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Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

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For the self-titled debut album, seeThe Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (album).

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
A photo of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band performing on stage.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 2024. From left to right: Jimmie Fadden, Jaime Hanna, Jeff Hanna, Jim Photoglo, Ross Holmes, and Bob Carpenter.
Background information
Also known as
  • Illegitimate Jug Band
  • The Toot Uncommons
  • The Dirt Band
OriginLong Beach, California,United States
Genres
DiscographyNitty Gritty Dirt Band discography
Years active1966–present
Labels
Members
Past membersSeelist of members
Websitewww.nittygrittyEdit this at Wikidata

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band(sometimes abbreviatedNGDB), known asthe Dirt Bandfrom 1978 to 1983, is an American band founded inLong Beach, California,in 1966. Since 2018, the band has consisted ofJeff Hannaand his son Jaime Hanna, both guitarists and vocalists, along with Jimmie Fadden (drums, harmonica, vocals), Bob Carpenter (keyboards, accordion, vocals),Ross Holmes(fiddle, mandolin, vocals), andJim Photoglo(bass guitar, vocals).

Jeff Hanna and Fadden founded the band in 1966 with a lineup initially consisting of Bruce Kunkel, Ralph Barr, Les Thompson, andJackson Browne,who quit early on and was replaced by longtime memberJohn McEuen(vocals, guitar, banjo). The band had its first hit single in 1967 with "Buy for Me the Rain" onLiberty Records.Their earliest work featuredjug bandand traditionalfolkelements. In 1970, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band had their biggest pop hit with a cover ofJerry Jeff Walker's "Mr. Bojangles".The band's sound took on elements ofsoft rockin the latter half of the 1970s and early 1980s, including the hit singles "An American Dream"and" Make a Little Magic ".

Starting in 1983, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band began a shift towardcountry music,led off by the singles "Shot Full of Love" and "Dance Little Jean".By this point, the band consisted of Jeff Hanna, McEuen, Fadden, Carpenter, andJimmy Ibbotson(bass guitar, vocals). This lineup recorded several country albums forWarner Recordsthroughout the 1980s and charted multiple singles onBillboardHot Country Songs.Of these, "Long Hard Road (The Sharecropper's Dream)","Modern Day Romance",and"Fishin' in the Dark"all went to number one, with the latter becoming theirsignature song.After leaving Warner in the late 1980s, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band recorded for several other labels, includingUniversal,MCA Nashville,Rising Tide,andDreamWorks Records.The band has collaborated with a number of artists, includingDoc Watson,Linda Ronstadt,John Denver,andSteve Martin.In addition, Hanna co-wroteRascal Flatts's 2005 single "Bless the Broken Road",which was originally recorded by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has released three collaborative albums:Will the Circle Be Unbroken(1972),Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Twoin 1989, andWill the Circle Be Unbroken, Volume IIIin 2002. All three albums featured a large number of guests from folk, rock, country, andbluegrass.They have also won threeGrammy Awards.The band's sound draws influence from country, pop, rock, bluegrass, and folk music, and has seen generally positive critical reception.

History

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Musician Jackson Browne, playing an electric guitar and singing into a microphone.
Jackson Browne was a founding member of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was founded inLong Beach, California,in 1966. Founding guitaristJeff Hannawas born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, but his family had moved to Long Beach four years prior.[2]While in high school, he befriended guitarist Bruce Kunkel, and the two played in a local duo called the New Coast Two.[3]As they wanted to form a larger group, the two began playing impromptu jam sessions at a Long Beach music shop called McCabe's Guitar Shop.[4]Through these performances, they recruited four other musicians. These were Jimmie Fadden, who at the time playedwashtub bass,harmonica, and guitar, along with Ralph Barr (guitar, clarinet), Les Thompson (guitar,mandolin), andJackson Browne(guitar). All six members also served as vocalists. Browne quit the group after only a few months,[5]and was replaced byJohn McEuen,who contributed on guitar, mandolin, banjo, and washtub bass.[3]They briefly called themselves the Illegitimate Jug Band, due to their playingjug bandmusic without actually having a member who played thejug.Soon afteward, they selected Nitty Gritty Dirt Band as a name.[2]This name was inspired by their observation that many bands at the time had names which they considered long and unusual, such asStrawberry Alarm Clock.[6]

1967–1971: Early years

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John's older brotherWilliam E. McEuenserved as the band's manager, helping to book them as opening acts for artists such asJoan Baez.He also helped the band sign a contract withLiberty Records,who released the band'sself-titled debut albumin 1967.[2]"Buy for Me the Rain" was released as a single from this project, and it reached number 45 on theBillboardHot 100.[7]The band released another album for Liberty,Ricochet,later in 1967. After this album, Kunkel quit over creative differences in the band's sound, and was replaced by multi-instrumentalistChris Darrow,formerly a member ofKaleidoscope.[8][3][9]Of their style at the time, Mary Campbell of theAssociated Pressnoted the band's use of acoustic instruments and rudimentary traditional folk instruments such as washtub bass,kazoo,andcomb and paper.She also noted that their clothing and song choices, such as a cover of "Teddy Bears' Picnic",reflected the music and mindset of the 1920s.[10]

