Every knows Steve Martin the comedian. Not nearly as many know him as an excellent musician and banjo player. In recent years he has toured and done albums with the Steep Canyon Rangers and with former New Bohemians vocalist Edie Brickell. However this was his first all-out serious music album, and IMO it is his finest musical achievement to date. Call it bluegrass if you must classify it – well, it did win the 2010 Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album. But I suggest that the album as a whole transcends that label, though the banjo is indeed prominent in the songs. With excellent material, Martin is supported by the likes of Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Earl Scruggs, Bela Fleck, and Mary Black. Oh, and – not incidentally – it was produced by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s string wizard, John McEuen, who also plays on some of the cuts.
All the 15 songs were, I believe, written by Martin. Some are purely instrumental, others include guest star vocals. It’s hard for me to select a favorite cut, but the one I come back to most frequently is “Calico Train” with a vocal by Irish national treasure Mary Black.
This is a fun, lively, infectious album. If you prefer serious, stodgy, philosophically deep sounds on your system you’ll have to look elsewhere, but of-kind this is great stuff. The CD is good and very worthwhile, but the LP – a limited edition on orange vinyl and probably rare – is better. (But you knew that, right?) His follow-up album, Rare Bird Alert, with the Steep Canyon Rangers and a few other interesting contributors (including Paul McCartney) is also good but not as strong overall as The Crow.