Various – This Is Americana – Vol. 1

Compiled by the Americana Music Association, this album represents some of the very best country, bluegrass and rock artists recording for Sugar Hill records.Includes tracks by The Gourds, Railroad Earth, Scott Miller & The Commonwealth, Rodney Crowell, James McMurtry, Robin & Linda Williams, Doc Watson, Jerry Douglas, Sean Watkins and many more. This collection is the first in a series of label compilations, highlighting some of the very best Americana recordings and labels.

Track Listing:
The Gourds: 1. My Name Is Jorge - 3:49   Railroad Earth: 2. Mighty River - 5:28   Scott Miller: 3. I Won't Go With You - 3:17   Rodney Crowell: 4. The Rock of My Soul - 4:50   James McMurtry: 5. Out Here in the Middle - 4:22   Robin & Linda Williams: 6. After the Fire Is Gone - 2:59   Doc Watson & Frosty Morn: 7. Working Man Blues - 2:53   Kev Russell: 8. (Somebody Bring Me a Flower) I'm a Robot:- 2:33   John Cowan: 9. Two Quarts Low - 2:51   Jerry Douglas: 10. Patrick Meets the Brickbats - 3:22   Terry Baucom: 11. It's All My Fault - 2:47   Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver: 12. Poor Boy Working Blues - 2:31   Dudley Connell & Don Rigsby: 13. Another Saturday Night - 2:58   Hot Rize: 14. Colleen Malone - 3:12   Sean Watkins: 15. Let It Fall - 4:02   Maura O'Connell: 16. Poor Man's House - 3:51

Reviews:

1. AllMusic - Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.
Compilations are sometimes accompanied by ambitious titles like "Bluegrass Today" or "The Roots of Country," as though one collection could encompass the birth or current state of an entire genre. Occasionally, however, an album like This Is Americana actually delivers the goods. Drawn from the talented group of artists recording for Sugar Hill -- including Rodney Crowell, Hot Rize, and John Cowan -- this generous collection brings together 15 songs and one instrumental. The music runs the gauntlet of the hard-to-nail-down Americana genre, from the acoustic sounds of Baucom, Bibey & Blueridge to the eclectic, electric hodgepodge of the Gourds. There are old standbys like Doc Watsonand Doyle Lawson along with new faces like Railroad Earth and Sean Watkins. This Is Americanaalso serves as an excellent introduction to all of these artists. "Two Quarts Low" gives ample evidence that ex-New Grass Revival singer John Cowan still has one of the best voices on the progressive bluegrass scene, while "Out Here in the Middle" finds James McMurtry digging deep to offer sharp observations on life in America. Of course, no Sugar Hill collection would be complete with out an appearance by Jerry Douglas, a dobro player so prolific that one might be tempted to think that he sleeps in the studio. "Patrick Meets the Brickbats" rolls along at a nice clip, giving Douglas a chance to combine good taste with speedy picking. This Is Americana is a fine collection that will remind one of listening to a good radio program without any commercials.