Bill Monroe: Anthology

Consider it a “best-of” “best-of,” from one of the all-time greats: Anthology distills Bill Monroe’s 20 fertile years at Decca (1950-1969, plus a stray track from 1981) into a pithy 50 tunes. It can’t come close to including every gem the man has ever cut, but the length is perfect for appreciating in a single (toe-tapping, pulse-quickening, possibly even life-changing) listening session. The early Decca years are widely recognized as Monroe’s golden years as a composer, and the songs here include some of his most enduring compositions, including the classic autobiographical tribute “Uncle Pen,” the barn-burning instrumentals “Roanoke” and “Scotland,” and the timeless four-part gospel harmonies of “Get Down On Your Knees and Pray.” As a bonus, Anthology also showcases the brilliant musicians featured over the years in Monroe’s proving ground of a band, including some — like Jimmy Martin, Vassar Clements, Del McCoury, and Peter Rowan, to name just a few — who would go on to become the leading lights of the genre Monroe invented. A fine primer for bluegrass newbies or a cherry-picked grade-A songlist for diehard fans, this compilation provides an essential portrait of the master in his prime.