Nitty Gritty Dirt Band discography

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Nitty Gritty Dirt Band discography
Dirt Band 1976.jpg
NGDB in 1976
Studio albums25
Live albums1
Compilation albums4
Music videos22
Singles41
No. 1 singles4

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (NGDB) 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.

Contents

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

TitleDetailsPeak positions
US
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band 151
Ricochet
  • Release date: September 1967
  • Label: Liberty Records
Rare Junk
  • Release date: February 1968
  • Label: Liberty Records

1970s

TitleDetailsPeak chart positions
US Country US AUS [2] CAN
Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy
  • Release date: September 1970
  • Label: Liberty Records
663156
All the Good Times 16247
Stars & Stripes Forever
  • Release date: June 1974
  • Label: United Artists Records
32289325
Symphonion Dream
  • Release date: August 1975
  • Label: United Artists Records
66
The Dirt Band
  • Release date: June 1978
  • Label: United Artists Records
163
An American Dream
  • Release date: July 1979
  • Label: United Artists Records
768263
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

1980s

TitleDetailsPeak chart positions
US Country US CAN Country CAN
Make a Little Magic
  • Release date: June 1980
  • Label: Liberty Records
621264
Jealousy
  • Release date: July 1981
  • Label: Liberty Records
102
Let's Go
  • Release date: June 1983
  • Label: Liberty Records
26
Plain Dirt Fashion 85
Partners, Brothers and Friends
  • Release date: July 1985
  • Label: Warner Bros. Records
9
Hold On
  • Release date: July 1987
  • Label: Warner Bros. Records
14
Workin' Band
  • Release date: August 1988
  • Label: Warner Bros. Records
33
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

1990s and 2000s

TitleDetailsPeak positions
US Country
The Rest of the Dream 53
Not Fade Away
  • Release date: 1992
  • Label: Liberty Records
Acoustic
  • Release date: May 31, 1994
  • Label: Liberty Records
The Christmas Album
Bang, Bang, Bang
Welcome to Woody Creek
Speed of Life
  • Release date: September 22, 2009
  • Label: NGDB Records
59
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Collaborations

TitleDetailsPeak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
US Country US CAN Country CAN
Will the Circle Be Unbroken
  • Release date: October 1972
  • Label: United Artists Records
46821
Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two 595357
Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Volume III 18134
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Live albums

TitleDetailsPeak positions
US
Country
US
Folk
US
Bluegrass
Alive
  • Release date: March 1969
  • Label: Liberty Records
Live Two Five
  • Release date: July 16, 1991
  • Label: Capitol Nashville
50
Circlin’ Back: Celebrating 50 Years (CD/DVD) [4]
  • Release date: September 30, 2016
  • Label: Warner Nashville
11111
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Compilation albums

TitleDetailsPeak chart
positions
Certifications
(sales thresholds)
US Country US
Dirt, Silver and Gold
  • Release date: October 1976
  • Label: United Artists Records
2877
Twenty Years of Dirt
  • Release date: May 1986
  • Label: Warner Bros. Records
10
  • US: Platinum [5]
The Best Of
More Great Dirt
  • Release date: January 10, 1989
  • Label: Warner Bros. Records
38
Greatest Hits
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

1960s and 1970s

YearSinglePeak chart positionsAlbum
US Country
[7]
US
[8]
AUS
[2]
CAN
1967"Buy for Me the Rain"4537The 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"9152
"Rave On"
1971"House at Pooh Corner"5330
"Some of Shelly's Blues" [A] 6456
"I Saw the Light" (with Roy Acuff)56Will the Circle Be Unbroken
1972"Jambalaya (On the Bayou)"84All the Good Times
"Baltimore"
"Jamaica (Say You Will)"
"Honky Tonkin'"Will the Circle Be Unbroken
1973"Cosmic Cowboy – Part 1"123Stars & Stripes Forever
"Grand Ole Opry Song" (with Jimmy Martin)97Will the Circle Be Unbroken
"Tennessee Stud" (with Doc Watson)
1974"The Battle of New Orleans"72Stars & Stripes Forever
1975"(All I Have to Do Is) Dream"66Symphonium 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)86The 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

YearSinglePeak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
Album
US Country
[7]
US
[8]
AUS [2] CAN Country CAN
1980"An American Dream" (as The Dirt Band)5813453An American Dream
"Make a Little Magic" (as The Dirt Band) [B] 772552Make 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)76Jealousy
"Jealousy" (as The Dirt Band)
"Too Close For Comfort" (as The Dirt Band)
1983"Shot Full of Love"19Let's Go
"Dance Little Jean"939
1984"Long Hard Road (The Sharecropper's Dream)"12Plain Dirt Fashion
"I Love Only You"33
1985"High Horse"22
"Modern Day Romance"12Partners, Brothers and Friends
"Home Again in My Heart"31
1986"Partners, Brothers and Friends"63
"Stand a Little Rain"53Twenty Years of Dirt
"Fire in the Sky" (re-release) [C] 75
1987"Baby's Got a Hold on Me"22Hold On
"Fishin' in the Dark"11
  • US: Platinum [9]
"Oh What a Love"5
1988"Workin' Man (Nowhere to Go)"46Workin' Band
"I've Been Lookin'"2*
"Down That Road Tonight"6*
1989"Turn of the Century"2724Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two
"And So It Goes" (with John Denver)1429
"When It's Gone"1011
"—" denotes releases that did not chart
* denotes unknown peak positions

