Retro

A native of western North Carolina, Donnie Dobro (Donald Scott) presents here a collection of songs he has recorded and/or performed on in the past. Scott, who plays resonator guitar and guitar, has gathered and credits current and former musicians that participated on these tunes. They include wife Barbara Scott (fiddle), son Joseph Scott (mandolin), Merl Johnson (guitar), Danny Kniceley (bass, mandolin), Brennen Ernst (guitar), Lujean Keepler (vocals), Steve Kilby (guitar, vocal), Jeff Michael (guitar, vocal), John Boulding (banjo), Joe Meadows (fiddle), Becky Barlow (bass), Tom Mindte (mandolin), and Clarence Greene (mandolin, vocal). 

This 15-song project includes originals by Scott and his wife Barbara, “Scott’s Ramble” and “Bonnie Brown.” Gospel presentations include “Ninety and Nine” (instrumental), “Shake Hands With Mother Again,” and “He Said If I Be Lifted Up.” There are two versions of “My Baby’s Gone,” one being an alternate take. The rest of the selections are mostly public domain covers such as “Lord Randall,” “Around The Horn,” “Cold Frosty Morn,” “Saint Louis Blues,” “Old Oaken Bucket,” and “When You And I Were Young, Maggie.” 

Scott says that many were first takes and some were not mixed and some were live recordings. The tunes are a mix of vocals and instrumentals. Scott shows that he is an excellent musician on all cuts and the vocals and harmonies have a distinct old-time flavor, giving the project’s title it’s due.