Nitty Gritty Dirt Band discography
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is an American country rock band. The group has existed in various forms since its founding in Long Beach, California, in 1966.[1] The band’s membership has had at least a dozen changes over the years, including a period from 1976 to 1981 when the band performed and recorded as the Dirt Band. The band is often cited as instrumental to the progression of contemporary country and roots music.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band discography | |
---|---|
The band in 1976. | |
Studio albums | 25 |
Live albums | 1 |
Compilation albums | 4 |
Singles | 41 |
#1 Singles | 4 |
The band's successes include a cover version of Jerry Jeff Walker's "Mr. Bojangles". Albums include 1972's Will the Circle be Unbroken, featuring such traditional country artists as Mother Maybelle Carter, Earl Scruggs, Roy Acuff, Doc Watson, Merle Travis, and Jimmy Martin. A follow-up album based on the same concept, Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two was released in 1989, was certified gold, won two Grammys, and was named Album of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards.
Studio albums
1960s
Title | Details | Peak positions |
---|---|---|
US | ||
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band |
|
151 |
Ricochet |
|
— |
Rare Junk |
|
— |
1970s
Title | Details | Peak chart positions | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
US Country | US | CAN | ||
Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy |
|
— | 66 | 56 |
All the Good Times |
|
— | 162 | — |
Stars & Stripes Forever |
|
32 | 28 | 25 |
Symphonion Dream |
|
— | 66 | — |
The Dirt Band |
|
— | 163 | — |
An American Dream |
|
— | 76 | 63 |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||
1980s
Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Country | US | CAN Country | CAN | ||
Make a Little Magic |
|
— | 62 | 12 | 64 |
Jealousy |
|
— | 102 | — | — |
Let's Go |
|
26 | — | — | — |
Plain Dirt Fashion |
|
8 | — | 5 | — |
Partners, Brothers and Friends |
|
9 | — | — | — |
Hold On |
|
14 | — | — | — |
Workin' Band |
|
33 | — | — | — |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||
1990s and 2000s
Title | Details | Peak positions |
---|---|---|
US Country | ||
The Rest of the Dream |
|
53 |
Not Fade Away |
|
— |
Acoustic |
|
— |
The Christmas Album |
|
— |
Bang, Bang, Bang |
|
— |
Welcome to Woody Creek |
|
— |
Speed of Life |
|
59 |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||
Collaborations
Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales thresholds) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Country | US | CAN Country | CAN | |||
Will the Circle Be Unbroken |
|
4 | 68 | — | 21 | |
Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two |
|
5 | 95 | 3 | 57 |
|
Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Volume III |
|
18 | 134 | — | — | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||||
Live albums
Title | Details | Peak positions | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Country |
US Folk |
US Bluegrass | |||
Alive |
|
— | — | — | |
Live Two Five |
|
50 | — | — | |
Circlin’ Back: Celebrating 50 Years (CD/DVD)[3] |
|
11 | 11 | 1 | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||
Compilation albums
Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
Certifications (sales thresholds) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
US Country | US | |||
Dirt, Silver and Gold |
|
28 | 77 | |
Twenty Years of Dirt |
|
10 | — |
|
The Best Of |
|
— | — | |
More Great Dirt |
|
38 | — |
|
Greatest Hits |
|
— | — | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart |
Singles
1960s and 1970s
Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Country [6] |
US [7] |
CAN | |||
1967 | "Buy for Me the Rain" | — | 45 | — | The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band |
"Truly Right" | — | — | — | Ricochet | |
1968 | "Collegiana" | — | — | — | Rare Junk |
1969 | "Some of Shelly's Blues" | — | — | — | Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy |
1970 | "Mr. Bojangles" | — | 9 | 2 | |
"Rave On" | — | — | — | ||
1971 | "House at Pooh Corner" | — | 53 | 30 | |
"Some of Shelly's Blues" [A] | — | 64 | 56 | ||
"I Saw the Light" (with Roy Acuff) | 56 | — | — | Will the Circle Be Unbroken | |
