Manzanita [Brown]

Guitarist and vocalist Tony Rice was at the center of some of the most celebrated albums in modern bluegrass, and this 1979 release featuring his rotating band "The Tony Rice Unit" (here featuring Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Douglas, Todd Phillips, and Sam Bush, with a few Dave Grisman cameos), ranks right at the top. The title cut is an instant classic, but Rice's ever-unerring taste in covers (like Merle Travis' "Nine Pound Hammer" and yet another great Gordon Lightfoot tune, "Home from the Forest"), all played with a deep respect for tradition but incorporating jazz and folk influences, make Manzanita an absolute delight. First-ever vinyl reissue to hit retail... root beer pressing!