A number of CDs we have discussed recently on The Bluegrass Blog have hit this past few weeks.

The sophomore release from Grasstowne, The Other Side Of Towne, came out on October 6. As visible as these guys have been since they formed in December of 2006, it seems a bit odd that this is only their second CD. Perhaps that is because these guys had all been involved in top-tier bluegrass bands for so many years beforehand.

Grasstowne features Alan Bibey on mandolin, Steve Gulley on guitar, Phil Leadbetter on resonator guitar, Jason Davis on banjo and Dale Perry on bass. All contribute vocally, with Gulley and Bibey doing the lead singing.

You can hear several audio samples (and read some comments from Alan Bibey) in our August preview, and samples from all 14 tracks can be found on the Grasstowne site and in iTunes.

Larry Sparks’ I Just Want To Thank You Lord was released on October 20, the official debut of Rural Rhythm Christian, a new division of the popular California-based label. Though previously released in 2001 to very limited distribution, the tracks have been remastered and this music will be new to the great majority of Sparks fans far and wide.

This music is classic Sparks – unpretentious, unadorned and, frankly, unequaled. Larry’s singing and guitar are in fine form with stellar contributions from Josh McMurray on banjo, Scott Napier on mandolin and Matthew Madden on bass. The sparse arrangements perfectly suit the gravity of the material, and I would rank I Just Want To Thank You Lord with the very best work of his long and remarkable career.

Here’s a taste of the title track, a Sparks original composition.

I Just Want To Thank You Lord – Listen Now    

What a gem. The full track also includes a poignant recitation.

Look for I Just Want To Thank You Lord wherever you purchase CDs online. The digital release will be on November 17.

Del McCoury may be slowing down his tour schedule, but not his recorded output. After releasing a 4 CD set of newly-recorded music earlier this year (Celebrating 50 Years of Del McCoury), Del is back with another new album, Family Circle (October 20), featuring his crack band.

McCoury has developed a trademark sound recording music from outside of bluegrass – often way outside – but performing it with the approach and sensibility of a traditional bluegrass band. Unsurprisingly, this new project follows that recipe to a “T,” and the result is yet another thoroughly enjoyable visit with Del and the boys.

Powerful and artful accompaniment is provided by Ronnie McCoury on mandolin, Rob McCoury on banjo, Jason Carter on fiddle and Alan Bartram on bass.

You can hear full audio from all 14 tracks in our earlier preview, and samples in iTunes.

Patty Loveless has enjoyed great success in country music, but always held a love for the mountain music she grew up singing in her native Kentucky. While charting country hits and accepting awards from the CMA and ACM, she found time to sing with Ralph Stanley on his 1998 double album, Clinch Mountain Country.

Loveless returned to her traditional roots for her Mountain Soul album, released in 2001. That CD featured the talents of Earl Scruggs, Travis Tritt, Ricky Skaggs, Jon Randall, Stuart Duncan, Ron Ickes, and Jeff White on a set of bluegrass-flavored music. It was a critically-acclaimed success, fairly well-supported by Epic Records, and Patty took a string band out with her to tour.

Just last month, she released a follow-up, Mountain Soul II, another rousing set of bluegrass and traditional country music. Many of the songs are new, and the sound is acoustic, sincere and mighty powerful. Like Volume I, this one is produced by Patty’s husband, Emory Gordy Jr., and includes contributions from Rob Ickes, Jon Randall plus Vince Gill, Carl Jackson, Bryan Sutton, Mike Auldridge and Emmylou Harris.

Here’s a video of Patty in the studio, tracking Working On A Building with Del and Ronnie McCoury, and talking about how she came to include this song.

Audio for several complete tracks can be heard on Patty’s web site.

The folks at McCoury Music have agreed to let us offer free streaming of the new Del McCoury Band CD, Family Circle. It’s not due for release until October 27, but digital download purchases can be made now online.

The pre-order page offers a number of interesting Family Circle packages, from a simple MP3 download for $8.99 up to a special mega-fan pack that includes an autographed CD, immediate download, and a framed and autographed printer’s proof of the CD artwork for $199. Only a few of the framed proofs are available.

Other packages that include autographed CDs and posters are also available. Check them all out online.

Have a listen to the new album, courtesy of McCoury Music.

Del McCoury’s new CD comes out later this month, and Del is promoting it by giving away a free track. The track is titled White Pass Railroad, and tells the story of an Alaskan railroad built in 1897 to facilitate the miners who were part of the Alaskan Gold Rush.

The railroad still exists and is preserved as a historic site. You can visit the White Pass & Yukon Route website to see a video they put together using Del’s cut of this song as the soundtrack. The video features mostly black and white historic photos and footage matched to the storyline of the song. It’s very interesting to watch and you’ll learn a little American history in the process, which is always a good thing. It’s the last video on the page, so scroll to the bottom and you’ll see it.

Below I’ve embedded the widget allowing you to download the track White Pass Railroad. You’ll have to give them your email address, but it’s a painless process. I tried it out myself and it worked flawlessly. Don’t forget to watch our video interview with Del from IBMA 2009, where he talks about this new CD.