Rebecca

Don't be confused. Bluegrbutt is *both* the uptempo stuff that you liked, as well as the slower ballads that give vent to the sadness of life. Many find comfort in them in their own times of sadness. Ricky Skaggs, on the very day his mother died, sang a very touching rendition of "Mother's not dead, she's only a-sleepin' ", introduced by him saying "I'll never sing this song the same way again."

Some albums from some artists are a little heavier on the up-tempo cuts than others. Some of the best examples of the uptempo stuff can be found from Reno and Smiley (think Barefoot Nellie, and several other tunes which are eluding my empty brain this morning), who also did some of the most heartwrenching sad ballads (Charlie Brooks and Nellie Adair comes to mind immediately). Also doing great stuff was the Osborne Brothers and Red Allen (She's No Angel and Who Done It come to mind), but they also did "Fair and Tender Ladies" and "Once More".

If you're absolutely determined to avoid the ballads, buy lots of stuff, convert it to MP3 and make up your own CDs leaving the ballads behind.

Oh, and come back to the ballads from time to time, they're really great stuff.

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Lane Gray Yes, I'm a minion of Satan, but my duties are largely ceremonial