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With over 50 years in business, Rural Rhythm Records has built a catalog that connects many dots from past to present. Since its 1955 creation, Rural Rhythm has released hundreds of classic performances by many legendary bluegrass and old-time musicians such as J.E. Mainer, Don Reno, Red Smiley, Mac Wiseman, Vassar Clements, Hylo Brown, Bill Harrell, Jim Eanes, and many others. This album is part of that archival catalog. The label owes its Arcadia, California start to Uncle Jim O’Neal whose vision was to release the music of many top bluegrass and old-time musicians in the 1950-70s, seeking success where Starday had failed by producing records of limited appeal by lesser known, albeit talented, musicians.

One artist who owes a great deal to Rural Rhythm is Raymond Fairchild. For Rural Rhythm, this album by Fairchild was originally put out in 1967. It’s one of his earlier releases. The “Mama Likes Bluegrass Music” project was put out under the band’s name, Frosty Mountain Boys, that Raymond had formed in Georgia with Hurdis Patterson (fiddle), Dave Forrester (bass), Morris Haygood (rhythm guitar), and Morgan Cantrell (vocal, lead guitar). It had vocal numbers, as well as banjo tunes like “Kicking Mule.” Then Fairchild formed and recorded with the Maggie Valley Boys with Wilard Messnor, Willie Hester, and Buck Duncan.

Full of boundless energy and determination, his albums demonstrated a multitude of banjo techniques on plain ol’ country picking, fiddle tunes, standard bluegrass, old country and gospel. The volume of material being released at the time made it nearly impossible to give it all the attention it normally would have received. Songcarriers and musicologists would be particularly interested in this type of archival material. It’s an immeasurably wealthy body of familiar and not so familiar tunes. Some should be revived by today’s bands. Don’t expect to hear vocal harmonies, elaborate arrangements or the same level of clarion studio recording quality we hear today. Rather, just enjoy and relive a classic bluegrass sound of yesteryear. Most of the cuts span about 2 minutes apiece. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)