Their third album, 1968'sRare Junk,was their first to feature electric guitar, electric bass, and drums.[3]Although Browne had left the band by this point, they covered his "These Days"on it.Johnny Sandlincontributed on drums.[11]Bob Talbert ofThe Statepraised the album for the variety of instruments used, noting that said variety allowed influences ofjazzandcountry musicon top of the group's existing jug band sound.[12]A year later, Liberty released a live album titledAlive,recorded at theTroubadourinWest Hollywood, California.[13]That same year, the band contributed the song "Hand Me Down That Can o' Beans" to the soundtrack of the moviePaint Your Wagon,starringLee Marvin.[3][14]The band briefly broke up in late 1969.[9]During this hiatus, Hanna and Darrow briefly founded a country rock band called the Corvettes, who recorded one session withMichael Nesmithofthe Monkeesas producer.[15]

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band reunited in 1970, although Darrow and Barr declined to rejoin. Both were replaced byJimmy Ibbotson,who played bass guitar, drums, piano, and accordion.[2]After reuniting, the band issued its fourth Liberty albumUncle Charlie & His Dog Teddythat same year. Colin Larkin, in theVirgin Encyclopedia of Country Music,wrote that this album marked a shift in the band's sound from "jokey elements" to a morecountry rocksound.[9]It featured a cover ofJerry Jeff Walker's "Mr. Bojangles".The band's version of the song was their first major hit, reaching number nine on the Hot 100.[3]Also charting from the album were covers ofKenny Loggins's "House at Pooh Corner"and Nesmith's" Some of Shelly's Blues ".[7][9]Richie Unterberger of AllMusic wrote of this album, "The group moved into a more accessible rock-oriented fusion of country, bluegrass, pop, and rock & roll, relying primarily on smartly chosen covers...Few bands had incorporated instruments more commonly associated with country and bluegrass, particularly mandolin and banjo, as comfortably into a rock setting prior to this release, and their well-crafted harmonies help put the songs over for those not-steeped-in backwoods sounds."[16]

1972–1977: United Artists Records andWill the Circle Be Unbroken

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Doc Watson playing an acoustic guitar.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's 1972 albumWill the Circle Be Unbrokenfeatured a number of collaborators, including Doc Watson.

Liberty Records merged withUnited Artists Recordsin 1972. The band's first project for this label was 1972'sAll the Good Times.The album had further cover songs on it, includingHank Williams's "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)"andDoug Kershaw's "Diggy Liggy Lo",[2]as well as another Jackson Browne cover, "Jamaica".[17]The former of these was issued as a single, but peaked in the lower end of the Hot 100.[7]Hartford Courantwriter Henry McNulty found the cover songs superior to the original cuts on the album, but criticized the band for including fake applause between tracks.[17]

Also in 1972, the band traveled toNashville, Tennessee,to record the albumWill the Circle Be Unbroken.This was a collaborative three-disc album featuring a number of country andbluegrassartists, such asRoy Acuff,Maybelle Carter,Earl Scruggs,andDoc Watson.[3][2]Writing forThe Los Angeles Times,Robert Hillburn thought that the band showed appreciation for the music of the collaborators, and that the album would appeal to music fans who did not like the then-contemporaryNashville sound.[18]The album also accounted for the band's first entries on theBillboardHot Country Songscharts: a cover of Hank Williams's "I Saw the Light"and the original" Grand Ole Opry Song ", respectively featuring guest vocals from Roy Acuff andJimmy Martin.[19]Following the commercial success ofWill the Circle Be Unbroken,the band began touring across the United States and internationally. McEuen also began recording as a solo artist at this point while maintaining his membership with the band.[2]Larkin noted that critical reception ofWill the Circle Be Unbroken"played an important role in breaking down mistrust between country's establishment and the emerging 'long hair' practitioners. "[9]Similarly, Watson later attributed the album's success to renewed interest in his music, particularly among fans of rock music who did not typically listen to folk and bluegrass.[20]The "I Saw the Light" cover accounted for the band's firstGrammy Awardnomination, in the category ofBest Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal;a year later, the album itself was nominated in the same category.[21]In 1997, the project became the band's first album to be certified platinum by theRecording Industry Association of America(RIAA).[22]

A black-and-white photo of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
The band in 1976.

Their next album for United Artists was 1974'sStars & Stripes Forever.By this point, Thompson had left as well, leaving the band as a quartet.[3]A cover ofJohnny Horton's "The Battle of New Orleans"charted from this project.[7]The album, composed of both live and studio recordings, also featured interview segments by fiddle playerVassar Clements.Bruce Eder thought these elements made the album "more than its money's worth" and capable of showing the band's mix of country and rock influences.[23]A year later, they releasedSymphonion Dream,led off by a cover ofthe Everly Brothers' "All I Have to Do Is Dream".[3][7]The album featured guest contributions fromLinda Ronstadt,Leon Russell,and actorGary Busey.Eder found influences ofpsychedelic rockand bluegrass in the instrumentation, highlighting the instrumentals, as well as in the other cover songs on the album such asHank Williams's "Hey, Good Lookin".[24]Ibbotson left the band after this album, after which point John Cable and Jackie Clark joined.[25]These two alternated as bassists and guitarists.[3]Soon after they joined, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band toured in theSoviet Union,becoming the first American act to do so.[3]TheUnited States Department of Stateoversaw the tour, which lasted for 28 days.[26]This was followed by their first greatest-hits package,Dirt, Silver and Gold,also in 1976.[3]

