Josh Graves - Same Old Blues - MP3

Born in 1927 to a family of eight in Tellico Plains, Tennessee, Josh Graves would come to change the shape of bluegrass as we know it.

Josh Graves launched his music career at the young age of 15, touring with luminaries such as Mac Wiseman, Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. While hired by the latter two as a bassist in the studio, Graves made bluegrass history by overdubbing dobro (an acoustic guitar with a metal resonator) on some of the group’s recordings. In doing so, he not only introduced the dobro as a potential instrument for the genre but revolutionized the way the instrument itself has been played to this day.

While his contributions to his instrument and bluegrass at large are immeasurable and well-remembered, what’s more forgotten is Graves’ deep connection to the blues. That connection is explored to amazing results with Same Old Blues, Graves’ second album for CMH. Originally released in 1977, Same Old Blues is a heartfelt and warm collection of originals (with a Merle Haggard song for good measure), traversing the blues idiom and spirit from a country perspective. Captured with beautiful analogue warmth and backed by a band that seems completely at ease, Graves glides through these twelve tracks demonstrating that he had been a blues man for life.

Made available digitally for the first time since its 1977 release, listeners new and old can enjoy this lost classic and hear the dobro legend’s playing in a whole new light.