The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band:
Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Vol. 3

Like a comet that periodically returns and lights up the sky, the Will the Circle Be Unbroken series manages to be predictable and illuminating at the same time. Once again, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band draws an assembly of deities and wannabes around the campfire. Some of these are familiar, though veterans from the first volume have grown scarce: Doc Watson plays "I Am a Pilgrim" as a tribute to the late Merle Travis, who cut the same tune on the 1972 Circle session. Jimmy Martin returns too, his galloping, almost-reckless delivery undimmed by the years. From the 1989 sequel comes Johnny Cash, whose "Tears in the Holston River" eulogizes Maybelle Carter, his mother-in-law and the soul of the first Circle. New faces take the place of those who have departed: Willie Nelson is a logical addition, though his duet partner, Tom Petty, sounds uncomfortable and awkward on "Goodnight, Irene." Emmylou Harris assumes her place in this pantheon, her voice breaking hearts even in harmony with Matraca Berg on "Oh, Cumberland." No performance stands out more than that of Taj Mahal, whose presence has a demographic significance and whose rollicking rendition of "Fishin' Blues nearly steals the show. But Mahal also contributes to the album's only serious blemish: On the inevitable title cut, he and the other soloists play with a solemnity that deletes the song's communal energies. A congregational enthusiasm distinguished its performance on the first album; here, the singers . particularly Alison Krauss . pass it along, verse by verse, as if it were priceless china. This music is about soul, not trepidation, so it's to everyone's credit that such moments are scarce here. Let's hope that they don't dress it up with string samples or breakbeats once Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Vol. 4 rolls around. . --Robert L. Doerschuk, All-Music Guide

Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Volume 2 came in 1989, with Levon Helm as one of the guest stars. A cover of The Band's "The Weight" is a "hidden track" on Volume 3. To find this bluegrass version of "The Weight," go to the last track (#14) on disc 2, a short instrumental of "Farther Along" performed by Randy Scruggs. That song ends at approx. 1:25, followed by silence. At 2:30 "The Weight" fades in at the chorus. Only verses 3 and 5 are sung in addition to the choruses and some fine lead breaks featuring banjo, fiddle, harmonica & accordian. The cut ends at 6:00.

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Take Me into Your Lifeboat performed by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Del McCoury / Robbie McCoury
2. Milk Cow Blues performed by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Doc Watson / Richard Watson
3. I Find Jesus (Ibbotson)
4. Hold Whatcha Got performed by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Jimmy Martin
5. Mama's Opry performed by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Iris DeMent
6. Diamonds in the Rough performed by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Cash, June Carter
7. Lonesome River performed by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Sam Bush
8. Some Dark Holler performed by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Dwight Yoakam
9. The Lowlands performed by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Jaimie Hanna
10. Love, Please Come Home performed by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Del McCoury / Robbie McCoury
11. Goodnight Irene performed by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Willie Nelson / Tom Petty
12. I Know What It Means to Be Lonesome performed by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
13. I'll Be Faithful to You performed by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Emmylou Harris
14. Tears in the Holston River performed by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Johnny Cash

Disc 2

1. Fishin' Blues performed by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Taj Mahal
2. Save It, Save It performed by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Jimmy Martin
3. Wheels performed by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Dwight Yoakam
4. Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms performed by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Willie Nelson
5. Oh Cumberland performed by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Matraca Berg
6. I Am a Pilgrim performed by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Doc Watson / Richard Watson
7. Sallie Ann [instrumental] performed by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Earl Scruggs
8. Catfish John performed by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Alison Krauss
9. Roll the Stone Away (Hanna/Hummon)
10. All Prayed Up performed by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Vince Gill
11. Return to Dismal Swamp II [instrumental] performed by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Jerry Douglas / Glen Duncan
12. There Is a Time performed by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Rodney Dillard
13. Will the Circle Be Unbroken (Glory, Glory) performed by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Taj Mahal / Alison Krauss
14. Farther Along [instrumental] performed by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Randy Scruggs
15. The Weight [not listed on CD cover]

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Vol. 3 - 2002 - Capitol 40177