Cracker Barrel Releases Billboard-Charting Bluegrass Album

By Gustavo Arellano Fri., Jan. 21 2011 at 10:00 AM

Take that, Starbucks: Cracker Barrel, the Denny's of the South, except with much-better food, is also playing the exclusive-to-its-store music game, and recently put out a winner: The Grascals and Friends' Country Classics with a Bluegrass Spin.

The album hit the top of the Billboard Bluegrass charts and clocked in at a respectable #108 on the overall charts for a genre that, beyond Bill Monroe, "Rocky Top," "Dueling Banjos" and parts of the O, Brother, Where Art Thou? remains ridiculed by most of America (not by this wab, though: some bad-ass jams, son!) RestaurantNews.com has the press release, along with one of the great name-dropping quotes in the annals of publicity: one of the Grascals enthused, "This is just icing on the cake ... like Cracker Barrel gravy on the biscuit!" The relationship has been so great thus far. Hopefully the sales and great partnership will continue in kind. Also, I wish Friday fish fry was seven days a week!"

Of course, it HAD to be the bass player...

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brandon hardy

I see this at orange county billboard and all i can say is a brilliant idea thanks for the interesting post.

meenxeen

Wow, I just love Cracker Barrel! The food is incredible.

www.total-anonymity.edu.tc

Alex

While The Grascal's album is a solid bluegrass, it comes nowhere close to last year's exclusive release - "Dailey & Vincent Sing the Statler Brothers." Dailey & Vincent have been busy racking up IMBA wins including Entertainer of the year and Artist of the year in 2010. This album is simply amazing!

http://shop.crackerbarrel.com/...

Great to see bluegrass in the OC Weekly. haha.

P.S. Gustavo, the banjo player is always the butt of bluegrass jokes (deserving).

MayhemInTheHood

My uncle is in a red dirt band back in Kansas, where I'm from originally. He has told me a few classics. Like "Hear about the guy who left his banjo in the back of his truck, only to come back, find his window smashed, and TWO banjos". I wonder where that started...I mean, I come from a more "rock" background, where drummers are the butts of jokes. But most drummers I've known have been pretty dumb, cant say the same for banjo players.

No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service

"Anyone who trashes Jonathan Gold is a fool of the highest degree."

Or knows how to read. Gee, I was going to use you as the illustration, Gustavo. That's what I get for being kind.

gustavoarellano

But you didn't, which shows your idiocy. Now, if you did, that would've been common sense...

gustavoarellano

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! That just might be the funniest joke I've EVER heard--and I'm totally serious about this. Its GENIUS! Gotta steal it...

gustavoarellano

Anyone who trashes Jonathan Gold is a fool of the highest degree.

Sent from my pinche iPhone

No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service

It's in the vein: First prize in the contest -- lunch with J. Gold. Second prize -- two lunches with J. Gold.

MayhemInTheHood

Believe me. That type of cheesy joke is right in my wheelhouse. I think I laughed a few minutes straight the first time I heard it.

gustavoarellano

Alex: If it were up to me, I'd start a bluegrass-norteño band. Of course, I'd be the banjo player!

Parley Baer

I hope you guys listen to the Seldom Scene, a long-time progressive bluegrass group that rocks, swings, and holds on tight. Their version of Chuck Berry's "Nadine" is one of the great (and unexpected) covers of all time -- loyal to whichever faith you choose.

The Late Ixo

I sure wish Cracker Barrel would bring its restaurants to California. Those biscuits are decent, but the pecan pancakes and country ham w/red eye are exceptional.