This makes the third time I've bought this wonderful album from the classic lineup of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. I first bought it on vinyl when it was first released in 1970, then again on CD in the 90s, and now this definitive version with two bonus tracks added.

For me, this album defines the Dirt Band and defies category. It's country and bluegrass and rock and the blend works perfectly. There are are only a couple original tunes: Jeff Hanna's rollicking "The Cure" and Jimmie Fadden's harmonica showpiece "Uncle Charlie." They cover a couple of ex-Monkee Mike Nesmith's best songs: "Some of Shelly's Blues" and "Propinquity." They also do four songs by a then relatively unknown songwriter, Kenny Loggins: "Prodigal's Return," "Yukon Railroad" (both co-written with Dann Lottermoser), "Santa Rosa" and "House at Pooh Corner." And then of course, there is their signature song, Jerry Jeff Walker's "Mr. Bojangles," which became their first (and only) top ten pop hit.

Then there are all the wonderful instrumental interludes, like Les Thompson's mandolin workout on "Billy in the Low Ground," Fadden's wonderful harmonica on "Swanee River," and John McEuen's banjo pyrotechnics on "Randy Lynn Rag." [In the liner notes, composer Earl Scruggs is quoted as saying McEuen's version is the way he always intended to do it.]

In addition, there are two bonus tracks included on this newly remastered edition, both recorded during the UNCLE CHARLIE sessions. The first is Dann Lottermoser's "Mississippi Rain"; the second is a toe-tapping bluegrass treatment of Lennon-McCartney's "What Goes On," featuring a rare lead vocal by Les Thompson. All told, this is a joy to listen to from start to finish. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Those who don't have this record simply don't know what they're missing. I mail-ordered it after checking some reviews: I was interested in the Country-rock phenomenon, I liked the Eagles but I knew there was more to the genre than that. I was rewarded with this magnificent album: each single player seems transfixed by the lightning of inspiration, the music is great and brilliantly executed, Hanna's singing captures the spirit of the whole project. This simply IS Country-rock: banjo, harmonica and accordion fluttering in and out between the dusty guitars and the rusty percussions. The rythmic patterns change from song to song, some instrumental afterthoughts thrown in here and there show to the full the extrordinary skills of the band, both as composers and performers. You just can't sit still as you play the record: you sing along, dance the fast-paced rockers, enjoy the soulful ballads. It's a wonderful record, everytime I listen to it I am moved beyond tears. Everybody who has a decent record collection absolutely has to have Uncle Charlie!

I had already heard the Dirt Band when this album was released.

I bought the single "Buy for me the rain" and thought this was a great group, worthy of an extended listen. Well, for some unknown reason, I never bought the first couple of albums they released. All that changed when I heard "Mr. Bojangles" on the radio. I was right. This was a band to listen to and to follow.

Mr. Bojangles, Travelin' Mood, Some of Shelly's Blues, Santa Rosa, Chicken Reel, Yukon Railroad, House at Pooh Corner...all great songs. And the amazing thing was..this band could also do country and bluegrass, as well as being a top notch rock n' roll band. Fiddles are on there, as well as banjos, mandolins, and a host of other instruments rarely (if ever) used by a rock band before. Now, to be fair, The Monkees and the Hollies had used banjos before, and the Monkees also used steel guitar, but had never incorporated these instruments into their over all sound the way NGDB did. I was just blown away. I am still blown away by the Dirt Band to this day, although they went pretty much mainstream country for awhile. But give Uncle Charlie a listen, then listen to Welcome To Woody Creek (their latest) and tell me they haven't gone full circle (no pun intended). The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band..Uncle Charlie and His Dog Teddy...good stuff indeed.

I bought this album originally back in the 70's and still have it. What a wonderful and delightful listening pleasure it is. I would buy it again and probably will eventually by the DVD.

I'm a huge Mike Nesmith fan, and I saw "Some of Shelly's Blues", and picked up the CD, I lready had known "Mr. Bojangles", but really loved the rest of the CD. It was easy to listen to, I got some of my roomates into listening to Mike Nesmith, and tehy're coming around on this CD too.