Country Gazette - A Traitor In Our Midst (1972)

Country Gazette are an American bluegrass band, who originally got together as part of the west-coast music scene of the late 60s and early 70s.

Country Gazette was formed in 1971, but the four members of Byron Berline, Kenny Wertz , Alan Munde and Roger Bush had crossed paths with eachother and various other bluegrass and country-rock musicians numerous times through the 60s.
Byrone Berline was a champion fiddler, and had played as a guest musician with The Dillards on their Pickin' & Fiddlin' LP, as well have been a member of Bill Monroe's band. He later re-connected with Doug Dillard in The Dillard & Clark Expedition. After Gene Clark left, and the group became simply Dillard & The Expedition, their bassist (David Jackson) was replaced by Roger Bush. Bush had previously played in The Kentucky Colonels, alongside brothers Roland and Clarence White (he had replaced the third White brother, Eric).
In 1971 Berline and Bush decided to form a new band, and were joined by Herb Pederson on banjo and Kenny Wertz on guitar. Pederson had actually replaced Doug Dillard in The Dillards, and Wertz had previously played with Chris Hillman (of The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers) back in his days as a bluegrass mandolin player, in The Scottsville Squirrel Bakers. However Pederson soon left.
The three of them at this time became members of The Flying Burrito Brothers whilst they were on tour. They gave the band the ability to transform into a bluegrass group for part of the show, and appeared on the live album Last Of The Red Hot Burritos. They then found their new banjo player in Alan Munde, who joined them for the last days of the Burritos (also contributing electric guitar).
In 1972 the quartet finally recorded their first album, now calling themselves Country Gazette. The album, A Traitor In Our Midst, contained a mixture of traditionals, originals, and covers of songs including Gene Clark's "Tried So Hard" and "Keep On Pushing", and The Gosdin Brothers' "Sounds Of Goodbye", all performed with virtuoso bluegrass picking. Herb Pederson appeared as a guest musician.

|> Don't Give Up Your Day Job (1973)

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