Tony Rice Guitar (LP)

Guitar was Tony Rice's first attempt at recording an album, and it is still considered one of the best bluegrass guitar records ever released. The album came to Rebel in a roundabout way. It was recorded in Lexington, Kentucky, first appeared on a record label in Japan, and found its way back to Kentucky to be released on a regional label that was later acquired by Rebel in the late 1970s. Since Tony was working in the band of the great banjo player J.D. Crowe at the time, it made sense that Crowe, Tony's brother and mandolinist Larry Rice, and bassist Bobby Slone would provide instrumental accompaniment. Recorded at a time when progressive sounds and styles were breaking the traditional mold of bluegrass, Guitar was praised for managing the balancing act of bringing Tony's skill on the instrument to the fore while remaining a "band" recording.

Tony is in top form vocally and his amazing guitar work is on full display. Here you'll find his signature versions of "Freeborn Man," "Doing My Time," "Nine Pound Hammer" and "John Hardy" - plus the closing track, a nine-minute tour-de-force performance of "Lonesome Reuben."