Tony Rice - California Autumn

Tony Rice was the most influential and emulated Bluegrass guitarist ever. He established the gold standard for both lead and rhythm playing, merging a deep appreciation for tradition with impactful innovation. It has been more than a year since his untimely passing on Christmas Day 2020, and now Rebel Records is pleased to make a gem from his earliest days available again on vinyl.

California Autumn was Tony's first serious solo record produced by the Seldom Scene's John Starling and mixed by the legendary George Massenberg. It was momentous for several reasons. It was the occasion of the initial meeting and first recordings of two of the brightest lights of Bluegrass's new generation: Tony and Ricky Skaggs; and it marked the first of Tony's many legendary recordings with a young Jerry Douglas.

The material included seven instrumentals that recalled the playing of Tony's mentor, the great Clarence White. The rest featured Tony's plaintive, powerful baritone lead vocals — pitch-perfect and soulful in their own compelling way. This recording is a startling reminder of just how great a vocalist Tony was in his prime, something that may surprise younger listeners who never got to hear him sing live.

Remastered from the original analog tapes, this reissue of California Autumn has been updated with new packaging and graphics. It includes liner notes penned by Blue Highway front man and noted Tony Rice authority Tim Stafford and contains a number of never-before-seen photos of Tony from his earliest days as a professional musician.

 

Side A

1. California Autumn

2. Bullet Man

3. Mr. Poverty

4. Billy in the Lowground

5. Red Haired Boy

6. Good Woman's Love

Side B

1. You Don't Know My Mind

2. Alone and Forsaken

3. Bugle Call Rag

4. Georgia on My Mind

5. Scarborough Fair

6. Beaumont Rag

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