This is a great album, and I say this not because I am a part of it. I do not listen to a lot of albums. I rarely listen to other Dirt Band music, although I like it. And, I play it live. But, after I remastered this from the original masters, and having heard it over the years, it seems like I would have had enough. I have listened to this probably 50 times since remastering, and look forward to the next flight where I can take a trip back to a time that was in a space where we all are frozen in the moment.

Circle represents much of the best of American music, songs, picking, singing, writing... and still draws me to it. I am sure anyone who likes acoustic music of the Americana type will find themselves drawn to it also. Circle becomes a welcome part of your life.
Thanks to the 96/24 mastering, it sounds better than ever, too.

The new pieces I put in are all equally important to me. I am proud that the Washington Post's great review mistakenly said Earl played Foggy Mt. Breakdown. The talking cuts showcase Jimmy Martin and his way of getting to the point, and gives us further insight to the true bluegrass great: funny, natural, strange.. and a definite opinion of exactly where he wants his music. And he is right.

The piece around Sunny Side is there to show all who have asked over the years "what was it like?" It captures the true spontaneity of the sessions; the constant chatter of all the players, uncertain of who was going to play where, how it starts, if one should wear picks or not... and it all of a sudden blends in to the start of such a touching piece of great music that now obviously comes from real people who are creating it from the heart.

The perfect closing song for this remastered work I found in the hours of the constant running tape, the bit of song where Doc asks us to "Remember Me when the twilight begins to fall.." and seems to speak for everyone. As I sat in the control room on the third day of running the tapes I said to the engineer "I hope today we come across the perfect closer for this" and it was the next piece of music.

So here it is - this journey back in time we were so very fortunate to make and be a part of - Will the Circle Be Unbroken in time I believe we will find to be as well known in American culture as has Wizard of Oz, Dark Side of the Moon, The Music Man, Citizen Kane, The Tonight Show, The Grand Ole Opry, and ...

In addition to Scruggs' singing and banjo picking, the Dirt Band was joined by Doc Watson, Roy Acuff (apparently goaded into living up to his declaration "I'll play real country music anytime, anywhere, with anyone"), Merle Travis, Maybelle Carter, Jimmy Martin and Vassar Clements. The six days of recording showed both camps something new -- the young 'uns schooled themselves at the feet of the masters, and the elders realized that the long-hairs from the West were heartfelt, knowledgeable and exceptionally good players.

This 30th anniversary double-CD adds a quartet of tracks to the original release (two studio dialogues, and two songs: the Dirt Band's John McEuen sprint through "Foggy Mountain Breakdown," and Doc Watson's short run-through of "Remember Me"). Even with the bonus tracks added to the original triple-LP, it still seems too short. Every performance is a stand-out, with the legends in fine form (Doc Watson, Merle Travis and Earl Scruggs show off some incredible picking) and the new generation showing themselves worthy of the company. The musical bond between the players, grown from common roots, is evident in their impeccable instrumental interplay. Any tentativeness evidenced chatting between songs gives way as soon as these consummate professionals start their picking. Titles from the Carter Family and Hank Williams songbooks intertwine effortlessly with bluegrass and country classics.

At a time when pop acts were recording in Nashville, attempting to borrow a bit of Music City's luster, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band did just the opposite. Rather than aggrandizing themselves, they spent their capital as a chart act illuminating the heroes from whom they'd learned so much. The resulting album introduced country's first-generation to a broader audience, and validated the Dirt Band's talent and intentions among country and bluegrass fans.

With the public's interest in bluegrass and early country stirred by the "O, Brother" soundtrack, this 30th anniversary release couldn't have been better timed. This summit meeting of two generations of country and bluegrass musicians retains every last drop of the vitality poured into it thirty years ago.