100 Greatest Bluegrass Songs
Criteria: These 100 Greatest Bluegrass songs were chosen for their influenece, impact, originality, and lasting popularity in the world of Bluegrass music.
Greatest Bluegrass Songs
1. With Body And Soul
Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys
2. Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs & The Foggy Mountain Boys
3. Rank Stranger
The Stanley Brothers & The Clinch Mountain Boys
4. Blue Moon Of Kentucky
Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys
5. Rocky Top
The Osborne Brothers
6. On The Sunny Side Of The Mountain
Jimmy Martin & The Sunny Mountain Boys
7. Orange Blossom Special
The Stonemans // Johnson Mountain Boys
8. Jerusalem Ridge
Kenny Baker & Bill Monroe
9. I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow
Stanley Brothers (1959) // The Soggy Bottom Boys (2000)
10. Fox On the Run
Country Gentlemen (Rebel Records, studio, 1971)
Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys
2. Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs & The Foggy Mountain Boys
3. Rank Stranger
The Stanley Brothers & The Clinch Mountain Boys
4. Blue Moon Of Kentucky
Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys
5. Rocky Top
The Osborne Brothers
6. On The Sunny Side Of The Mountain
Jimmy Martin & The Sunny Mountain Boys
7. Orange Blossom Special
The Stonemans // Johnson Mountain Boys
8. Jerusalem Ridge
Kenny Baker & Bill Monroe
9. I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow
Stanley Brothers (1959) // The Soggy Bottom Boys (2000)
10. Fox On the Run
Country Gentlemen (Rebel Records, studio, 1971)
11. I'll Fly Away
Alison Krauss & Gillian Welch
12. I'll Meet You In Church Sunday
The Stanley Brothers
13. New Muleskinner Blues
Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys
14. Mountain Dew
Grandpa Jones
15. I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby
Jerry Douglas Band w/Alison Krauss
16. You Don't Know My Mind
Jimmy Martin & The Sunny Mountain Boys
17. Molly & Tenbrooks
Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys
18. Wayfaring Stranger
Emmylou Harris
19. Salt Creek
Norman Blake, Tony Rice & Doc Watson
20. Paradise
Jim & Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys
21. Little Maggie
Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys
22. I Wouldn't Change You If I Could
Jim Eanes & The Shenandoah Valley Boys
23. I Wonder How The Old Folks Are At Home
Mac Wiseman & The Country Boys
24. How Mountain Girls Can Love
The Stanley Brothers & The Clinch Mountain Boys
25. Uncle Pen
Bill Monroe & The Bluegrass Boys (1950) // Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder (1983)