1978–1981: The Dirt Band and shift to soft rock

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In 1978, both Clark and Cable left the band, which by this point had shortened its name to just the Dirt Band.[3]McEuen said that the decision to become just the Dirt Band was due to disc jockeys not being comfortable with the longer name.[27]Conversely, music writer Tom Roland attributed the name change to Chuck Morris, who had taken over as the band's manager due to William E. McEuen becoming overwhelmed by the role.[28]Also according to John McEuen, Clark left voluntarily, while he believes that Hanna "got rid" of Cable because he felt "threatened" by Cable's songwriting ability.[29]Joining Hanna, John McEuen, and Fadden as members were drummer Merel Bergante, bassist Richard Hathaway, and Al Garth, who played multiple instruments including saxophone and keyboards.[3][30]The band's first release under the shortened name was 1978'sThe Dirt Band.[31]"In for the Night" reached the lower regions of the Hot 100 as a single from this project.[7]Stephen Thomas Erlewineof AllMusic thought the album marked a shift in the band's sound to asoft rockstyle. He thought the songs on the album were consistent in quality, but also thought that the album would not appeal to fans of their earlier works.[31]Also during 1978, the band appeared under the pseudonym the Toot Uncommons as backing musicians on comedian and actorSteve Martin's novelty hit single "King Tut".This appearance was due to William E. McEuen serving as producer on the track.[3]

A head-shot of Steve Martin.
The band collaborated with Steve Martin on his novelty single "King Tut".

Their second album as the Dirt Band was 1979'sAn American Dream.The album'stitle track,written byRodney Crowell,was released as a single in 1980.[7]The song featured a backing vocal fromLinda Ronstadt.[3]It accounted for their second-highest Hot 100 peak of 13, and was also their first appearance on theBillboardcountry music charts since 1973.[19]During the release of this album, Michael Buono took over for Bergante on drums, while Bob Carpenter joined as keyboardist.[32][33]Next was 1980'sMake a Little Magic.Featuring backing vocals fromNicolette Larson,its title track was a number 25 hit on the Hot 100.[7]Ken Paulson of theFort Myers, Florida,News Pressnoted that unlike their previous albums, it contained only one cover song; specifically,Cidny Bullens's "Anxious Heart". He thought that by focusing more on original material, the album showed the band members' strengths as songwriters and performers, and considered it their best album yet.[34]

After this album,EMIeliminated the United Artists label and reopened Liberty Records, transferring the band back to that label after a decade. Their first release upon returning to Liberty was 1981'sJealousy.Most of the band members wrote the songs on the album by themselves and Hanna co-produced the album. Also by this point, Vic Mastrionni had become the band's drummer.[35]"Fire in the Sky"was released as a single.[7]The title track was as well, but it did not chart.[35]The album featured guest vocals fromRosemary ButlerandKenny Loggins.An uncredited review in the New JerseyDaily Recordpanned the album's soft rock sound and lack of variety between tracks, as well as the songs on which Carpenter sang lead vocals.[36]Likewise, Erlewine thought that the band "never quite mustered" the soft rock sound of the album, and criticized many of the songs for lackinghooks.[37]

1983–1984: Shift to country

[edit]
Rodney Crowell, playing an acoustic guitar while seated on a stool.
Rodney Crowell wrote the band's singles "An American Dream" and "Long Hard Road".

In 1983, the band reverted its name to Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Al Garth and Vic Mastrionni both quit the band at this point and Ibbotson rejoined as a vocalist and bass guitarist; as a result, Fadden began playing drums in addition to his existing role as harmonica player. At this point, the band began finding success incountry music,a move which McEuen attributed to changing tastes among fans of rock and pop music.[38]Roland also attributes the shift in sound and reversion of their name to Morris;[28]McEuen also attributed both of these and the return of Ibbotson to the lineup as being decisions made by Morris.[39]The first release to be successful on the country charts was "Shot Full of Love", which went to number 19 on the Hot Country Songs charts in 1983. This was followed by Ibbotson's composition "Dance Little Jean",which went to number nine.[19]Both were included on the albumLet's Go,their last after rejoining Liberty.[3]This album was produced byNorbert PutnamandRichard Landis.[39]

The band began recording their next album,Plain Dirt Fashion,while still on Liberty. However, Morris was uncertain if the label would promote the album properly, as it was the last one in their contract. As a result, the band transferred toWarner Records,who released it in 1984. Furthering their move to country music, they also switched booking agents, which resulted in them opening shows forRicky SkaggsandHank Williams Jr.[40]Paul Worleyand Marshall Morgan served as producers on the project. According to Ibbotson, the band chose to switch producers after moving to Warner, as they thought Putnam and Landis, despite working in country music, "thought they had to cover all bases."[39]In addition to the five members of the band, other contributors included Skaggs andJerry Douglas.The project also included a cover ofBruce Springsteen's "Cadillac Ranch".[41]The lead single was another Rodney Crowell composition, "Long Hard Road (The Sharecropper's Dream)",which in 1984 became the band's first number-one single on theBillboardcountry charts.[19]Also issued as singles were "I Love Only You"(written byDave LogginsandDon Schlitz) and "High Horse"(written by Ibbotson), both of which were top-five country hits between late 1984 and early 1985.[19]Writing for theMattoon, Illinois,Journal Gazette,Rickey Ferguson thought that the album showed a country influence through the "storytelling lyrics" of "Long Hard Road".[41]

