The Bluegrass Album, Vol. 3: California Connection (1983)

The Bluegrass Album, Vol. 3: California Connection is the third studio release from the Bluegrass Album Band, issued by Rounder Records in 1983 and produced by Tony Rice. (Wikipedia) (AllMusic) Recorded in Berkeley, California in January 1983, the album keeps the group’s “straight-ahead” bluegrass mission intact while adding a major new color to the palette: Jerry Douglas joins the lineup on dobro (and vocals), giving the band an even bigger, more three-dimensional sound. (AllMusic) (Bluegrass Today)

The set balances deep-tradition material associated with bluegrass masters like Bill Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs with a tasteful nod to the broader acoustic world. The opener, “Devil in Disguise” (Chris Hillman and Gram Parsons), is a rare contemporary pick in the Bluegrass Album Band catalog, but it lands with the same clean drive and vocal polish as the classics. (Wikipedia) From there, the record leans into hard-earned standards and standout cuts such as “Letter From My Darlin’,” “Unfaithful One,” “Please Search Your Heart,” “Big Spike Hammer,” and “Hey Lonesome,” delivered with locked-in rhythm, bright harmonies, and the kind of precision that helped define modern traditional bluegrass. (Wikipedia) (Bluegrass Today)