1972 | "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" | — | 84 | — | All the Good Times |
"Baltimore" | — | — | — | ||
"Jamaica (Say You Will)" | — | — | — | ||
"Honky Tonkin'" | — | — | — | Will the Circle Be Unbroken | |
1973 | "Cosmic Cowboy – Part 1" | — | 123 | — | Stars & Stripes Forever |
"Grand Ole Opry Song" (with Jimmy Martin) | 97 | — | — | Will the Circle Be Unbroken | |
"Tennessee Stud" (with Doc Watson) | — | — | — | ||
1974 | "The Battle of New Orleans" | — | 72 | — | Stars & Stripes Forever |
1975 | "(All I Have to Do Is) Dream" | — | 66 | — | Dream |
"Mother of Love" | — | — | — | ||
1976 | "Cosmic Cowboy" (re-recording) (as The Dirt Band) | — | — | — | Dirt, Silver and Gold |
"Jamaica Lady" (as The Dirt Band) | — | — | — | ||
"Mother Earth (Provides For Me)" (as The Dirt Band) | — | — | — | ||
1978 | "In for the Night" (as The Dirt Band) | — | 86 | — | The Dirt Band |
"For A Little While" (as The Dirt Band) | — | — | — | ||
1979 | "In Her Eyes" (as The Dirt Band) | — | — | — | An American Dream |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart |
1980s
Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales thresholds) |
Album | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Country [6] |
US [7] |
CAN Country | CAN | ||||
1980 | "An American Dream" (as The Dirt Band) | 58 | 13 | — | 3 | An American Dream | |
"Make a Little Magic" (as The Dirt Band)[B] | 77 | 25 | — | 63 | Make a Little Magic | ||
"Badlands" (as The Dirt Band) | — | 107 | — | — | |||
"High School Yearbook" (as The Dirt Band) | — | — | — | — | |||
1981 | "Fire in the Sky" (as The Dirt Band) | — | 76 | — | — | Jealousy | |
"Jealousy" (as The Dirt Band) | — | — | — | — | |||
"Too Close For Comfort" (as The Dirt Band) | — | — | — | — | |||
1983 | "Shot Full of Love" | 19 | — | — | — | Let's Go | |
"Dance Little Jean" | 9 | — | 39 | — | |||
1984 | "Long Hard Road (The Sharecropper's Dream)" | 1 | — | 2 | — | Plain Dirt Fashion | |
"I Love Only You" | 3 | — | 3 | — | |||
1985 | "High Horse" | 2 | — | 2 | — | ||
"Modern Day Romance" | 1 | — | 2 | — | Partners, Brothers and Friends | ||
"Home Again in My Heart" | 3 | — | 1 | — | |||
1986 | "Partners, Brothers and Friends" | 6 | — | 3 | — | ||
"Stand a Little Rain" | 5 | — | 3 | — | Twenty Years of Dirt | ||
"Fire in the Sky" (re-release)[C] | 7 | — | 5 | — | |||
1987 | "Baby's Got a Hold on Me" | 2 | — | 2 | — | Hold On | |
"Fishin' in the Dark" | 1 | — | 1 | — |
| ||
"Oh What a Love" | 5 | — | — | — | |||
1988 | "Workin' Man (Nowhere to Go)" | 4 | — | 6 | — | Workin' Band | |
"I've Been Lookin'" | 2 | — | * | — | |||
"Down That Road Tonight" | 6 | — | * | — | |||
1989 | "Turn of the Century" | 27 | — | 24 | — | Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two | |
"And So It Goes" (with John Denver) | 14 | — | 29 | — | |||
"When It's Gone" | 10 | — | 11 | — | |||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart * denotes unknown peak positions |
1990s
Year | Single | Peak chart positions |
Album | |
---|---|---|---|---|
US Country [6] |
CAN Country | |||
1990 | "One Step Over the Line" (with Rosanne Cash and John Hiatt) |
63 | 47 | Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two |
"From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)" | 65 | 66 | The Rest of the Dream | |
"You Made Life Good Again" | 60 | 33 | ||
"The Rest of the Dream" | — | — | ||
1991 | "Cadillac Ranch" | — | — | Live Two Five |
"Mr. Bojangles" (re-recording) | — | 68 | ||
1992 | "I Fought the Law" | 66 | — | Not Fade Away |
"One Good Love" | 74 | 85 | ||
1993 | "Little Angel"[9] | — | — | |
1994 | "Cupid's Got a Gun"[10] | — | — | Acoustic |
1996 | "Maybe Baby"[11] | — | — | Not Fade Away (Remembering Buddy Holly) |
1998 | "Bang, Bang, Bang"[D] | 52 | 44 | Bang, Bang, Bang |
1999 | "Bang, Bang, Bang" (re-release) | 63 | 67 | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart |
Other singles
Christmas singles
Year | Single | Peak positions | Album |
---|---|---|---|
US Country [6] | |||
1983 | "Colorado Christmas" | 93 | A Christmas Tradition |
1988 | "Colorado Christmas" (re-release) | — | Sessions Presents: Christmas Wishes |
Notes
- A^ "Some of Shelly's Blues" did not chart when first issued on Liberty. United Artists reissued the title in 1971, at which time it charted.