1985–1987: Middle years with Warner

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Next on Warner wasPartners, Brothers and Friendsin 1985. The album's lead single was "Modern Day Romance",written byKix Brooks,who would later become one-half ofBrooks & Dunn.Upon release, this song became Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's second number-one on theBillboardcountry charts.[19]Although Hanna or Carpenter usually sang lead vocals on singles, "Modern Day Romance" was one of several in this timespan to feature Ibbotson on lead vocals instead. Worley noted that the song had originally been submitted to the band for inclusion onPlain Dirt Fashionbut was rejected, and they chose to record it after it was submitted to them a second time.[42]Also charting in the top ten from this album were "Home Again in My Heart"and thetitle track,which Hanna and Ibbotson co-wrote.[19]While not released as a single, the album track "Telluride" (also written by Ibbotson) was made into a music video. Robert K. Oermann ofThe Tennesseannoted that the lyrics of "Partners, Brothers and Friends" contained several references to the band's career up to that point.[43]Holly Gleason ofThe Miami Heraldreviewed the album favorably, praising Hanna's and Ibbotson's lead vocals as well as the lyrics of the title track.[44]Following in 1986 was the band's second greatest-hits package,Twenty Years of Dirt.It was accompanied by an anniversary concert tour of the same name, featuring a 10,000-person show inDenver,Colorado, withMichael Martin Murphey.[45]The album included the new song "Stand a Little Rain".Both this and a re-release of" Fire in the Sky "were sent to country radio as singles, with both reaching top ten.[19]

This was followed in 1987 byHold On,led off by the single "Baby's Got a Hold on Me".It reached number two on the country charts upon release. Following it was their third and final number one,"Fishin' in the Dark",written byWendy WaldmanandJim Photoglo.[19]Ed Brucehad recorded the song a year prior.[46]For this album, the band again switched producers toJosh Leo.He found "Fishin' in the Dark" when searching for songs, and upon hearing Photoglo's demo of the song, immediately suggested the band record it.[47]Hanna later described it as the band'ssignature songand a popular song to play during the summertime. The song was certified gold as a music download in 2011,[48]and increased to platinum in 2014.[22]The album's third and final single was "Oh What a Love",also written by Ibbotson.[19]Writing for thePalm Beach Post,Holly Gleason praised Leo's "perfectly pretty production" and Ibbotson's vocals on "Fishin' in the Dark", while also finding influences ofcountry rockandCajun musicon individual tracks. She also compared the track "Joe Knows How to Live"(later a number-one single forEddy Raven[49]) to "An American Dream".[50]

1988–1989: Departure of John McEuen andWill the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two

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A black-and-white photo of Bernie Leadon.
Bernie Leadon briefly joined Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1987.

During promotion forHold On,McEuen quit the band to raise his family.[51]He was replaced byBernie Leadon,formerly of theEaglesandFlying Burrito Brothers.[2]Leadon's only in-studio appearance with the band was on 1988'sWorkin' Band.[52]This project charted three singles within the top ten of theBillboardcountry charts: "Workin' Man (Nowhere to Go)","I've Been Lookin'",and"Down That Road Tonight".Fadden wrote the former, while Hanna co-wrote the latter two.[19]Leadon left after this album as well,[53]reducing the band to a quartet of Fadden, Hanna, McEuen, and Ibbotson.[3]An uncredited review inThe Tennesseanpraised the use of acoustic instruments and the "crisp" nature of Josh Leo's production style, as well as the "urgency" of the singing.[54]

In 1989, the band transferred toUniversal Records,then a new country label started by producerJimmy Bowen.Their only release for the label wasWill the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two,a sequel album to their 1972 albumWill the Circle Be Unbroken.Like its predecessor, it featured a large number of guest musicians, includingJohnny Cash,Earl Scruggs,Bruce Hornsby,Levon Helm,Marty Stuart,andVince Gill.Many of the guests appeared on the title track, a cover ofA. P. Carter's "Will the Circle Be Unbroken".Earl Scruggs's son,Randy,produced the album. The album featured over 200 guests in total, and was recorded between December 1988 and January 1989.[55]Universal simultaneously released three songs as lead singles from the project. These were a cover ofBob Dylan's "You Ain't Going Nowhere"featuringRoger McGuinnandChris Hillmanon lead vocals, as well as the original compositions "Turn of the Century"and"And So It Goes",the latter a collaboration withJohn Denver.[56]The Dylan cover, credited solely to McGuinn and Hillman, peaked at number six on the country charts upon release.[57]The other two singles were less successful, but follow-up "When It's Gone"peaked at number ten, becoming the band's last top-40 country single. Released last from the project was" One Step over the Line ", featuring guest vocals fromRosanne CashandJohn Hiatt.[19]The album won the Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, the track "The Valley Road"(a collaboration with Hornsby) wonBest Bluegrass Recording,and the title track was nominated forBest Country Collaboration with Vocals,at the 32nd Grammy Awards in 1990.[21]Will the Circle Be Unbrokenalso won Album of the Year from theCountry Music Association,their only win from that organization.[58]

1990s: Label changes

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After Universal closed, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band transferred toMCA Nashville Recordsfor 1990'sThe Rest of the Dream.[3]Randy Scruggs also produced this project, and Carpenter observed that the track "Wishing Well" was the first time all four members of the band wrote a song together.[59]Serving as lead single was another Bruce Springsteen cover, this time of "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)".[60]Neither this song nor "You Make Life Good Again" was successful on the charts.[19]Hanna later stated that covering "From Small Things" and recording a song written by every member of the band were both objectives of his for nearly a decade prior. Bruce Mason ofThe Provincepraised the use of mandolin in the production, as well as the number ofJohn Hiattcover songs.[61]

