The Bluegrass Album, Vol. 4 (1984)

The Bluegrass Album, Vol. 4 keeps the Bluegrass Album Band’s “all-star, straight-ahead” approach firing on all cylinders—clean, driving rhythm, razor-sharp breaks, and harmonies that feel both effortless and authoritative. Released on Rounder Records in 1984, it features the classic lineup of Tony Rice (guitar/vocals), J.D. Crowe (banjo/vocals), Doyle Lawson (mandolin/vocals), Bobby Hicks (fiddle), Jerry Douglas (dobro/vocals), and Todd Phillips (bass). (Wikipedia)

The tracklist leans hard into tradition while still surprising in smart ways—like the bluegrass reimagining of “Age” (Jim Croce) alongside stone-classic material such as “Cheyenne,” “Cora Is Gone,” “The Old Home Town,” and “Big Spike Hammer.” Every cut is built around tasteful, high-definition ensemble playing: Crowe’s banjo drive, Douglas’ dobro color, Hicks’ fiddle authority, and Rice’s signature tone and timing—stitched together with Lawson-led vocal blends that sound like they were carved out of the same piece of wood. (Wikipedia) (AllMusic)

Recorded at Fantasy Studios (Berkeley, CA) and Track Recorders (Silver Spring, MD), Vol. 4 feels like the band at full maturity—confident, precise, and totally committed to the songs—another essential chapter in the series that helped set the modern benchmark for traditional bluegrass recording. (AllMusic)