Crossing the Tracks explained

Crossing the Tracks
Type:	studio
Artist:	Béla Fleck
Cover:	1979_crossing.jpg
Released:	1979
Studio:	The Mixing Lab, Newton, Massachusetts; Pete's Place, Nashville
Genre:	Americana, bluegrass, folk, jazz
Label:	Rounder
Producer:	Béla Fleck
Next Title:	Natural Bridge
Next Year:	1982

Crossing the Tracks is the first album by the American banjoist Béla Fleck, released in 1979.^[1]

Reception

Steve Leggett of AllMusic wrote: "Excellent mix between bluegrass and jazz, original songs and traditional pieces, all done with a bright and joyful élan, this album is a perfect springboard to his coming solo efforts."

Acoustic Musics Jim Zimmerschied called the album "a colossal collection of 5 string banjo tunes by one of the best players around," and stated: "Béla can play just about anything on the banjo... The assisting musicians are all giants in the bluegrass/acoustic music area... the whole album is enjoyable."^[2]

Writing for Country Standard Time, Rick Bell commented: "On the jacket of his 1979 solo debut... a 20-year-old Bela Fleck is laughing as if there's an inside joke no one else gets. Fleck... knew the punchline. With the release of this record some 26 years ago, Fleck's immense talent quickly became an inside joke no more."^[3]

Track listing

1. "Dear Old Dixie" (Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs) – 2:39
2. "Inman Square" (Fleck) – 4:00
3. "Texas Barbeque" (Fleck) – 3:59
4. "Growling Old Man and the Grumbling Old Woman" (Traditional; arranged by Fleck) – 1:41
5. "Spain" (Joaquín Rodrigo, Chick Corea) – 7:12
6. "Crossing The Tracks" (Fleck) – 3:38
7. "Spring Thaw" (Fleck) – 2:27
8. "How Can You Face Me Now" (Andy Razaf, Fats Waller) – 4:54
9. "Twilight" (Fleck) – 2:01
10. "Frosty Morning" (Traditional) – 2:58
11. "I Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow" (Traditional) – 2:26

Personnel

• Béla Fleck – banjo
• Bob Applebaum – mandolin
• Russ Barenberg – guitar
• Sam Bush – fiddle
• Mark Schatz – double bass

with:

• Jerry Douglas – dobro on "Dear Old Dixie" and "Spain"
• Pat Enright – vocals on "How Can You Face Me Now" and "Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow"
• Randy Sabien - fiddle on "Twilight"

Notes and References

1. Web site: Béla Fleck - Crossing the Tracks . Jazz Music Archives . August 8, 2023.
2. Web site: Crossing the Tracks . Jim . Zimmerschied . Acoustic Music . August 8, 2023.
3. Web site: Crossing the Tracks . Rick . Bell . Country Standard Time . August 8, 2023.