The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Album: “Greatest Hits”

This is the greatest collection of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's late 70's and early 80's songs that I have seen. I orginally had the cassette version, and I just had to find this exact album on CD. This album WILL take you back to a time 20 years ago and let you feel like you did back then. The melodies capture a great era of music that we will never see again. I have frequently heard An American Dream on pop music stations. I even heard Make a Little Magic in a department store last week. This is just a can't live without for any Dirt Band fan. I can only wish that this particular album was more available on CD!

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band turned out some mighty excellent tunes in their time; and their music remains every bit as enjoyable today. This music brings back memories for people who heard these songs when they were first released; and this is even an excellent starter album for newcomers to their incredible talent. The quality of the sound is quite good and the artwork is tastefully done.

The CD opens with a huge hit for them, "Mr. Bojangles;" this song stayed in my mind after I heard it the very first time and listen for the awesome "An American Dream" with its beautiful melody and some excellent singing that fits perfectly with the musical arrangement. In addition, the very country-flavored "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" is very well done; and I like other songs including "House at Pooh Corner;" "Make a Little Magic" with that harmonica enhancing the number; a terrific treatment of "All I Have to Do Is Dream" made so famous by The Everly Brothers; the countrified "Grand Ole Opry Song;" "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" with still more wonderful singing and music; "The Battle of New Orleans" with that guitar and so much more; "I Saw the Light" with excellent guitar work; "Buy for Me the Rain" with those strings as they perform this to perfection--and beyond; "Some of Shelly's Blues" and the closing number, "Fire in the Sky."

Of course, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band made a lot more music than just these tracks. Fans who want a more comprehensive collection of their music would do well to get the two CD set entitled "Dirt, Silver and Gold" as well as "20 Years of Dirt."

This group remains a special band even in our times; catch them in concert if you can! I highly recommend this album.

as above. CD arrived almost immediately. Nothing more needs to be said but more words are required, so here they are.

No one does it quite like Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. I especailly like "Some of Sally's Blues". This particular cd offers some of their greats.

For all their crappy sounding, cheap collections which seem to be thrown together by a monkey, Curb Records actually got it right this time. "The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Greatest Hits" is actually a well-thought out, great sounding collection for either the budget conscious or very casual fan, with most of the really big ticket songs one would look for in a CD such as this.

The only complaint is that it is not chronological, but that is a minor quibble when the music is so good.

The CD actually sums up the years 1967-1981, and includes most of their Hot 100 songs from this period (excepting their first to chart under the name change "The Dirt Band", 1978's "In For the Night"). It also includes three songs from "Will the Circle Be Unbroken", the title track, "Grand Ole Opry Song" and "I Saw the Light" with guest Roy Acuff.

It's not nearly as extensive as the three-record, two disc comp "Dirt, Silver & Gold", but that's one for the really big fans, while shortening the scope of its focus on the band (it was released in 1976).

Recommended to anyone wanting a good, inexpensive way to start familiarizing themselves with the band's brand of artistry.