brady lay the foundation on guitar and bass respectively. Finally, Jerry Douglas is added for 2 cuts."

"Vocally, Ron Rigsby and One Way Track are somewhat of a mixed bag. The group has obviously worked hard on their vocal sounds, evidenced by the careful use of vocal embellishments. Harmonies are particularly good, especially the duets which often have that old-time character that few groups are able to produce. However, the lead singing seems too relaxed on many cuts and does not balance the other aspects of the band."

It's a bit odd to hear James on mandolin & lead guitar, although he did often do a comedy spot with the CMB's playing guitar & imitating Johnny Cash / Willie Nelson.

Overall this is an excellent album, well worth hearing, with a mix of standards and more contemporary tunes like Johnny Cash' I Still Miss Someone, the Carpenters' hit Top Of The World and Steve Young's Seven Bridges Road.

I don't think the band did any other recordings, but there seems to have been one 7" taken from the album with the title cut Great Day In May backed by Tribute To Lester Flatt (a medley of Take This Hammer & Hot Corn, Cold Corn). According to Charley Pennell's discography the single had the same catalogue number as the LP.

• Marsha Brady: bass
• Randy Brady: guitar, vocal
• James Price: mandolin, fiddle, lead guitar, vocal
• Ron Rigsby: banjo, vocal
• Jerry Douglas: dobro(*)

NB: (*) guests on Top Of The World and Great Day In May.