1990s

YearSinglePeak chart
positions
Album
US Country
[7]
CAN Country
1990"One Step Over the Line"
(with Rosanne Cash and John Hiatt)
6347Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two
"From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)"6566The Rest of the Dream
"You Made Life Good Again"6033
"The Rest of the Dream"
1991"Cadillac Ranch"Live Two Five
"Mr. Bojangles" (re-recording)68
1992"I Fought the Law"66Not Fade Away
"One Good Love"7485
1993"Little Angel" [10]
1994"Cupid's Got a Gun" [11] Acoustic
1996"Maybe Baby" [12] Not Fade Away (Remembering Buddy Holly)
1998"Bang, Bang, Bang" [D] 5244Bang, Bang, Bang
1999"Bang, Bang, Bang" (re-release)6367
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Other singles

Christmas singles

YearSinglePeak positionsAlbum
US Country
[7]
1983"Colorado Christmas"93A Christmas Tradition
1988"Colorado Christmas" (re-release)Sessions Presents: Christmas Wishes

Notes

Music videos

YearTitleDirector
1981"Fire in the Sky"
1985"Modern Day Romance"Gary Amelon
1986"Partners, Brothers and Friends" [14] Gary Gutierrez
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"
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
2022"I Shall Be Released" [15]
(featuring Larkin Poe)
"Forever Young"
"Country Pie"

DVD & VHS

YearTitle
1982"The Dirt Band Tonight" [16]
1991"Twenty Years of Dirt" [17]
1993"Northern Circle The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Plays Alaska" [18]
2003Will The Circle Be Unbroken: Farther Along [19]
2007"Country Legends Live Mini Concert" [20]
2016"Circlin’ Back: Celebrating 50 Years" (CD/DVD) [4]

NGDB as contributing artists

[21]

YearAlbum Title by ArtistContribution
1969Paint Your Wagon soundtrack, by various artists"Hand Me Down That Can O' Beans"
1975Banjoman soundtrack, by various artistsLive version of "Battle Of New Orleans" and "Diggy Liggy Lo"
1978Wild And Crazy Guy, by Steve Martin"King Tut", as the Toot Uncommons
1986Tribute to Steve Goodman, by various artists"Face On The Cutting Room Floor", live
2003 Tennessee Stud , by Doc Watson"Tennessee Stud"
2004This Is Americana, by various artists"Gold Watch & Chain", with Kris Kristofferson [22]
2004The Unbroken Circle - The Musical Heritage Of The Carter Family, by various artists"Gold Watch & Chain", with Kris Kristofferson [23]
2004Merlefest Live! The Best of 2003, by various artists"American Dream" [24]
2005Telluride Bluegrass Festival: 30 Years, by various artists"Fishin' In The Dark", live [25]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nitty Gritty Dirt Band</span> American band

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (NGDB) is an American country rock band formed in 1966. The group has existed in various forms since its founding in Long Beach, California. Between 1976 and 1981, the band performed and recorded as the Dirt Band.

<i>Will the Circle be Unbroken</i> (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band album) 1972 studio album by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Will the Circle be Unbroken is the seventh studio album by American country music group The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, with collaboration from many famous bluegrass and country-and-western players, including Roy Acuff, "Mother" Maybelle Carter, Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, Randy Scruggs, Merle Travis, Pete "Oswald" Kirby, Norman Blake, Jimmy Martin, and others. It also introduced fiddler Vassar Clements to a wider audience. The album was released in November 1972, through United Artists Records.

"Bless the Broken Road" is a song that has been recorded by several American country music artists. Co-written by Marcus Hummon, Bobby Boyd, and Jeff Hanna in 1994, it tells how the journey through relationship heartbreak and disappointment was an important series of lessons along the broken road to finding one’s true love. It was first recorded by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1994, followed by Hummon on his 1995 album All in Good Time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr. Bojangles (song)</span> 1968 song by Jerry Jeff Walker

"Mr. Bojangles" is a song written and originally recorded by American country music artist Jerry Jeff Walker for his 1968 album of the same title. It has since been recorded by other artists, including the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1969.

