Old & In the Way is the first album by the bluegrass band Old & In the Way. It was recorded 8 October 1973 at the Boarding House in San Francisco by Owsley Stanley and Vickie Babcock utilizing eight microphones (four per channel) mixed live onto a stereo Nagra tape recorder. The caricature album cover was illustrated by Greg Irons. It was, for many years, the top selling bluegrass album of all time. Eventually, however, the soundtrack album for O Brother, Where Art Thou? surpassed its sales.
Critical reception
On AllMusic, Peter J. D'Angelo said, "Soaring multi-part harmonies; fiddle, guitar, banjo, bass, and mandolin lines that seamlessly intertwine with a good-time feel; and exceptionally solid musicianship round out the ten-track effort.... This is the sound of purists re-creating the music they grew up with and it's both enjoyable and inspiring to listen to."
Track listing
Side one "Pig in a Pen" (traditional) – 2:53 "Midnight Moonlight" (Peter Rowan) – 6:17 "Old and In the Way" (David Grisman) – 3:05 "Knockin' on Your Door" (traditional) – 3:36 "The Hobo Song" (Jack Bonus) – 5:05
Side two "Panama Red" (Rowan) – 2:57 "Wild Horses" (Jagger–Richards) – 4:19 "Kissimmee Kid" (Vassar Clements) – 3:32 "White Dove" (Carter Stanley) – 4:45 "Land of the Navajo" (Rowan) – 6:19
Personnel Old & In the Way Vassar Clements – fiddle Jerry Garcia – banjo, vocals David Grisman – mandolin, vocals John Kahn – acoustic bass Peter Rowan – guitar, vocals
Production Recording engineers – Owsley Stanley, Vickie Babcock Producer, mixing – David Grisman Editing – David Grisman, Owsley Stanley Sleeve illustration – Greg Irons Sleeve layout – Raymond Simone
Notes