May 4 street date. This four-disc set compiles the seminal bluegrass duo's recordings for King Records--eight years' worth of smooth harmonies, consistently inventive songwriting, and Don Reno's electrifying musicianship on the five-string banjo. The Early Years includes some beautiful gospel numbers from their first King LP, including "The Lord's Last Supper" and the well-known "I'm Using My Bible for a Road Map." Other highlights are classic Reno and Smiley numbers like "I'm the Talk of the Town," "Dixie Breakdown," and "I Know You're Married (But I Love You Still)." A comprehensive document of one of the genre's most influential groups captured at the height of their powers, this album is a must for anyone interested in the formative early years of bluegrass.
Available now. This 4-CD Box Set is a compilation of bluegrass classics that the great Don Reno and Red Smiley recorded for the King label between the years 1959-1963. Comes with a 32 page booklet.