- B^ "Make a Little Magic" also peaked at number 26 on the Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks chart.
- C^ The recording of "Fire In The Sky" that charted in 1986 and appeared on the Twenty Years of Dirt album is the same recording that had previously been issued on the Liberty label in 1981. Both the reissued single and aforementioned album ascribe phonographic copyright to Liberty Records.
- D^ "Bang, Bang, Bang" was originally released by Rising Tide Records before that label closed; the re-release of the song in 1999 was under DreamWorks Records.
Music videos
Year | Title | Director |
---|---|---|
1981 | "Fire in the Sky" | |
1985 | "Modern Day Romance" | Gary Amelon |
1986 | "Partners, Brothers and Friends"[12] | Gary Gutierrez |
1987 | "Fishin' in the Dark" | |
1988 | "I've Been Lookin'" | |
1989 | "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" | Bill Pope |
"When It's Gone" | Joanne Gardner | |
1990 | "You Made Life Good Again" | |
"The Rest of the Dream" | Joanne Gardner | |
1991 | "Mr. Bojangles" (live) | Gerry Wenner |
"Cadillac Ranch" (live) | ||
1992 | "One Good Love" | |
1993 | "Little Angel" | |
1994 | "Cupid's Got a Gun" | Roger Pistole |
1996 | "You Believed in Me" (with Karla Bonoff) | |
"Maybe Baby" | ||
1997 | "Silent Night" | |
1998 | "Bang, Bang, Bang" | Michael McNamara |
2002 | "The Lowlands" | Wes Edwards |
DVD & VHS
Year | Title |
---|---|
1982 | "The Dirt Band Tonight"[13] |
1991 | "Twenty Years of Dirt"[14] |
1993 | "Northern Circle The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Plays Alaska"[15] |
2003 | Will The Circle Be Unbroken: Farther Along[16] |
2007 | "Country Legends Live Mini Concert"[17] |
2016 | "Circlin’ Back: Celebrating 50 Years" (CD/DVD)[3] |
NGDB as contributing artists
Year | Album Title by Artist | Contribution |
---|---|---|
1969 | "Paint Your Wagon" soundtrack on "Hand Me Down That Can O' Beans" |
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band |
1971 | Jackson Browne by Jackson Bowne | Jimmie Fadden - harmonica |
1971 | "Sweet Country Suite" by Larry Murray | John McEuen - mandolin[19] |
1972 | "I Saw the Light with Some Help from My Friends " by Earl Scruggs |
John McEuen - vocals (background), banjo |
1973 | Don't Cry Now by Linda Ronstadt | Jimmie Fadden - harmonica |
1974 | Highway Call by Richard (Dickey) Betts | Jeff Hanna - acoustic guitar |
1974 | "Monkey Grip " by Bill Wyman | John McEuen - mandolin, banjo |
1974 | Heart Like a Wheel by Linda Ronstadt | Jimmie Fadden - harmonica |
1975 | Windsong by John Denver | Jimmie Fadden - harmonica |
1975 | "Blue Sky - Night Thunder " by Michael Martin Murphey | John McEuen - banjo Jeff Hanna – background vocals Jimmy Ibbotson – background vocals |
1975 | banjoman soundtrack by Various Artists | Live version of "Battle Of New Orleans" and "Diggy Liggy Lo" |
1976 | "Flowing Free Forever" by Michael Martin Murphey | John McEuen - violin, mandolin, banjo,guitar, fiddle |
1976 | "Long Hard Ride" by The Marshall Tucker Band | John McEuen - banjo, mandolin |
1976 | "Swans Against the Sun" by Michael Martin Murphey | John McEuen - Dobro, slide guitar, banjo, fiddle, violin,guitar Jeff Hanna — vocals |
1977 | "Great Rush" by Timberline | John McEuen - fiddle, banjo |
1978 | "Wild And Crazy Guy" by Steve Martin on "King Tut" |
as the Toot Uncommons |
1981 | The Innocent Age by Dan Fogelberg | Jimmie Fadden - harmonica |
1981 | "Full House: Aces High" by The Amazing Rhythm Aces | John McEuen - mandolin, banjo |
1981 | "Steve Martin Brothers" by Steve Martin | John McEuen - banjo,guitar, mandolin |
1982 | "Best of Michael Martin Murphey" by Michael Martin Murphey | John McEuen - banjo, fiddle |
1984 | "Just Divorced" by David Allan Coe | John McEuen - banjo, mandolin |