This project was followed in 1992 byLive Two Five,a live album recorded a year prior inAlberta,Canada.[62]The band returned to Liberty a third time for 1992'sNot Fade Away,titled after a cover of theBuddy Hollysong "Not Fade Away".Suzy Boggussprovided guest vocals on the track "Don't Underestimate Love".[3]This project charted the singles "I Fought the Law"(a cover ofthe Bobby Fuller Four) and "One Good Love".[19]It also included covers ofMerle Haggard's "Mama Tried"and theDennis Lindecomposition "What'll You Do About Me",previously recorded byRandy Travisand later a single forDoug Supernawin 1995.[63][64]Writing for theElmira, New YorkStar-Gazette,Dennis Miller praised the covers in particular, as well as the band's vocal harmony and "uncluttered musical arrangements."[64]

Country music group Rascal Flatts performing onstage.
Jeff Hanna co-wrote "Bless the Broken Road", originally recorded by Nitty Grity Dirt Band and later a hit single for Rascal Flatts, pictured in 2013.

Next on Liberty was 1994'sAcoustic,composed entirely of acoustic songs. Jim Newsom of AllMusic called the album "refreshingly unadorned" and praised the use of instruments such as Dobro and accordion.[65]Entertainment Weeklywriter Bob Cannon was less favorable, writing, "They’re always competent, with shimmering three-part harmonies and stellar musicianship, but that doesn’t compensate for their generally forgettable songwriting."[66]The album's closing track is "Bless the Broken Road",which Hanna wrote with Bobby Boyd andMarcus Hummon.Hummon later recorded the song himself, as didMelodie Crittenden,Geoff Moore,Rascal Flatts,andSelah.Crittenden and Rascal Flatts both made the Hot Country Songs charts with their respsective renditions in 1998 and 2005, with Rascal Flatts's spending five weeks at number one.[67][68][69]

The band released no further projects until 1997'sThe Christmas AlbumonRising Tide Records.[3]This project contained a mix of traditional Christmas songs and new material mostly written by the band members.[70]While on Rising Tide, they recorded another album titledBang Bang Bang,whose title track charted ahead of the album's release. However, the album was delayed due to the closure of Rising Tide and transferred toDecca Records,which also closed before it could be released. It was ultimately issued in 1998 throughDreamWorks Records,[71]which also re-released the title track and caused it to chart a second time.[19]The project included a cover ofMac McAnally's "Down the Road",[72]previously a single for him in 1990 and later re-released in 2008 as a duet between him andKenny Chesney.[73]An uncredited review of the album inBillboardcalled the project "entertainingly quirky".[74]George Hauenstein ofCountry Standard Timespoke favorably of the variety of songwriters, which includedJim Lauderdale,Dennis Linde,and Hanna's wife,Matraca Berg.He also thought that "record label trouble" had kept the band from being more successful in the 1990s.[75]

21st century:Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Volume III,membership changes, and farewell tour

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John McEuen, singing into a microphone while playing a banjo.
John McEuen was a longtime member of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

McEuen rejoined the band in 2001, shortly before the release of their third collaborative album,Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Volume III,in 2002. This album featured further guests such asDwight Yoakam,Tom Petty,andIris DeMent.[3]Collaborators from the previousWill the Circle Be Unbroken Albumsreturned as well, such as Doc Watson and Johnny Cash. Robert L. Doerschuk of AllMusic thought the album felt less collaborative than the previous two, due to a lack of chemistry between certain performers.[76]Corresponding with both this album's release and the 30th anniversary of the firstWill the Circle Be Unbrokenalbum, the band joined Earl and Randy Scruggs, Vassar Clements, andJerry Douglasfor a live concert aired onPBSand titledWill the Circle Be Unbroken: Farther Along.All of the artists performed a live rendition of "Earl's Breakdown".[77]This rendition accounted for Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's third Grammy Award win, in the category ofBest Country Instrumental Performance.[21]

Next in 2004 wasWelcome to Woody CreekonDualtone Records.[3]This album was recorded at a studio owned by Ibbotson inWoody Creek, Colorado.[78]Dan MacIntosh of Country Standard Time wrote, "Such an idyllic setting may well have inspired the warmth and friendliness of this bluegrass-tinged album."[79]Ibbotson left the band just before 2009'sSpeed of Life,a self-released project.[3]George MassenburgandJon Randallproduced the album. In Ibbotson's absence, session musicianGlenn Worfplayed bass, while Randall and Berg were among the backing vocalists.[80]A review for Country Standard Time said of this album that it "isn't breaking much new ground, but it sounds like an album the boys in the band had a lot of fun making, and that fun translates well to the listening."[81]

To honor their 50th anniversary, the band played a special concert at theRyman Auditoriumin Nashville.[3]The concert was also released as a live album and DVD titledCirclin' Back: Celebrating 50 Years.[3][82]It included guestsJohn Prine,Sam Bush,Vince Gill,Jerry Jeff Walker,Alison Krauss,Rodney Crowell,Byron House, Jerry Douglas, andJackson Brownein addition to former member Ibbotson. The special also aired on PBS and was later packaged as a live CD and DVD titledCirclin’ Back: Celebrating 50 Yearsin 2016. An uncreditedLos Angeles Timesreview stated that the original release "helped knock down barriers then separating the traditional country and rock music communities, setting the stage for the eventual emergence of what came to be known as Americana music".[83]