26. The Boys Are Back In Town
Patty Loveless
27. Wild Horses
Old And In The Way
28. I've Got That Old Feeling
Alison Krauss & Union Station
29. Wagon Wheel
Old Crow Medicine Show
30. Feudin' Banjos
Arthur Smith & Don Reno // Duelin' Banjos
Eric Weissberg w/ Steve Mandell
31. Clinch Mountain Backstep
The Stanley Brothers & The Clinch Mountain Boys
32. Worried Man Blues (1971)
Wade Mainer
33. High On A Mountain
Del McCoury & The Dixie Pals
34. I Am A Pilgrim
The Kentucky Colonels
35. Drink Up And Go Home
Jimmy Martin & The Sunny Mountain Boys
36. Dooley
Dillards
37. I Know You Rider
Seldom Scene
38. Ruby, Are You Mad?
The Osborne Brothers
39. Callin' Baton Rouge
New Grass Revival
40. Last Train To Kitty Hawk
Balsam Range
41. The Little Mountain Church
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
42. Devil's Train
James King Band
43. Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms
Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs & The Foggy Mountain Boys
44. Freight Train
Jim & Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys
45. High Lonesome Sound
Vince Gill
46. It's Mighty Dark To Travel
Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys
47. Georgie Buck
Carolina Chocolate Drops
48. I Saw The Light
Roy Acuff w/The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
49. Meet Me By The Moonlight
The Stanley Brothers & The Clinch Mountain Boys
50. A Voice From On High
Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys
51. The Fields Have Turned Brown
Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys
52. Girl At The Crossroads Bar
The Bluegrass Cardinals
53. 'Tis Sweet To Be Remembered
Mac Wiseman & The Country Boys
54. Nine Pound Hammer
Jim & Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys
55. Little Birdie
Wade Mainer (1953) // Red Allen & The Kentuckians
56. Tennessee 1949
Larry Sparks
57. Walls Of Time
The Johnson Mountain Boys
58. The Ballad Of Jed Clampett
Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs & The Foggy Mountain Boys
59. Fair And Tender Ladies
Joe Val & The New England Bluegrass Boys
60. Pretty Green Hills
Dave Evans
61. Tortured Tangled Hearts
Dixie Chicks
62. Grayson County Blues
No Speed Limit
63. Pretty Polly
Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys
64. Please Be My Love
Jim & Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys
65. Rocky Road Blues
Bill Monroe & The Bluegrass Boys
66. Long Black Veil
John Duffey
67. Steam-Powered Aereoplane
John Hartford
68. Going Across The Sea
Valley Road
69. I'm On My Way Home
Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys
70. Black Mountain Rag (live)
Doc & Merle Watson
71. Howdy Neighbor, Howdy
Reno & Smiley & The Tennessee Cut-Ups
72. I Found A Hiding Place
Carl Story & His Ramblin' Mountaineers
73. 20 Years OF Farming
James King Band
74. Better Times A Coming
Jim & Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys
75. Sparkling Blue Eyes (1971
Wade Mainer
76. Gloryland
Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys
77. Angel Band
Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys
78. Me And The Jukebox
Buzz Busby & The Bayou Boys
79. Cabin On The Hill
Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs
80. Kentucky Borderline
Rhonda Vincent & The Rage
81. Electricity
Jimmy Murphy
82. Little Gloria Rose
Seldom Scene
83. Don't Let Your Sweet Love Die
Reno & Smiley & The Tennessee Cut-Ups
84. Windy Mountain
The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers
85. Bile 'Em Cabbage Down
Heights Of Grass
86. Long Journey Home
The Lilly Brothers & Don Stover
87. Cripple Creek
The Stonemans
88. Rain And Sorrow
Del McCoury & The Dixie Pals
89. Old Home Place
J. D. Crowe & The New South
90. Two Highways
Alison Krauss & Union Station
91. Blue Ridge Cabin Home
The Bluegrass Album Band
92. Duncan & Brady (He's Been On The Job Too Long)
The Johnson Mountain Boys
93. Shady Grove
Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
94. Bluegrass Express
Rhonda Vincent & The Rage
95. John Deere Tractor
Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers
96. Will The Circle Be Unbroken?
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
97. Don't Cheat In Our Hometown
Keith Whitley & Ricky Skaggs
98. Kentucky Waltz
Bill Monroe & The Bluegrass Boys
99. Barbara Allen
Moore & Napier
100. Roving Gambler
Country Gentlemen // Larry Sparks // Peter Rowan
Alison Krauss & Gillian Welch
12. I'll Meet You In Church Sunday
The Stanley Brothers
13. New Muleskinner Blues
Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys
14. Mountain Dew
Grandpa Jones
15. I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby
Jerry Douglas Band w/Alison Krauss
16. You Don't Know My Mind
Jimmy Martin & The Sunny Mountain Boys
17. Molly & Tenbrooks
Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys
18. Wayfaring Stranger
Emmylou Harris
19. Salt Creek
Norman Blake, Tony Rice & Doc Watson
20. Paradise
Jim & Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys
21. Little Maggie
Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys
22. I Wouldn't Change You If I Could
Jim Eanes & The Shenandoah Valley Boys
23. I Wonder How The Old Folks Are At Home
Mac Wiseman & The Country Boys
24. How Mountain Girls Can Love
The Stanley Brothers & The Clinch Mountain Boys
25. Uncle Pen
Bill Monroe & The Bluegrass Boys (1950) // Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder (1983)
