The sidemen are so young here! That’s Kenny Baker and Buddy Spicher on twin fiddles, Vic Jordan pickin the banjer, and James Monroe on guitar. And though they may be young, are they ever good! The Scots-Irish/country fiddling, the bluesy slides, the driving banjo — everything is in perfect balance.

And the way Bill Monroe is howling on this thing! It’s a traditional number; done a million times; nearly everybody had a version of it back then. All the elements to make it a throwaway are in place, but Monroe doesn’t waste a note. This performance goes “from my heart to your heart,” as Monroe once described his performance values.

This is “Train 45”.