After recently celebrating his 55th anniversary as a member of the legendary Grand Ole Opry, Jesse McReynolds is excited to announce the lead single from his upcoming record, The Bull Mountain Moonshiners’ Way.
The title track, which is available now, serves as the first offering
from the highly-anticipated fiddle-themed collection, which will be
released on September 27 (pre-order album HERE).
“Where I grew up, making mountain moonshine was the way that people
survived. I later got my Grandfather’s fiddle that’s around 200 years
old. Shortly after, I found out that he had used it during the Bristol
Sessions. His house is the one that’s on the album cover,” says Jesse
McReynolds. “There’s a lot of history in there, and I’m lucky enough to
be the one who inherited the fiddle and got so many amazing musicians
I’ve worked with over the years at the Opry to play on it. The whole
album is themed around where I grew up in Virginia.”
The
brand new single stays true to the the IBMA “Hall of Honor” inductee’s
traditional sound, which catapulted Jim and Jesse into stardom when they
burst onto the music scene in the 1940s. Written solely by Jesse
McReynolds, the fiddle-driven tune, along with the full album pays
tribute to the singer/songwriter’s Grandfather (Matthew McReynolds),
using his antique instrument. The fiddle used throughout the project was
purchased for $7.00 on a payment schedule in the 1800s. The
Stradivarius style fiddle has been handed down from generation to
generation. Musicians playing the instrument include Steve
Thomas, Corrina Rose Logston, Jim Buchanan, Michael Cleveland, Buddy
Griffin, Travis Wetzel, Jim Brock, Eddie Stubbs, Glen Duncan, and Jesse McReynolds.
Serving as McReynolds’ first national release in over 9 years, The Bull Mountain Moonshiners’ Way
includes 16 songs, each performed similar to the late Matthew
McReynolds while he performed at the groundbreaking Bristol Sessions.
Included in the project are standards like “Billy In The Lowground,” and
a fresh Bluegrass take on “Bonapart’s Retreat,” which has been recorded
by several different artists over the years like Willie Nelson. There
are many different themes on the album, but the overall collection stays
true to the legendary sound that was at the forefront of Bluegrass and
Country music (full track listing below).
McReynolds
has recently inked a new deal with Pinecastle Records, who will handle
marketing and distribution for the upcoming project. In addition, the
deal also brings his discography print catalog back to the label,
including the popular box-set, “The Old Dominion Masters.”
It’s
already been a year of high recognition, as Jesse McReynolds (along with
his brother Jim) were honored with a doctorate bestowed upon them from
Glenville State College, located in West Virginia. The hitmaker has also
taken the stage for several appearances at the Grand Ole Opry. As the
remainder of the year progresses, the chart-topper isn’t slowing down
any time soon, with new music on the horizon.
Fans can download and stream the lead single HERE, where they’ll also be able to pre-order the full album prior to its September 27 release.
The Bull Mountain Moonshiners’ Way Track Listing:
1. The Bull Mountain Moonshiners*
2. Billy In The Lowground (Corrina Rose Logston on fiddle)
3. Ricketts Hornpipe (Jim Buchanan on fiddle)
4. Sally Goodwin*
5. Soldier’s Joy (Michael Cleveland on fiddle)
6. Johnny, Bring The Jug Around The Hill (Buddy Griffin on fiddle)
7. The Girl I Left Behind Me (Johnny Goodwin)*
8. Bonaparte’s Retreat*
9. Sally Johnson (Travis Wetzel on fiddle)
10. Mississippi Sawyer*
11. Kennedy Rag (Jim Brock on fiddle)
12. Chinese Breakdown (Eddie Stubbs on fiddle)
13. Duncan’s Country Store (Glen Duncan on fiddle)
14. Leather Britches*
15. Smith’s Reel*
16. Turkey In The Straw (Buddy Griffin on fiddle)
* indicates Jesse McReynolds playing fiddle