THE CD: Old Time Mountain Banjo
County Records CO-CD-3533
On the web: www.countysales.com

This is a reissue of a classic 1968 album, with some additional cuts. Bob Buckingham’s liner notes are first-rate, and are peppered with vintage photos from the collection of Jim Bollman. All the tunes are from rare 78 recordings, and the aural quality is excellent.

A variety of finger-picking styles are found here, plus clawhammer. Two favorites are a very melodic “Leather Britches” from W.A. Hinton in 1931, and “Oh Molly Dear” from B.F. Shelton. The tunes are well-sequenced, and keep a listener’s attention. Well done.

– Paul Gartner

THE CD: “Where the Mangoes Are”
by Kate McDonnell
Appleseed APR CD1085
On the web: www.katemcdonnell.com

Kate McDonnell appeared on Mountain Stage last Spring and is a Showcase artist at the upcoming Mountain Stage NewSong Festival, Aug. 24 to 28, in Shepherdstown, W.Va.. She’s a fine songwriter, with enough variety to keep the attention of not-necessarily-fans of the genre (guilty!). “Where the Mangoes Are” is a richly textured recording, and McDonnell has a voice to match her words. Strong and passionate. Check it out. P.S. McDonnell is known for playing the guitar backwards and upside-down. A leftie, she learned how to play by flipping the guitar her way and restringing it backwards.

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THE CD: Dwight Lamb: ‘Hell Agin the Barn Door’

THE CD:“Hell Agin the Barn Door: More Fiddle and Accordion Tunes from the Great Plains” by Dwight Lamb

This is a collection of wonderful parlor and dance tunes from Onawa, Iowa by Dwight Lamb. Hearing Lamb’s superbly unpolished fiddling recalls the sentimental tunes favored by some fiddlers in West Virginia. The great thing about this music is hearing familiar tunes (or bits of them) with strange new titles. Or is that familiar titles with strange new tunes? Lamb, who plays button accordion, fiddle and parlor organ, is joined by Lynn Holsclaw and Gordon McCann on guitar. You can almost see the dancers take to the floor on “Storm.” The sweetly dissonant bowing on “the Fox Chase” brings to mind Kentucky fiddling.

– Paul Gartner

THE CD: “Looking for Lucky”
Hootie and the Blowfish
Sneaky Long Records (Vanguard) 79784-2
On the web: hootie.com

Darius Rucker has a trademark voice that rates up there with the opening note of ‘Stairway to Heaven.” Instantly recognizable. And while what is to follow is not all bad, you’ve heard it 10,000 times before. The Blowfish even have a promo deal with a casino.

Judging by the cover art, Lucky is a dog. But with the casino ad tucked into the CD, who knows? “The Killing Stone” takes on right-wing preachers. Amen. This is competent radio rock, but to stretch the gambling metaphor just a little, save your cash and take a chance on an unknown.

– Paul Gartner

THE CD: “The Art of Virtue”
Adrienne Young & Little Sadie(Addiebelle Music)
On the web: www.adrienneyoung.com

Adrienne Young is a songwriter, bandleader and banjo player who draws inspiration from the 18th and 19th centuries and American’s agrarian roots. She has a great voice and is a fine songwriter, as on “Hills & Hollers.” Old-time music is a big influence on her songwriting and in the choice of non-original material (”Bonaparte’s Retreat,” “Don’t Get Weary,” “Billy in the Lowground.”). And while this CD is not exactly old-time music, there aren’t enough banjo pickin’ gals, are there?

On “Bonaparte’s Retreat” there is some nice interplay, but the banjo is lost in the mix to some fiddling that is just fine, but leans toward modern Celtic. On “Jump the Broom,” we hear a fine band in full bluegrass mode (with some tasty banjo from Rob McCoury).

“The Art of Virtue” is an enjoyable recording, and the CD design and production are first rate. Maybe next time Young could find players more versed in old-time idioms, crank up the banjo and use sparer production. Meanwhile, here’s hoping she draws more listeners into the fold.

– Paul Gartner

THE CD: “Pearl”
Janis Joplin
Columbia/Legacy C2K90282

Pearl was Janis Joplin’s farewell. The album was originally released in January 1971, after her death from a drug overdose some months before. This double CD reissue is the original album, plus 13 live cuts from the Festival Express tour in 1970.

All the original songs are classics, including “Move Over,” “Half Moon,” “Me and Bobby McGee,” and “Mercedes Benz.” There are also six previously unreleased studio tracks, and these are a hoot. On “Cry Baby,” she flubs the opening wail and cracks up, only to continue with a hilarious mid-song rap that is a parody of her usual stage persona. Listen to “Happy Trails” (Roy Rogers’ theme song), and the original demo of “Me and Bobby McGee.” There is also the instrumental “Pearl,” recorded by the band after her death.

The liner notes are a loving look back at the “Pearl” days by her longtime road manager. Taken with the before and after photos of the now-iconic cover shot of Joplin reclining drink-in-hand on a Victorian loveseat, you get a picture of just plain old Janis. And her band really kicked ass.

– Paul Gartner