Alum's "Landmark Album" Reissued, Associated Press Notes

April 1, 2002

April 1, 2002, Greencastle, Ind. - One of the best-known works of Jimmy Ibbotson, a member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (third from left in photo) and a 1969 graduate of DePauw University, is getting a new treatment. In an Associated Press article entitled "Landmark Country Album Being Reissued," Jim Patterson writes, "The next step for fans turned on to American roots music by O Brother, Where Art Thou? could be the new reissue of a 1972 album by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band." The classic recording features collaborations with legendary musicians Roy Acuff, Merle Travis, Earl Scruggs, Jimmy Martin, Doc Watson and Maybelle Carter.

"Members of the youthful Nitty Gritty Dirt Band -- then in their early 20s -- acquit themselves admirably with their heroes. For example, Jimmy Ibbotson stands in for Hank Williams on an impassioned 'Lost Highway,'" writes Patterson. "The West Coast-based band members wanted to do the album because they loved old country music. United Artists agreed to the project, which was budgeted at $22,000, because of the success of the band's pop hit 'Mr. Bojangles' and the Uncle Charlie album."

Later, the AP article states, "The three-album set was recorded in a week. It sold slowly but steadily, eventually earning a platinum album for selling 1 million. A well-received sequel was issued in 1989, featuring Johnny Cash, John Prine, Emmylou Harris and many others." The story reports that the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band could reunite for another "Circle" project in the next few months.

To read the story in its entirety, click here. You can read more about the CD reissue and order the set at the web sites of Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com and CDNow.

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