User Reviews

I am not as eloquent as the previous reviewer on this. But I was just as thrilled with it. I was familiar with Steve Martin's Banjo music, in fact I attended his Grand Old Opry debut. I then became acquainted with and bitten by the Steep Canyon Rangers. I needed MORE of them. They make me sing and dance. Next thing I heard of the collaboration with Mr. Martin, SCR and Edie Brickell who I remembered with the "New Bohemians". I actually caught the Great Performances premiere.....oh my, what they achieved together! I HAD to own this as soon as it was available. Actually, I then had to see the Steep Canyon Rangers and purchase it from them. Steve Martin, is funny as always, and has some REAL songwriting talent. Edie's lyrics brought something fresh to the performance and a buttery voice. This Great Performances episode is simply fabulous

I was waiting for a bus in Pasadena, and I was bored, so I wandered into Canterbury Records. "Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers Live at the Fox Theater" was on display, I bought it on a whim, and two hours later I was on a completely different trajectory.

Martin and Brickell make an excellent songwriting team, but what pulled me in immediately was the vocal harmony of the Steep Canyon Rangers on the first song, "Katie Mae." I wept at "Daddy Played the Banjo," and Martin's jokes made me laugh, which I needed to do a lot more of at that time in my life. Brickell's voice is warm and inviting. I thought, "This is pretty good stuff."

Then Martin and Brickell left the stage and the Steep Canyon Rangers did two of their own songs.

KAPOW.

I felt as if I had been waiting to hear these songs for my entire life, yet at the same time it seemed part of me had somehow always known them. I'm a professional musician, and had gotten used to learning music that I needed to learn for gigs, listening analytically instead of for enjoyment. But hearing those two songs, I knew I *needed* to play, sing, listen, dance, be enveloped by, the music of the Steep Canyon Rangers. The honest lyrics, the epic instrumental breaks, the beautiful harmonies, the way the arrangement of each song helps tell its story...

Time to stand and deliver? Yes sir. I'm ready.

Can't satisfy the hunger in my soul? What I hunger for is more of this music, so I looked up what type of music they play: they are a progressive bluegrass band. So I became a bluegrass fiddle player. And it's all thanks to the Rangers, who are still the best band in existence as far as I'm concerned.

I hasten to add that the rest of the show, with music composed by Martin, lyrics written by Martin and Brickell, and the Rangers bringing their incredible knack for arranging, is also exquisite. A handful of the songs in this show were used later in Martin and Brickell's Broadway musical, "Bright Star," so fans of that musical will be interested in hearing these versions of the songs.

This episode of Great Performances will take you on a journey, and it may even be a life-changing journey. Get ready!