26. The Boys Are Back In Town
Patty Loveless
27. Wild Horses
Old And In The Way
28. I've Got That Old Feeling
Alison Krauss & Union Station
29. Wagon Wheel
Old Crow Medicine Show
30. Feudin' Banjos
Arthur Smith & Don Reno // Duelin' Banjos
Eric Weissberg w/ Steve Mandell
31. Clinch Mountain Backstep
The Stanley Brothers & The Clinch Mountain Boys
32. Worried Man Blues (1971)
Wade Mainer
33. High On A Mountain
Del McCoury & The Dixie Pals
34. I Am A Pilgrim
The Kentucky Colonels
35. Drink Up And Go Home
Jimmy Martin & The Sunny Mountain Boys
36. Dooley
Dillards
37. I Know You Rider
Seldom Scene
38. Ruby, Are You Mad?
The Osborne Brothers
39. Callin' Baton Rouge
New Grass Revival
40. Last Train To Kitty Hawk
Balsam Range
41. The Little Mountain Church
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
42. Devil's Train
James King Band
43. Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms
Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs & The Foggy Mountain Boys
44. Freight Train
Jim & Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys
45. High Lonesome Sound
Vince Gill
46. It's Mighty Dark To Travel
Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys
47. Georgie Buck
Carolina Chocolate Drops
48. I Saw The Light
Roy Acuff w/The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
49. Meet Me By The Moonlight
The Stanley Brothers & The Clinch Mountain Boys
50. A Voice From On High
Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys
51. The Fields Have Turned Brown
Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys
52. Girl At The Crossroads Bar
The Bluegrass Cardinals
53. 'Tis Sweet To Be Remembered
Mac Wiseman & The Country Boys
54. Nine Pound Hammer
Jim & Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys
55. Little Birdie
Wade Mainer (1953) // Red Allen & The Kentuckians
56. Tennessee 1949
Larry Sparks
57. Walls Of Time
The Johnson Mountain Boys
58. The Ballad Of Jed Clampett
Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs & The Foggy Mountain Boys
59. Fair And Tender Ladies
Joe Val & The New England Bluegrass Boys
60. Pretty Green Hills
Dave Evans
61. Tortured Tangled Hearts
Dixie Chicks
62. Grayson County Blues
No Speed Limit
63. Pretty Polly
Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys
64. Please Be My Love
Jim & Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys
65. Rocky Road Blues
Bill Monroe & The Bluegrass Boys
66. Long Black Veil
John Duffey
67. Steam-Powered Aereoplane
John Hartford
68. Going Across The Sea
Valley Road
69. I'm On My Way Home
Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys
70. Black Mountain Rag (live)
Doc & Merle Watson
71. Howdy Neighbor, Howdy
Reno & Smiley & The Tennessee Cut-Ups
72. I Found A Hiding Place
Carl Story & His Ramblin' Mountaineers
73. 20 Years OF Farming
James King Band
74. Better Times A Coming
Jim & Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys
75. Sparkling Blue Eyes (1971
Wade Mainer
76. Gloryland
Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys
77. Angel Band
Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys
78. Me And The Jukebox
Buzz Busby & The Bayou Boys
79. Cabin On The Hill
Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs
80. Kentucky Borderline
Rhonda Vincent & The Rage
81. Electricity
Jimmy Murphy
82. Little Gloria Rose
Seldom Scene
83. Don't Let Your Sweet Love Die
Reno & Smiley & The Tennessee Cut-Ups
84. Windy Mountain
The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers
85. Bile 'Em Cabbage Down
Heights Of Grass
86. Long Journey Home
The Lilly Brothers & Don Stover
87. Cripple Creek
The Stonemans
88. Rain And Sorrow
Del McCoury & The Dixie Pals
89. Old Home Place
J. D. Crowe & The New South
90. Two Highways
Alison Krauss & Union Station
91. Blue Ridge Cabin Home
The Bluegrass Album Band
92. Duncan & Brady (He's Been On The Job Too Long)
The Johnson Mountain Boys
93. Shady Grove
Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
94. Bluegrass Express
Rhonda Vincent & The Rage
95. John Deere Tractor
Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers
96. Will The Circle Be Unbroken?
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
97. Don't Cheat In Our Hometown
Keith Whitley & Ricky Skaggs
98. Kentucky Waltz
Bill Monroe & The Bluegrass Boys
99. Barbara Allen
Moore & Napier
100. Roving Gambler
Country Gentlemen // Larry Sparks // Peter Rowan
101. Colleen Malone
Hot Rize
102. I Wonder Where You Are Tonight
Jim & Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys
103. White Dove
Stanley Brothers & The Clinch Mountain Boys
104. Spanish River
The Masters, featuring Jesse McReynolds
105. Cotton-Eyed Joe
Bill Monroe & The Bluegrass Boys
106. Sally Goodin
Byron Berline Band
107. Sea Of Heartbreak
Country Gentlemen
108. Nashville Cats
Del McCoury Band
109. Free Born Man
Jimmy Martin & The Sunny Mountain Boys
110. Heartaches And Teardrops
Cedar Hill
111. Bringing Mary Home
Country Gentlemen