The Carter Sisters, were an American band Each playing an instrument with June being a pioneer as a front-man or "person" consisting of Maybelle Carter and her daughters June Carter Cash, Helen Carter, and Anita Carter. Formed during World War II, the group recorded and performed into the 1990s. Maybelle and Ezra named the band "The Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle" and recorded under that title for 2 record labels RCA and Columbia. Like any mother would, Maybelle wanted her daughters to be the face of the band so to speak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fishin' in the Dark</span> 1987 single by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

"Fishin' in the Dark" is a song written by Wendy Waldman and Jim Photoglo, and recorded by American country music group Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, with Jimmy Ibbotson singing lead. It was released on June 7, 1987, as the second single from their album Hold On. It reached number-one on the U.S. and Canadian country charts. It was the band's third number-one single on the U.S. country music charts and the second in Canada. After it became available for download, it has sold over a million digital copies by 2015. It was certified Platinum by the RIAA on September 12, 2014.

<i>Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two</i> 1989 studio album by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two is the nineteenth studio album by American country folk group Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, released on May 1, 1989. The album follows the same concept as the band's 1972 album, Will the Circle Be Unbroken, which featured guest performances from many notable country music stars.

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<i>Dirt, Silver and Gold</i> 1976 compilation album by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Dirt, Silver and Gold is a 1976 compilation album by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band that contains some of the band's greatest material to that point. It also includes 12 songs not previously available. It was originally released as a three LP album, and was released in 2003 as a two compact disc set by BGO Records.

"When It's Gone" is a song written by Jimmie Fadden and Don Schlitz, and recorded by American country music group Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. It was released in October 1989 as the third single from their compilation album Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two. The song reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. It was the band's last top 10 hit.

<i>Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Volume III</i> 2002 studio album by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Volume III is the 2002 album from The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. This album reached 18 on the US Country chart. Earlier albums in the series include Will the Circle Be Unbroken and Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume II.

<i>Bang Bang Bang</i> (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band album) 1999 studio album by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Bang Bang Bang is the 1999 album from The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. The title track reached number 52 on the US Country chart. The track "Down the Road" was originally recorded by Mac McAnally, and would later be a No. 1 in 2008 when he re-recorded it with Kenny Chesney.

<i>Acoustic</i> (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band album) 1994 studio album by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Acoustic is the 1994 album by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

<i>All the Good Times</i> 1972 studio album by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

All the Good Times is the fifth studio album from The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, released in January 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">An American Dream (song)</span> 1979 single by The Dirt Band

"An American Dream" is a song written by Rodney Crowell. He recorded it under the title "Voilá, An American Dream" on his 1978 album Ain't Living Long Like This, and released it as the B-side to that album's single "(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I".

"And So It Goes" is a song written by Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz, and recorded by American country music artist John Denver and American music group Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. It was released in May 1989 as the second single from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's album Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two. The song peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and reached number 29 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada.

"Turn of the Century" is a song recorded by American country music group Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. It was released in May 1989 as the first single from their Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two compilation album. The song reached #27 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. The song was written by J. Fred Knobloch and Dan Tyler.

References

  1. Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 905/6. ISBN   1-85227-745-9.
  2. 1 2 3 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. pp. 91 & 219. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  3. "American album certifications – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Will the Circle be Unbroken". Recording Industry Association of America.
  4. 1 2 Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band > Circlin' Back: Celebrating 50 Years". AllMusic.
  5. "American album certifications – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Twenty Years of Dirt". Recording Industry Association of America.
  6. "American album certifications – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – More Great Dirt". Recording Industry Association of America.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. pp. 300–301. ISBN   978-0-89820-177-2.
  8. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (2011). Top Pop Singles 1955–2010. Record Research, Inc. p. 653. ISBN   978-0-89820-188-8.
  9. "American single certifications – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Fishin%27 in the Dark". Recording Industry Association of America.
  10. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard . April 10, 1993.
  11. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard . July 30, 1994.
  12. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Cashbox . June 29, 1996.
  13. "RPM Top 50 AC Singles - August 30, 1980" (PDF).
  14. Billboard - May 31, 1986 - Google Books Result. 31 May 1986. Retrieved 2017-01-16.
  15. Ehrenclou, Martine (April 7, 2022). "Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Announces New Album 'Dirt Does Dylan' & Shares New Single Feat. Larkin Poe". Rock and Blues Muse. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  16. "The DIrt Band Tonight", The Dirt Band, Thorn EMI VideoTVD 1812 (1982) VHS
  17. "Twenty Years of Dirt", The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Warner Reprise Video 38264-3 (1991) VHS
  18. "Northern Circle The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Plays Alaska", The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Teton Productions (1993) DVD
  19. Will The Circle Be Unbroken: Farther Along, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with Special Guest, Capital 7243-4-90416-9-1 (2003) DVD
  20. "Country Legends Live Mini Concert", Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Timeless Media Group TMG 63494 (2007) DVD
  21. NGDB as contributing artists information from album liner notes
  22. "This Is Americana: Various Artists: Music". Amazon. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  23. "The Unbroken Circle - The Musical Heritage Of The Carter Family: VARIOUS ARTISTS, Carter Family: Music". Amazon. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  24. "Merlefest Live Best of 2003: Various Artists: Music". Amazon. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  25. "Telluride Bluegrass Festival: Thirty Years: Various Artists: Music". Amazon. Retrieved 2012-03-03.