Steve Martin - The Crow: New Songs for the Five String Banjo
List Price:
Our Price: $6.35
You Save: $6.63 (51%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $5.94 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
CD Details
Artist: Steve MartinBrand: Martin
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
Published: 2009
CD Release Date: 2009-05-19
Music Label: Rounder / Umgd
Soundtracks:
- Daddy Played The Banjo
- Pitkin County Turnaround
- Hoedown At Alice's
- Late For School
- Tin Roof
- Words Unspoken
- Pretty Flowers
- Wally On The Run
- Freddie's Lilt
- Saga Of The Old West
- Clawhammer Medley
- Calico Train
- Banana Banjo
- Blue River Waltz
- The Crow
- Calico Train (instrumental)
Music reviews of The Crow: New Songs for the Five String Banjo
Music Review: "The most expensive banjo album in the history of the universe"
Rating: 5 Stars
I owe a great debt to Steve Martin's banjo playing. When I was 11 I heard his first comedy album, "Let's Get Small" and its tantalizing banjo tidbits -- like his impression of a banjo-playing Richard Nixon performing "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" on the tarmac after arriving in China. I was so impressed that I asked my parents for a banjo for Christmas. In later years I started playing guitar and ukulele, as well. I can quite literally say that Steve Martin put the gift of music in my life -- thank you, Steve!
Despite my permanent soft spot for Steve Martin's banjo playing, however, I can still say objectively that this is a really good record. It is also, Martin insists in the liner notes, "the most expensive banjo album in the history of the universe." That should count for something!
The record makes it perfectly clear that he can not only play the banjo -- he can write music as well. The quality of the tunes would do most professional bluegrass musicians very proud indeed.
Still, I held off on buying this record for a long time, because I was concerned some material might be recycled from his earlier LP The Steve Martin Brothers. Side 1 (of the original vinyl LP) featured Steve Martin the wild-and-crazy standup comedian, while Side 2 was by Steve Martin the denim-clad hippie-freak banjo warrior.
Many of the tunes on this CD were indeed included on that earlier album, but the versions here are new, with completely different recordings. Where the earlier album had some pretty wild, outside-the-box bluegrass arrangements for banjo and flute, this new CD is usually more traditional in instrumentation -- lots of guitar and mandolin breaks, for example.
One cool exception is "Saga of the Old West", which Martin says was inspired in part by Ravi Shankar. The middle break really does push the envelope with a sitar-style banjo groove, with tablas and Indian-sounding woodwinds coming in for the end. Pretty far-out thinking that betrays Steve Martin's 1960s roots.
I have only two gripes about the record. First, it is too short -- total CD run time 43:26! I know this is longer than Flatt & Scruggs' Foggy Mountain Banjo, but come on, Steve. Second, the tracks featuring vocals (four of them, out of 15 total) work less well for me than the instrumental tracks.
Also, I would recommend the CD instead of the MP3 download because you get a very cool 24-page booklet written by Steve Martin and explaining fun facts about each of the tracks. It's great all around!
Description of The Crow: New Songs for the Five String Banjo
Comedian, actor, author, and banjo player Steve Martin releases his first musical recording since 1978's number 1 hit "King Tut." This is no novelty record though. It's some of the best banjo music to come down the pike in a long time. The Crow features able assistance from some of Steve's pals, including Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Earl Scruggs, Bela Fleck, Tim O'Brien and Mary Black. Martin wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on this album, creating a new body of work that will stand alongside the classics for years to come.Country CDs
Music Genres
Bestsellers in Country CDs
Johnie Lewis - Alabama Slide GuitarRelease date: 1998-01-20; Music CD
Best price: $5.98
Price in other shops:
Lightnin Hopkins - Texas BluesRelease date: 1993-11-30; Music CD
Best price: $14.18
Price in other shops:
Lewis - LegendsRelease date: 1986-11-01; Music CD
Price in other shops:
![Hotel California [Vinyl] Image](/images/Hotel-California-Vinyl-B0000001D6-X.jpg)
Eagles - Hotel California [Vinyl]Release date: 1997-12-05; Music CD
Best price: $229.99
Ccr - Bayou CountryRelease date: 1993-06-18; Music CD
Best price: $70.35
Taj Mahal - Senor BluesRelease date: 1997-06-17; Music CD
Best price: $8.99
Price in other shops:
Fonte VivaMusic CD
Frankie Miller - Blackland Farmer-Complete Starday Recordings & MorRelease date: 2008-02-05; Music CD
Price in other shops:
Taken By Surpriseby Red Hot Burritos
Published: 1992; Music CD
Christmas Joy: Solo Piano for the Holidaysby Deborah Offenhauser
Pba Music Pub; Published: 2005-11-30; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $119.49
Similar CDs
Nashville Banjos - 30 Banjo ClassicsRelease date: 2003-10-30; Published: 2003; Music CD
Best price: $3.43
Price in other shops:
Steep Canyon Rangers - Lovin' Pretty WomenRelease date: 2007-08-14; Music CD
Best price: $10.02
Price in other shops:
Sarah Jarosz - Song Up in Her HeadJAROSZ,SARAH; Release date: 2009-06-16; Music CD
Best price: $9.30
Price in other shops:
The Crow: Book of Tablature: New Songs for the Five-String Banjoby Steve Martin, Tony Trischka
Hal Leonard; Homespun; Published: 2009-07-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.42
Price in other shops:
Eric Weissberg, Steve Mandel - Dueling Banjos From The Original Soundtrack: DeliveranceRelease date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $3.91
Price in other shops:
Steep Canyon Rangers - Steep Canyon RangersRelease date: 2004-06-01; Music CD
Best price: $8.50
Price in other shops:
The Steep Canyon Rangers - Deep in the ShadeRelease date: 2009-10-06; Music CD
Best price: $10.42
Price in other shops:
Steep Canyon Rangers - Nobody Knows YouRelease date: 2012-04-10; Music CD
Best price: $8.70
Price in other shops:
Earl Scruggs - Essential Earl ScruggsRelease date: 2004-03-02; Music CD
Best price: $11.05
Price in other shops:
Steep Canyon Rangers, Steve Martin - Rare Bird AlertRelease date: 2011-03-15; Music CD
Best price: $10.18
Price in other shops: