CURLY SECKLER Record Review

CURLY SECKLER
That Old Book Of Mine
County CO-CD-2740
BY ROBERT STEELMAN

Curly Seckler is one of those rare musicians that predate the term "bluegrass." He was already enjoying a career as a professional musician before Charlie and Bill Monroe parted ways. Seckler soon found himself serving as Bill's "replacement" for Charlie's Kentucky Partners. Curly has often recounted how Bill and his Bluegrass Boys beat the Kentucky Partners to the Grand Ole Opry by mere weeks, forcing them to seek employment elsewhere. Curly eventually entered the bluegrass scene as a member of the Foggy Mountain Boys. After Lester and Earl split, he became a member of Lester's Nashville Grass, ultimately taking the helm when Lester retired.

County Records has reissued one of Seckler's best outing, adding several tracks from a Rebel release as well. In today's age of slick, often over-produced recordings, this album offers a glimpse into the post Flatt & Scruggs era, as bluegrass continued to develop into a distinct musical genre.

This album is a great addition to the library of any serious student of bluegrass music. It boasts some great talent like Tater Tate, Hershel Sizemore, and Billy Edwards and offers some classic songs such as Thinking About You, Some Old Day, You Took My Sunshine and 13 other gems.

The project also includes Moonlight On My Cabin, No Mother I n This World, Salty Dog Blues, We Can't Be Darlings Anymore, Remember The Cross, Little Pal, That Old Book of Mine, No Mother Or Dad, Give Me The Roses While I Live, Don't This Road Look Rough And Rocky, What's The Matter Now, Whey Don't You Tell Me So and Sing, Sing, Sing. BMP