Nitty Gritty Dirt Band album reissued after three decades

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The next step for fans turned on to American roots music by "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" could be the new reissue of a 1972 album by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

An expanded version of "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" (Capitol Nashville) arrived in stores March 26, with vastly improved sound compared with the first CD that was released in 1987. Guest artists include country and bluegrass stars Roy Acuff, Merle Travis, Earl Scruggs, Jimmy Martin, Doc Watson and Maybelle Carter.

"It was the first time that some of the artists were properly recorded," said singer-guitarist Jeff Hanna. "Many of their standards were recorded in the 1930s or '40s, and recording was a pretty primitive technology."

Added John McEuen, who rejoined the band last year after a lengthy absence, "For the 'O Brother' fans, it's an extension. It's another venture into that area."

"O Brother," the soundtrack to the Depression-era movie starring George Clooney, shocked Nashville by selling more than 5 million copies and dominating the country categories at this year's Grammy Awards. It features bluegrass and folk artists such as Alison Krauss, Dan Tyminksi and Ralph Stanley.

"I do think there are a lot of parallels in the two records," said Fletcher Foster, senior vice president of marketing at Capitol Nashville.

"'Circle' was the original 'O Brother' in some ways. It was the first record that was a meshing of generations of music from different fields," he said.

The original "Circle" is a bonanza of traditional American music. Highlights include Maybelle Carter -- a member of the Carter Family group whose recordings started the country music industry -- singing "Keep on the Sunny Side."

Members of the youthful Nitty Gritty Dirt Band -- then in their early 20s -- wanted to do the album because they loved old country music. The three-album set was recorded in a week. It sold slowly but steadily, eventually earning a platinum album for selling 1 million.