Following the end of their anniversary tour in 2017, McEuen exited the band again, citing creative differences.[84]This left just Hanna, Carpenter, and Fadden as members. In response to this, they hired three new members in 2018. These wereRoss Holmeson fiddle and mandolin, Jeff Hanna's son Jaime Hanna on guitar, and Jim Photoglo on bass guitar. Prior to joining the band, Jaime Hanna had been a touring guitarist forthe Mavericks;he also performed with John McEuen's son Jonathan in the duoHanna-McEuen,and later as a member ofGary Allan's road band. Holmes had previously been a touring musician forMumford & Sons.Photoglo had been a friend of the band for several years prior, and wrote "Fishin' in the Dark" almost 30 years before he joined.[85]With this lineup in place, the band recorded aBob Dylancovers album,Dirt Does Dylan,withRay Kennedyas producer.[3]The album featured guest vocals fromSteve Earle,Jason Isbell,andthe War and Treaty.[86]

In January 2024, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band began their farewell tour For the Good Times, starting with a concert inBowling Green, Kentucky,and lasting throughout 2024. Several stops on the tour include Jason Isbell as an opening act.[87]

Musical styles

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Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's music encompasses a wide variety of styles. Colin Larkin, inThe Virgin Encyclopedia of Country Music,wrote that their early albums containedjug bandandVaudevilleinfluences, while by the release ofUncle Charlie and His Dog Teddy,the band "abandoned the jokey elements...[and] pursued a career as purveyors of superiorcountry rock."[9]Mark Deming spoke similarly of their early material, noting influences ofbluegrassin the "Mr. Bojangles" cover as well as the tracks from the firstWill the Circle Be Unbrokenalbum. He also defined the band's late-1970s output assoft rock,and that their 1990s and 21st-century material was indebted toAmerican folk music.[3]On the same site, Stephen Thomas Erlewine also noticed influences of soft rock onThe Dirt Band.[31]Rickey Ferguson thought the band's country influences were more evident onPlain Dirt Fashiondue to the use of instruments such asDobro,fiddle,andmandolin.[41]Holly Gleason noted thetwangevident in Hanna's and Ibbotson's singing voices, and thought the band'srhythm sectionswere stronger than usual for a country band.[44]

During the release ofWill the Circle Be Unbroken,the band members were noted for their long-haired appearance, which at the time was considered counter to the appearances of country music acts at the time.Bill Monroewas said to have refused an offer to appear on the album, andRoy Acuffwas initially apprehensive before joining.[56]The band said that an impetus behind their shift to country music in the 1980s was the lack of a successful pop song after "An American Dream" and "Make a Little Magic", followed by a realization that members of the country music community in Nashville were still fans of their music.[56]They also thought that the first twoWill the Circle Be Unbrokenprojects helped to "dim the lines" between pop and country, especially since the genre ofcountry rockwas still new when the first one was recorded.[88]Walter Tunis of theLe xing ton Herald-Leaderthought that the band was an early example of the California-based country rock movement of the 1970s furthered by bands such asthe Flying Burrito BrothersandEagles,and that such a comparison was furthered when former Eagles member Bernie Leadon joined. He also thought that the band's success in country in the 1980s was more indebted to marketing and changes in taste from listeners more so than a shift in sound within the band itself. Leadon also stated that he heard influences of the Eagles within the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's songs.[89]Jim Wensits ofThe South Bend Tribunedescribed the band as a "coming force in country rock" during the success of "Mr. Bojangles", and added that they "confounded critics by refusing to be categorized." He also thought that the band's sound during the 1970s was comparable to the Eagles, and that some songs such as their cover of "Jambalaya" featured influences ofCajun music.[90]

In a 2022 concert review, Jeffrey B. Remz of Country Standard Time opined that Jeff Hanna's "voice was well intact at 75" and that he had "an affable, easy going stage presence." He also noted that Jaime Hanna, Carpenter, and Fadden occasionally sang lead vocals as well. He also praised the use of fiddle and mandolin in their live settings.[91]

Members

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Current members

  • Jeff Hanna– vocals, guitar(1966–present)
  • Jimmie Fadden – drums, harmonica, vocals(1966–present)
  • Bob Carpenter – keyboards, accordion, vocals(1979–present)
  • Jim Photoglo– bass guitar, vocals(2018–present)
  • Jaime Hanna – guitar, vocals(2018–present)
  • Ross Holmes– fiddle, mandolin(2018–present)

Former members

  • Ralph Barr - guitar, clarinet (1966-1969)
  • Merel Bergante - drums (ca. 1978-1979)
  • Jackson Browne- vocals, guitar (1966)
  • Michael Buono - drums (ca. 1979)
  • John Cable - guitar, bass guitar (ca. 1976-1978)
  • Jackie Clark - guitar, bass guitar (ca. 1976-1978)
  • Chris Darrow- vocals, guitar (ca. 1967-1969)
  • Al Garth - various instruments (ca. 1978-1983)
  • Richard Hathaway - bass guitar (ca. 1978-1983)
  • Jimmy Ibbotson- bass guitar, vocals (1970-1976, 1983-2009)
  • Bruce Kunkel - vocals, guitar (ca. 1966-1967)
  • Bernie Leadon- vocals, banjo (1988-89)
  • Vic Mastrionni - drums (ca. 1980-1983)
  • John McEuen- guitar, banjo, vocals (1966-1988, 2001-2017)
  • Les Thompson - guitar, mandolin (1966-1974)

