High Lonesome: The Story of Bluegrass Music

CMH is proud to reissue the original soundtrack to High Lonesome: The Story of Bluegrass Music, Rachel Liebling’s groundbreaking 1991 documentary film. Widely seen in theaters and on public television and still available on VHS and DVD, High Lonesome was the first documentary film to chronicle bluegrass’ fascinating history. This new edition features three bonus tracks and updated liner notes.

Bill Monroe, “The Father of Bluegrass,” is well represented with five classic tracks, including a previously unrecorded mandolin solo. Bluegrass legends and innovators The Stanley Brothers, “O Brother’s” Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, Kenny Baker, Mac Wiseman, The Osborne Brothers, Jimmy Martin, Jim & Jesse McReynolds and the Seldom Scene are also featured.

From breakneck standards, like the Osborne Brother’s “Ruby” (1969) to haunting spirituals (Bill Monroe’s “A Voice From on High” from 1954) to ballads of nostalgia for a vanishing way of life (Ralph Stanley’s “The Fields Have Turned Brown” from 1973), the High Lonesome soundtrack lets the giants of bluegrass and their remarkable songs tell the music’s story.