Ricky Skaggs – Sweet Temptation (1979) 24-bit 96kHZ vinyl rip and redbook

Aside from being an excellent album musically, this is a very important record in the overall scope of things: first, it was the record that brought Ricky Skaggs to the forefront as a “new traditionalist” in country music—with it he began a series of albums that not only brought a more traditional sound to country music (which was getting pretty watered down in the late 1970s), but also brought an appreciation & respect for Bluegrass music to Nashville. Second, it brought significant attention to the new Sugar Hill label, which soon established itself as one of the leading two or three Bluegrass oriented labels in the country. Skaggs genius was to take hard-core traditional songs and give them a good dose of contemporary styling, without selling out or watering the music down.



On this album he included songs from:
The Stanley Brothers (BABY GIRL, COULD YOU LOVE ME ONE MORE TIME)
Bill Monroe (LITTLE CABIN HOME ON THE HILL)
Merle Travis (SWEET TEMPTATION)
Flatt & Scruggs (I’LL STAY AROUND, I'LL TAKE THE BLAME).

Released in 1979, this record still holds up as one of Ricky’s best and most important works. Although Ricky Skaggs had already made an impact on the country and bluegrass worlds, this 1979 record was actually his debut as a solo leader. In many ways, Sweet Temptation serves as a worthwhile companion piece to Emmylou Harris's delightful Roses in the Snow. (Skaggs was a member of Harris's Hot Band at the time, and Emmylou even joins in here with harmony vocals.) Recorded with much the same supporting cast and at roughly the same time, Sweet Temptation alternates between traditional country and bluegrass: Steel master Buddy Emmons and electric-guitar blazer Albert Lee boost the country- leaning numbers while Tony Rice, Bobby Hicks, Jerry Douglas, and Marc Pruett guide the bluegrass material. Skaggs's sugary voice is the common thread.

Sugar Hill Records SH 3706
Released: March 14, 1979

TRACKS:
A1 I'll Take The Blame
A2 Cabin Home On The Hill
A3 Baby I'm In Love With You
A4 I'll Stay Around
A5 Could You Love Me One More Time

B1 Sweet Temptation
B2 Put It Off Until Tomorrow
B3 Baby Girl
B4 Forgive Me
B5 I Know What It Means To Be Lonesome

PERSONNEL:
Guitar, Mandolin, Fiddle - Ricky Skaggs
Banjo – Marc Pruett
Drums – Karl Himmel
Electric Bass – Emory Gordy (tracks: A1, A5, B2)
Electric Bass, Acoustic Bass – Joe Allen
Electric Guitar – Albert Lee
Fiddle – Bobby Hicks
Piano – Buck White (tracks: A3, B1, B4), Tony Brown (4) (tracks: A1, A5, B2)
Resonator Guitar – Jerry Douglas
Steel Guitar – Buddy Emmons
Vocals – Cheryl White, Emmylou Harris, Mandy Skaggs (tracks: B3), Sharon Hicks
Vocals, Acoustic Guitar – Tony Rice
Producer – Barry Poss
Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, 2nd Fiddle, Vocals – Ricky Skaggs