Sit around and I’ll tell you a tale that comes from way back in the last millennium. The story, for me, takes me back all the way to 1967. I was a 13- year-old boy who, with his family, went on a Sunday drive to the big city of Terre Haute, Ind.

The culmination of that trip ended with the newest Monkees album, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn and Jones, Ltd. Upon returning to our simple southern Indiana farm home, with eager enthusiasm, I opened the newest release, the third from that year, of the pre-Fab Four. I placed it on the record platter and plopped on my bed. With my Admiral speakers strategically placed on each side of me and as the sound engulfed me, I perused the album jacket.

You have to remember, the hottest rock group going in 1967 was the Monkees, outselling the Beatles and Stones, believe it or not. The reason I labor on all this is suddenly on the eighth track of the vinyl LP came the sound of something weird and wonderful. It was the resonance of a steel guitar and banjo and all kinds of great sounds that never appeared on a rock album before. The song was “What Am I Doing Hanging Around?.”

This was a new sound, a sound like the country music my old man played on the radio. However, it was different and had a backbeat to it. It was similar to rock and roll, but it had a banjo played by the legendary Doug Dillard. It was still familiar to me because it had Mike Nesmith singing the great vocals. I was totally captivated by the song. Country-rock resonated in my soul, in this little country home, long before the Eagles thought about practicing their first note.

In this wonderful song, on this great LP from 42 years ago, was what many believe to be the first country-rock song. Who was the writer of this tremendous song? Michael Martin Murphey. I tell this elaborate tale because he, for all these years, has been one of my heroes.

I was aware of Murphey’s musical relationship with Nesmith and his band from that era, The Lewis & Clarke Expedition. In this group, Murphey teamed up with Owen Castleman.

As I progressed through my late teen years, I didn’t hear much from Murphey until 1972. That’s the year I moved to central Illinois and went to college. Through one of the rooms across the hall, on the early days of FM radio, drifted the wonderful voice of someone who sounded vaguely familiar. Murphey, who had just released his debut album Geronimo’s Cadillac, had a voice and a title song that sounded like a perfect match for the radio.

Michael Martin Murphey - Buckaroo Bluegrass (Rural Rhythm Records)

That was a pivotal period for him. His insightful songs and pliable voice filled the radio waves for the next couple decades. Incredible songs like “Wildfire”, “What’s Forever for?” and “Carolina in the Pines” brought a lot of smiles to a massive amount of people.

I go into all this background because when I heard Murphey was putting out a bluegrass disc, I thought it would be a perfect match. “Carolina in the Pines” has become a bluegrass standard at festivals for years, why shouldn’t he reprise the song?

When I first heard the new disc, Buckaroo Blue Grass, I first noticed Michael Martin Murphey’s voice. It didn’t seem to have quite the range it once had. That was on first listening. By the second listening, that mindset all changed. His voice sounds more warm and familiar now; it was as comfortable as it ever was.

It didn’t take long for me to play and replay this musical offering. When I’m reviewing a new disc I like to give it several listens, to give it a chance and see if it grows on me. I love it when a CD catches my attention and with repeated listening is not laborious in any way. This disc is one of those.

The next thing that struck me about Buckaroo Blue Grass is the phenomenal musicianship that accompanies Murphey. Check this lineup out: Ronnie McCoury, Pat Flynn, Charlie Cushman, Rob Ickes and Sam Bush. How’s that for musician’s musicians? Let’s add Rhonda Vincent for some backing vocals. As far as bluegrass music, it just doesn’t seem to get much better than that.

At this point in the review I was going to break the disc down track-by-track. I could tell you how terrific “Carolina in the Pines” sounds. That would be too easy, since that is one of my favorite songs ever. Or I could go on about his bluegrass rendition of another classic of his, “Cherokee Fiddle.” What if I tell you about his wonderful song “Fiddlin’ Man”? I can go on and on. There is no need for me to bore you anymore, I’ll simply say there is not a bad track on this disc,

I will tell you the finale of the CD is a wonderful tale of America’s heartland. The first time I heard it, it brought a tear to my eye and subsequent listenings as well. I think it portrays beautifully what makes this country great. The title of the song is “Close to the Land (America’s Heartland). This is as good as music gets, the voice, the song and the emotion.

Oh yeah, 42 years later the wonderful song “What Am I Doing Hanging Around?” resurfaces. It’s like an old friend returning, not only the song but the man as well. As I get older, so many things seem to come full circle. Michael Martin Murphey and his wonderful music is one of those things.

If you love bluegrass and you love the voice and songs of Michael Martin Murphey, do whatever you have to get Buckaroo Blue Grass. You won’t be sorry. As you listen to the disc, you will find the comfort of an old friend returning.