Discography

[edit]
Main article:Nitty Gritty Dirt Band discography

References

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  1. ^Gesell, Carla E. (May 21, 1998). Godfrey, Donald G.; Leigh, Frederic A. (eds.).Historical Dictionary of American Radio.Bloomsbury Academic. pp. 315–16.ISBN9780313296369.
  2. ^abcdefghIrwin Stambler, Grelun Landon (2000).The Encyclopedia of Country Music.MacMillan. pp. 135–137.ISBN978-0-312-26487-1.
  3. ^abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzaaabMark Deming."Nitty Gritty Dirt Band biography".AllMusic.RetrievedJuly 8,2024.
  4. ^Grobaty, Tim (January 12, 2016)."A Long Beach homecoming for Dirt Band's John McEuen".Press-Telegram.RetrievedJanuary 24,2018.
  5. ^Hinton, Brian (June 26, 2012).Country Roads: How Country Came to Nashville.London, England: Bobcat Books. p. 574.ISBN978-0857128447.RetrievedNovember 25,2019.
  6. ^Tony Frazier (September 21, 1986)."Dirt Band Getting Down to Nitty Gritty".The Oklahoman.RetrievedJuly 11,2024.
  7. ^abcdefghiWhitburn, Joel (2011).Top Pop Singles 1955–2010.Record Research, Inc. p. 653.ISBN978-0-89820-188-8.
  8. ^"Dirt Band Drops Ork-Rock, Gets Back To Nitty Gritty"(PDF).Cash Box.Vol. 29, no. 21. New York City. December 16, 1967. p. 46.RetrievedNovember 25,2019.
  9. ^abcdefColin Larkin (1998).The Virgin Encyclopedia of Country Music.Virgin Books. pp. 306–307.ISBN0-7535-0236-4.
  10. ^Mary Campbell (October 14, 1967)."Nitty Gritty Dirt Band mixes then and now".Poughkeepsie Journal.pp. 1, 3.RetrievedJuly 8,2024.
  11. ^Rare Junk(LP jacket). Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Liberty Records. 1968. LST-7540.{{cite AV media notes}}:CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^Bob Talbert (April 14, 1968)."Record reviews".The State.RetrievedJuly 9,2024.
  13. ^Bruce Eder."Alive".AllMusic.RetrievedJuly 9,2024.
  14. ^"Nitty Gritty Dirt Band".The Windsor Star.December 20, 1969. p. 39.RetrievedJuly 9,2024.
  15. ^Vaughan, Andrew (February 1, 2015).The Eagles FAQ: All That's Left to Know About Classic Rock's Superstars(1 ed.). Hal Leonard Corporation.ISBN9781617136238.RetrievedAugust 3,2017.
  16. ^Richie Unterberger."Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy".AllMusic.RetrievedJuly 9,2024.
  17. ^abHenry McNulty (February 19, 1972)."Nitty Gritty Dirt Band shines on".Hartford Courant.p. 18.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.
  18. ^Robert Hillburn (December 17, 1972)."If you're dreaming of a Phil Spector Christmas".The Los Angeles Times.p. 70.RetrievedJuly 9,2024.
  19. ^abcdefghijklmnoWhitburn 2017,p. 260.
  20. ^"Guitars forever duel in Doc Watson's soul".Herald and Review.June 17, 1978. p. 16.RetrievedJuly 11,2024.
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  22. ^ab"Search results for Nitty Gritty Dirt Band".Recording Industry Association of America.RetrievedJuly 9,2024.
  23. ^Bruce Eder."Stars & Stripes Forever".AllMusic.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.
  24. ^Bruce Eder."Symphonion Dream".AllMusic.RetrievedJuly 11,2024.
  25. ^Mayer, Ira; Taylor, Barry (May 29, 1976)."New York, N.Y."(PDF).Record World.Vol. 31, no. 1510. New York City. p. 25.RetrievedNovember 25,2019.
  26. ^"Smoky Hill festival to feature Nitty Gritty Dirt Band".The Salina Journal.April 28, 1978. p. 1.RetrievedJuly 11,2024.
  27. ^McEuen 2017,pp. 163–164.
  28. ^abRoland 1991,pp. 394–395.
  29. ^McEuen 2017,p. 155.
  30. ^Herbeck, Ray Jr. (July 8, 1978)."The Dirt Band, Le Roux, Roxy, Los Angeles"(PDF).Billboard.Vol. 90, no. 27. New York City. p. 40.RetrievedNovember 25,2019.
  31. ^abcStephen Thomas Erlewine."The Dirt Band".AllMusic.RetrievedJuly 11,2024.
  32. ^Oksenhorn, Stewart (July 22, 2013)."Still Gritty after all these years".Aspen Times.RetrievedNovember 25,2019.
  33. ^"The Dirt Band".The Daily Sentinel.September 14, 1979. p. 50.RetrievedJuly 11,2024.
  34. ^Ken Paulson (August 3, 1980)."Dirt Band cleans up with this album".The News-Press.pp. 3E.RetrievedJuly 11,2024.
  35. ^ab"Dirt Band gets better with change".Wausau Daily Herald.August 21, 1981. p. 8.RetrievedJuly 11,2024.
  36. ^"Shortcuts".Daily Record.December 6, 1981. pp. D3.RetrievedJuly 11,2024.
  37. ^Stephen Thomas Erlewine."Jealousyreview ".AllMusic.RetrievedJuly 11,2024.
  38. ^"Changing times find Dirt Band walking country road".The Charlotte Observer.September 30, 1983. pp. 4D.RetrievedJuly 11,2024.
  39. ^abcMary Campbell (August 19, 1984)."Nitty Gritty Dirt Band recognized as 'country'".Vincennes Sun-Commercial.p. 7.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.
  40. ^Kip Kirby (August 25, 1984)."'Long Hard Road' to top for Nitty Gritty Dirt Band "(PDF).Billboard.p. 54.
  41. ^abcRickey Ferguson (August 25, 1984)."Nitty Gritty Dirt Band breaks country barrier".The Journal Gazette.pp. C7.RetrievedJuly 11,2024.
  42. ^Roland 1991,pp. 430–431.
  43. ^Robert K. Oermann (September 28, 1985)."It's been a long haul for the Dirt Band".The Tennessean.pp. 1D.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.
  44. ^abHolly Gleason (September 23, 1985)."Partners, Brothers and Friends".The Miami Herald.pp. 6C.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.
