For the first time ever on CD comes Bluegrass legend Roland White’s solo album, I Wasn’t Born to Rock and Roll. Roland played with a plethora of Bluegrass acts including Bill Monroe and Kentucky Colonels, among others. The album was originally released in 1976 and features appearances by Alan Munde, Kenny Wertz, Roger Bush, and Dave Ferguson. The album is steeped in traditional Bluegrass tunes as well as a song that Roland and his brother Clarence (who also played in the Kentucky Colonels but is best known for his time in The Byrds) co-write entitled “Powder Creek.” The album also features extensive liner notes from Roland as well as The Byrds’ Gene Parsons and an unreleased track.
For fans of Bluegrass, this 1976 release doesn’t get much more traditional. The rough, almost primal, quality of the acoustic instruments sound is only surpassed by the exquisite performance. It’s almost as if Roland & co. are bending makeshift instruments to their will as they play. From the high-speed melody of “Kansas City Railroad Blues” to the mid-temp banjo-driven shuffle of “If I Should Wander Back Tonight” to the hopeful wail of “The Prisoner’s Song” to the call and response of “Marathon” and the sought after “Powder Creek” (do to the collaboration with his brother Clarence) this album is absolutely wonderful in its simplicity and uncommon commonalities.
This album covers the entire basis of an essential Bluegrass experience. This is also likely why it went largely unnoticed in its day- released at the height of the Disco and Arena Rock era. With a wonderful Americana and Folk scene today and Bluegrass experiencing a surprising resurgence in the new millennium I Wasn’t Born to Rock and Roll may fare better today than when it was originally released.
Fans that wish to understand the history of the United States better or are new to Bluegrass should definitely check this out as it’s a wonderful look back at a wonderful look back. Longtime Bluegrass fans should already own this- if you don’t then now is your chance. Get it while you still can.
Reviewed by Mark Fisher
