Current Projects
Will The Circle be Unbroken
Will the Circle Be Unbroken (Exclusive Signed Copy): The Making of a Landmark Album, 50th Anniversary Pre-Order availabe at Landmark BookSellers
July 8, 2022
From John McEuen
The ...Circle... album became a "family affair", gathering together the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with legends of country music for what would become a landmark recording session. The record producer (also manager), my brother Bill, captured so many wonderful moments with his photos, images to become the foundation for creating the album cover AND this book - a magical moment in time. He had given me the photos in 2012, which I use in a multi-media show about ...Circle..., and now I put them in this book, along with early NGDB shots he took. It is important to show that EVERYONE had a vital role in making this recording happen.
It is right, in my opinion, for anyone involved, to call it ‘their’ masterpiece album. It belongs to all of us - and each of us. Rock-based Ibby (Jim Ibbotson) singing a Hank Williams song, folk-rooted Jeff Hanna singing with Maybelle and Doc, Les Thompson playing Mandolin with Jimmy Martin, Jimmie Fadden showing off his incredible harmonica chops (and all singing too!). And for me, banjo picking with the best. This was a record of an event, one that has been captivating audiences for 50 years, and continues to this day. Something Bill and I never imagined while playing Jimmy Martin music at L.A. clubs in those pre-NGDB days.. It was 'something'. Wow! Were we fortunate to be there! And now, you can go there with us all…
Will the Circle Be Unbroken; The Making of a Landmark Album
By John McEuen with photographs by William E. McEuen
Publication date: August 2022
From the publisher; Backbeat Books
The 1971 collaboration of legendary Nashville bluegrass musicians and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, a Southern California country-rock-jug group, was the genesis of Will the Circle Be Unbroken, which Rolling Stone magazine would declare "the most important album to come out of Nashville." In this definitive, beautifully illustrated book, McEuen gives an inside look at the making of a landmark album, covering each of its thirty-eight songs and sharing previously unseen photographs taken by the author and his brother Bill McEuen, who produced the recording.
The story of the album begins after the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's cover of "Mr. Bojangles" became a surprise hit, when McEuen invited Earl Scruggs to join the band on a new project. Scruggs said yes—as did Doc Watson, Merle Travis, Jimmy Martin, Vassar Clements, Roy Acuff, Mother Maybelle Carter, and other country stars. For six days in the summer of 1971, the musicians sat in a circle facing one another, recording country and bluegrass standards in East Nashville's Woodland Studios. Out of that magical collaboration came one of the most iconic albums in American history, one that melded musical worlds, bridged generations, and captured the essence of Americana. Now, after fifty years, John McEuen invites readers to join him in the circle, hear the stories, and listen to the music.
CONTENTS
Foreword
Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns
xi
Acknowledgments
xiii
Introduction
John McEuen with Nitty Gritty Dirt Band members Jeff Hanna,
Jimmie Fadden, Jimmy “Ibby” Ibbotson, and Les Thompson
xv
One
The Path to the Circle
Two
The Circle Sessions: Music Forms a New Circle
Three
A Circle of Friends: The Circle Continues
Afterword
In Memoriam
The Circle Family
Discography
Index
Publisher: Backbeat
ISBN13: 9781493062331
Binding: 8x10 Hardback, Color and B/W photos
Retail Price : U.S. $50.00
Page Count: 256 Pages
Pub Date: August 2022
Look for the book at your favorite local bookseller,
or online at Amazon, Barnes&Noble
For more information: https://www.johnmceuen.com
or on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/JohnMcEuenMusic |
This book is dedicated to photographer William E. McEuen, a visionary in film, television, stage, and thankfully, records. He never wanted the spotlight himself, but I think he liked knowing with his contributions he deserved it.
William E. was mentor to many who continue today in showbusiness doing great things. He left behind a bunch of singing, laughing and dancing people with happy feet who loved what he brought them. He KNEW what they would like!
Special thanks to William E. McEuen, for you made something equally enduring as your favorite movie,
Citizen Kane.
View Details >>
"THE LIFE I'VE PICKED" a book by John McEuen
While doing about 7,000 interviews over the years it seemed half the later interviewers said "You should write a book!." I started putting the words down, and 2500 interviews later it was coming together. The next several years were spent editing and making it a story, instead of a list of events. As a teenager it was definitely the life I picked, to be a troubadour musician and see the world. It was challenging to weave the story of a guy who went from dork to nerd to banjo player in with family life, and travels living the dream of being part of known band I helped start.
John McEuen
As Amazon says:
John McEuen is one of the founding members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, NGDB. Now 50-years strong, the band is best known for its evergreen bestselling album Will the Circle Be Unbroken and for its gorgeous version of the song "Mr. Bojangles." McEuen is one of the seminal figures who conceived and originated the fusion of folk, rock and country, a unique sound still hugely popular today. In addition to performing on tour with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and on dozens of bestselling NGDB albums (many of which went platinum and gold), McEuen also has a successful solo performing and recording career. And as a music producer, he won the Grammy Award in 2010 for producing The Crow, a music album by Steve Martin, John's lifelong friend. McEuen write
s candidly and movingly about the ups and downs in his life. Among the highs was NGDB's tour of the Soviet Union in 1977; they were the first American group to perform there. Among the downs was the breakup of his family and leaving the band (the first time) in the same week. McEuen is a born storyteller, and his tales of working with everyone from Linda Ronstadt to Willie Nelson to Johnny Cash to the Allman Brothers to Bob Dylan to Dolly Parton to Earl Scruggs, to of course, Steve Martin will thrill every fan of folk, rock, and country music alike.
John McEuen
View Details >>
MADE IN BROOKLYN
John McEuen Celebrates The Release of His Latest Solo Album
Released 9/30/2016
(Chesky Records)
John McEuen brings together friends met in music from his 50 years of road travels, people he has played with on stage and/or studio, but most of them did not know each other!" All have been instrumental in molding Americana Music in their own right. McEuen invited these talented musicians and vocalists to join him to celebrate traditional recording style - but in state-of-the-art hi-definition - and make lifetime memories with new musical moments. The hi-def studio project was recorded in a Brooklyn church.
In the same manner as the album "Will The Circle Be Unbroken," another landmark is created: MADE IN BROOKLYN.
MADE IN BROOKLYN featured performances:
- "String Wizard," John McEuen (guitar/mandolin/banjo/fiddle/vocals)
- David Bromberg (An acoustic guitar icon, vocals )
- Steve Martin (banjo on a Warren Zevon tune.)
- David Amram (At 85, this American jazz/folk/classical treasure has recorded and performed with everyone who's anyone. David plays pennywhistle, flute and percussion.)
- John Cowan (New Grass Revival's lead vocalist, Cowan is McEuen's all time favorite lead singer.)
- John Carter Cash (Johnny and June's son…The two Johns pay homage to father Cash's "I Still Miss Someone.")
- Martha Redbone (Martha is a talented songstress for whom John produced the highly praised album THE SONGS OF WILLIAM BLAKE--GARDEN OF LOVE.)
- Jay Ungar (A fiddle virtuoso, composer of "Ashoken's Farewell")
- Andy Goessling (clarinet/mandolin/zither/sax/dobro - member of jam band Railroad Earth)
- Matt Cartsonis (Matt's acrobatic and acerbic vocals are the perfect match to his guitar and mandola talents.)
- Skip Ward (the definitive bass work of his is. ....definitive)
- Lars (Lars is all ears!)
see and hear the players talk about what is behind MADE IN BROOKLYN:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcFYM1WnzGk
http://www.chesky.com
http://www.johnmceuen.com/
View Details >>