  45. ^"Twenty Years of Dirt".The Daily Sentinel.June 11, 1986. p. 3.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.
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  48. ^Alanna Conaway (May 3, 2011)."The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's 'Fishin' in the Dark' goes gold after two decades".Taste of Country.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.
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  50. ^Holly Gleason (April 5, 1987)."Record Rack".The Palm Beach Post.pp. 8L.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.
  51. ^Bee, Katy (January 16, 1987)."Group Changes On Horizon"(PDF).Radio & Records.No. 669. Los Angeles. p. 58.RetrievedNovember 25,2019.
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  53. ^Fennell, Debe (July 15, 1988)."Bits & Pieces"(PDF).Radio & Records.No. 746. Los Angeles. p. 49.RetrievedNovember 25,2019.
  54. ^"Workin' Band".The Tennessean.October 2, 1988. p. 41.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.
  55. ^Thomas Goldsmith (April 4, 1989)."Nitty Gritty celebrates a new 'Circle'".The Tennessean.pp. 1D.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.
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  59. ^Lonna Baldwin (August 24, 1990)."24 years of dirt haven't changed Nitty Gritty Dirt Band".Spokane Chronicle.p. 4.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.
  60. ^"Short shorts"(PDF).CMJ New Music Report:36. June 6, 1990.
  61. ^Bruce Mason (July 20, 1990)."Country".The Province.p. 26.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.
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  64. ^abDennis Miller (September 3, 1992)."Nitty Gritty Dirt Band still hanging in".Star-Gazette.p. 4.RetrievedSeptember 27,2024.
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  66. ^Bob Cannon (June 17, 1994)."Acoustic".Entertainment Weekly.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.
  67. ^Morris, Edward (March 10, 2005)."Rascal Flatts Takes Bow for" Broken Road "".CMT.Archived fromthe originalon October 12, 2009.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.
  68. ^Whitburn 2017,pp. 95, 292, 293.
  69. ^"Christian songs chart history for Selah".Billboard.RetrievedSeptember 27,2024.
  70. ^Thom Owens."The Christmas Album".AllMusic.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.
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  73. ^Whitburn 2017,p. 227.
  74. ^"Reviews".Billboard.May 12, 1999. p. 24.
  75. ^"Bang Bang Bangreview ".Country Standard Time.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.
  76. ^Robert L. Doerschuk."Will the Circle Be Unbroken Volume III".AllMusic.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.
  77. ^Gordon Castelnero, David L. Russell (2017).Earl Scruggs: Banjo Icon.Rowman & Littlefield. p. 118.ISBN978-1-4422-6866-1.
  78. ^W, R (October 16, 2004)."Review".Billboard.RetrievedApril 4,2020.
  79. ^MacIntosh, Dan (2004)."Review".Country Standard Time.RetrievedApril 4,2020.
  80. ^Speed of Life(CD booklet). Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. NGDB Records. 2009. SUG-CD-4058.{{cite AV media notes}}:CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  81. ^Jacquilynne Schlesier."Speed of Lifereview ".Country Standard Time.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.
  82. ^Kevin Oliver."Circlin' Back: Celebrating 50 Years".Country Standard Time.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.
  83. ^Lewis, Randy (September 9, 2016)."Premiere: Jackson Browne joins Nitty Gritty Dirt Band for 50th".Los Angeles Times.No. Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on November 10, 2016.RetrievedNovember 9,2016.
  84. ^McCarthy, Amy (October 30, 2017)."John McEuen Quits the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band".The Boot.RetrievedNovember 25,2019.
  85. ^Jedd Beaudoin (March 20, 2019)."The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Celebrates New Members, New Notes".KMUW.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.
  86. ^Dan MacIntosh."Dirt Does Dylan".Country Standard Time.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.
  87. ^"Nitty Gritty Dirt Band announces farewell tour".Country Standard Time. January 16, 2024.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.
  88. ^Troy Moon (October 4, 1989)."'The Circle' still unbroken ".The Times.pp. 6C.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.
  89. ^Walter Tunis (October 21, 1987)."Nitty Gritty Dirt Band music still has its flavor of '70s".Le xing ton Herald-Leader.p. 38.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.
  90. ^Jim Wensits (September 14, 1986)."After 20 years, 'Nitty Gritty Band' continues to hit paydirt".The South Bend Tribune.pp. C6.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.
  91. ^Jeffrey B. Remz."Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is forever young".Country Standard Time.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.

Works cited

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