1986 | "Tribute to Steve Goodman Various Artists" by Various Artists | Live "Face On The Cutting Room Floor" John McEuen - guitar,guitar (acoustic) Nitty Gritty Dirt Band |
1986 | "Fallin for you for years" by Conway Twitty on You Can't Say I Haven't Tried |
Harmony vocals - Jeff Hanna, Jimmy Ibbotson, Bob Carpenter |
1990 | Version of the Truth by Foster & Lloyd | Jeff Hanna - harmony vocals on Version of the Truth |
1990 | "Cowboy Songs" by Michael Martin Murphey | John McEuen - mandolin, banjo, fiddle |
1991 | "Tilt-A-World" by Runaway Express | John McEuen - mandolin |
1991 | "Wild Jimbos" by Wild Jimbos | Jimmy Ibbotson |
1992 | Another Country by The Chieftains[20] | On Happy To Meet You Jimmy Ibbotson - guitar, Jeff Hanna - guitar, Jimmie Fadden - drums, harmonica On Killbegs Jimmy Ibbotson - vocals, guitar, Jeff Hanna - vocals, guitar, Jimmy Fadden - drums, harmonica On Finale Jimmy Ibbotson - vocals, Jeff Hanna - vocals, guitar, Jimmie Fadden - harmonica |
1992 | "Voices In The Wind" by Susie Bogguss | Jimmy Fadden - harmonica Bob Carpenter - vocals Jimmy Ibottson - vocals Jeff Hanna - vocals |
1993 | "Port of Mystery" by Runaway Express | John McEuen - banjo |
1993 | "Cowboy Songs III" by Michael Martin Murphey | John McEuen - banjo |
1996 | "One Voice" by Various Artists On "You Believed in Me" with Karla Bonoff |
Jeff Hanna - guitar, vocals Jimmy Ibbotson - guitar, mandolin, vocals Jimmie Fadden - harmonica Bob Carpenter - accordion, vocals |
1996 | Not Fade Away (Remembering Buddy Holly) by Various Artists on "Maybe Baby" |
Jeff Hanna - slide guitar, vocals Bob Carpenter - Keyboards, vocals Jimmy Ibbotson - mandolin, lead vocal Jimmie Fadden - harmonica, vocals |
1998 | "Alligator Tales" by Chief Jim Billie | John McEuen - guitar (electric), slide guitar, guitar (acoustic), banjo, E-Bow, mandolin, vocals (background) |
1998 | "Rusty Old Halo/Where Did the Money Go] by Hoyt Axton | John McEuen - banjo |
1999 | "The Nashville Sessions" by Leftover Salmon and Friends | "Five Alive" featuring Jeff Hanna |
1999 | "Acoustic Christmas Carols: Cowboy Christmas II" by Michael Martin Murphey |
John McEuen - guitar, banjo, mandolin, tambourine, Indian drum |
1999 | "A Tribute To Jerry Garcia" by Jonathan McEuen & Phil Salazar | |
2000 | String Alchemy: From Eclectic to Electric by Various Artists | John McEuen - Three Tracks |
2000 | Seminole Fire by Chief Jim Billie | John McEuen - mandolin, fiddle, synthesizer, banjo,guitar |
2002 | "American IV: The Man Comes Around" by Johnny Cash | Jeff Hanna - acoustic guitar on "Desperado" |
2003 | "Tennessee Stud" by Doc Watson | |
2003 | Further Down the Old Plank Road by The Chieftains[21] |
on The Squid-Jiggin' Ground / Larry O'Gaff Jeff Hanna - vocal, guitar, Jimmie Fadden - harmonica, drums, Jimmie Ibbotson - guitar |
2003 | "Return to Mu" by Merrell Fankhauser[22] | John McEuen – mandollin, guitar, background vocal [19] |
2003 | "Horatio's Drive: America's First Road Trip Original Soundtrack" | John McEuen - banjo, slide guitar, producer, guitar (acoustic), mandolin [19] |
2004 | "This Is Americana" on Gold Watch & Chain |
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with Kris Kristofferson [23] |
2004 | "The Unbroken Circle - The Musical Heritage Of The Carter Family" on Gold Watch & Chain |
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with Kris Kristofferson [24] |
2004 | "Merlefest Live! The Best of 2003" by Various Artists[25] | American Dream Live by NGDB |
2004 | "Chasin' Wild Trains" by Kim Carnes | Jeff Hanna - slide guitar |
2005 | "Telluride Bluegrass Festival: 30 Years" on Fishin In The Dark live |
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band[26] |
2005 | I'm Going Back There Someday by Paul Williams [27] |
John McEuen - banjo |