112. Can't You Hear Me Callin'
Bill Monroe amp; The Bluegrass Boys
113. More Pretty Girls Than One
Volume Five
114. Someone Play Dixie For Me
Dry Branch Fire Squad
115. Choctaw Hayride
Alison Krauss & Union Station
116. Mary Ann
Jimmy Martin & The Sunny Mountain Boys
117. Kentucky
The Louvin Brothers
118. One Way Track
Boone Creek
119. Hit Parade Of Love
Jimmy Martin amp; The Sunny Mountain Boys
120. O Death
Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys
121. Please Come Home
James Monroe Band
122. When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again
Bill & James Monroe & The Bluegrass Boys
123. I Know You're Married But I Love You Still
Reno & Smiley & The Tennessee Cut Ups
124. Muddy Waters
Seldom Scene
125. Only Me
Rhonda Vincent w/Willie Nelson
126. Tennessee
Jimmy Martin & The Sunny Mountain Boys
127. Sparkling Brown Eyes
Joe Val & The New England Bluegrass Boys
128. The Legend Of The Rebel Soldier
Country Gentlemen
129. Bed By The Window
James King Band
130. Echo Mountain
Cedar Hill
Hot Rize
102. I Wonder Where You Are Tonight
Jim & Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys
103. White Dove
Stanley Brothers & The Clinch Mountain Boys
104. Spanish River
The Masters, featuring Jesse McReynolds
105. Cotton-Eyed Joe
Bill Monroe & The Bluegrass Boys
106. Sally Goodin
Byron Berline Band
107. Sea Of Heartbreak
Country Gentlemen
108. Nashville Cats
Del McCoury Band
109. Free Born Man
Jimmy Martin & The Sunny Mountain Boys
110. Heartaches And Teardrops
Cedar Hill
111. Bringing Mary Home
Country Gentlemen
112. Can't You Hear Me Callin'
Bill Monroe amp; The Bluegrass Boys
113. More Pretty Girls Than One
Volume Five
114. Someone Play Dixie For Me
Dry Branch Fire Squad
115. Choctaw Hayride
Alison Krauss & Union Station
116. Mary Ann
Jimmy Martin & The Sunny Mountain Boys
117. Kentucky
The Louvin Brothers
118. One Way Track
Boone Creek
119. Hit Parade Of Love
Jimmy Martin amp; The Sunny Mountain Boys
120. O Death
Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys
121. Please Come Home
James Monroe Band
122. When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again
Bill & James Monroe & The Bluegrass Boys
123. I Know You're Married But I Love You Still
Reno & Smiley & The Tennessee Cut Ups
124. Muddy Waters
Seldom Scene
125. Only Me
Rhonda Vincent w/Willie Nelson
126. Tennessee
Jimmy Martin & The Sunny Mountain Boys
127. Sparkling Brown Eyes
Joe Val & The New England Bluegrass Boys
128. The Legend Of The Rebel Soldier
Country Gentlemen
129. Bed By The Window
James King Band
130. Echo Mountain
Cedar Hill
Christmas Bluegrass Classic
• Christmas Time's A Comin'
Bill Monroe (1951)
Bill Monroe (1951)
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& Union Station |
Edited By: Lew, Tom B.
Last Updated: 2014-02-12
Newly added names are in Red
Background: In the Appalachian mountains of the United States the rural settlers entertained themselves with impromptu folk dance music with a mixture of acoustic instruments from Europe and Africa. These included banjo, mandolin, fiddle, acoustic guitar, acoustic bass and in later years the dobro. With the introduction of the phonograph and radio this "mountain music" began to be heard across the U.S. One of the most popular music duos were the Monroe Brothers from Kentucky (the Bluegrass State) in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1938 Bill Monroe formed his own band called "Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys". They played the Grand Ole Opry in 1939 and became wildly popular with traditional country music fans. At this time it was called old time mountain hillbilly music and it wasn't until 1965 that festivals needed a name for their shows and "Bluegrass" was chosen in honor of "Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys."
For more history of Bluegrass Music: IBMA.org
Last Updated: 2014-02-12
Newly added names are in Red
Background: In the Appalachian mountains of the United States the rural settlers entertained themselves with impromptu folk dance music with a mixture of acoustic instruments from Europe and Africa. These included banjo, mandolin, fiddle, acoustic guitar, acoustic bass and in later years the dobro. With the introduction of the phonograph and radio this "mountain music" began to be heard across the U.S. One of the most popular music duos were the Monroe Brothers from Kentucky (the Bluegrass State) in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1938 Bill Monroe formed his own band called "Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys". They played the Grand Ole Opry in 1939 and became wildly popular with traditional country music fans. At this time it was called old time mountain hillbilly music and it wasn't until 1965 that festivals needed a name for their shows and "Bluegrass" was chosen in honor of "Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys."
For more history of Bluegrass Music: IBMA.org