Picked Apart
CMH has issued a pleasant but not outstanding release in its signature Pickin' On series. Nine of ten tracks were either written by or carried to stardom by Parton. The tenth track, "Dolly's Breakdown," is an original piece written and performed by Dennis Caplinger. Caplinger, in fact, is the workhorse on this recording, playing all instruments on seven tracks, specifically: banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, bass and percussion. The five remaining tracks feature Richard Smith, Earl Palmer and Mark Thorton on guitar and vocals; David Talbott on banjo; Dennis Crouch on bass; Tim Crouch on fiddle and mandolin; and Randy Kohrs on dobro.
Although the CD is labeled "a Bluegrass Tribute," much of it feels like country because it lack a certain kind of energy always associated with Bluegrass. Selections that most closely resemble Bluegrass include a lightly swinging "My Tennessee Mountain Home," "The Bargin Store," an always popular "Jolene," and "Those Memories of You."