Marty Stuart – Hillbilly Rock [LP]

Was aware of Marty Stuart from his single Arlene on Columbia Records, but my first encounter with him was new year’s eve 1986 in Atlanta, Georgia when he shared a show with Steve Earle. Tony Brown and I watched from the wings as Marty swaggered his way through the opening set. Tony, then vice-president of A&R at MCA Records in Nashville and on his way to becoming the top producer in town, whispered to me, ‘I’m thinking of signing Marty, would you want to co-produce him with me?’ Yes, of course I would. It’s not that I was sold on what Marty was doing as much as how he was doing it. The guy had miles of charisma and presence like Ernest Tubb, Hank Snow, Lester Flatt, Porter Wagoner, Cash and so many others… all rolled up in one. Marty Stuart was a young, old pro. As we began pre-production and choosing songs for that first album, I got to know Marty and learned of his coming up in the business playing with Lester Flatt and Johnny Cash. Marty knew eve