THE GREAT SPECTACULAR

This was one of the hardest to find LPs in my collection. The first Dixie Dregs album, released on their own label. Most of the songs were later rerecorded and released on their easier to find albums but this is still a gem.

The songs are less polished, and more raw than we are used to hearing them, and keyboard player Frank Josephs gives them a lighter touch. His playing often reminds me of Dave Stewart, and sometimes almost adds a Canterbury flavor.

Only one song on the album was never rerecorded. Kathreen is a typical Dregs bluegrass breakdown. Good, but not as fast as some of the later bluegrass pieces. And T.O. Witcher was not on any later Dregs albums, but was covered by Kansas when Morse was with them.