2006 | Easy to Be Free: The Songs of Rick Nelson on Believe What You Say [28] |
John McEuen - banjo, mandolin |
2007 | "Blindside" by Jock Bartley | John McEuen - mandolin, fiddle Jimmie Fadden - harmonica, maracas |
2007 | Road to Vegas by Phish [29] | John McEuen - slide guitar |
2007 | Music of the Wild West Original TV Soundtrack [19] |
John McEuen - banjo, strings, guitar, bowed piano, mandolin, fiddle, tuba |
2007 | "The Heartbeat Of Love" by Richie Furay | Jeff Hanna |
2007 | Another Time Brand New Opry [30] | John McEuen - mandolin, banjo |
References
- Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 905/6. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
- "American album certifications – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Will the Circle be Unbroken". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.
- Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band > Circlin' Back: Celebrating 50 Years". AllMusic.
- "American album certifications – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Twenty Years of Dirt". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.
- "American album certifications – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – More Great Dirt". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.
- Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. pp. 300–301. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
- Whitburn, Joel (2011). Top Pop Singles 1955–2010. Record Research, Inc. p. 653. ISBN 0-89820-188-8.
- "American single certifications – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Fishin%27 in the Dark". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH.
- "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. April 10, 1993.
- "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. July 30, 1994.
- "Single Reviews" (PDF). Cashbox. June 29, 1996.
- Billboard - May 31, 1986 - Google Books Result. Retrieved 2017-01-16.
- "The DIrt Band Tonight", The Dirt Band, Thorn EMI VideoTVD 1812 (1982) VHS
- "Twenty Years of Dirt",The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Warner Reprise Video 38264-3 (1991) VHS
- "Northern Circle The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Plays Alaska", The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Teton Productions (1993) DVD
- Will The Circle Be Unbroken: Farther Along, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with Special Guest, Capital 7243-4-90416-9-1 (2003) DVD
- "Country Legends Live Mini Concert", Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Timeless Media Group TMG 63494 (2007) DVD
- NGDB as contributing artists information from album liner notes
- "John McEuen". AllMusic. 1945-12-19. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
- Another Country, The Chieftains, RCAVictor/BMG 09026-60939-2 (1992) CD
- Further Down The Old Plank Road, The Chieftains, Victor 82876 52897 2 (2003) CD
- "Return to Mu – Merrell Fankhauser". Lancerecords.com. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
- "This Is Americana: Various Artists: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
- "The Unbroken Circle - The Musical Heritage Of The Carter Family: VARIOUS ARTISTS, Carter Family: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
- "Merlefest Live Best of 2003: Various Artists: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
- "Telluride Bluegrass Festival: Thirty Years: Various Artists: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
- Archived December 21, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- "Various: Easy to be Free: The Songs of Rick Nelson". Planting Seeds Records. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
- "Road to Vegas - Phish". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
- Archived January 2, 2011, at the Wayback Machine