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HISTORY

NGDB I
1966-1967
NGDB II
1968-1969
NGDB III
1969-1973
NGDB IV
1974-1975
NGDB V
1976-1977
NGDB VI
1978-1979
NGDB VII
1980-1981
NGDB VIII
1982-1987
NGDB IX
1987-1988

NGDB X
1989-1999

(Click on covers for more information and to order)

    The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band X
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    1989-1999
    The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band X
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    1989-1999
    The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band X
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    1989-1999
    Jeff Hanna - guitar/vocals//washboard/percussion/bass
    Jimmie Fadden - drums/guitar/harmonica/vocals
    Bob Carpenter - keyboards/accordion/bass/vocals
    Jimmy Ibbotson - guitar/keyboards/mandolin/base/vocals
    "Bang! Bang! Bang!"

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    Dreamworks (1999)

    "The Christmas Album"

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    Rising Tide (1997)

    "Acoustic"

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    Liberty Records (1994)

    "Not Fade Away"

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    Liberty Records(1992)

    "The Rest of the Dream"

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    MCA (1991)

    "Live Two-Five"

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    Capitol (1991)

    "Will The Circle Be Unbroken, Vol. II"

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    Universal (1989)

    "More Great Dirt"

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    Warner Brothers 1989

     

    The Group Releases More Great Dirt, the second authorized Greatest Hits LP. Will the Circle Be Unbroken Vol. II is hailed internationally for uniting old and new singers, such as Roy Acuff, Johnny Cash, Earl Scruggs, Bruce Hornsby, John Hiatt, Chris Hillman, Roger McGuinn, and others. Circle II goes gold in the US and Canada, and wins 3 Grammy's and the CMA Album of the Year. A long-form video documentary "The Making of Will the Circle be Unbroken II" is released on Cabin Fever Entertainment. The Dirt Band returns to the Soviet Union for 3 sold out performances, and national Soviet TV appearances. The Rest of the Dream is released in June 1990, produced by the band and Randy Scruggs, who produced Circle II. In late 1990, the band goes on a major tour including Canada, Europe, and Japan.

    Nitty Gritty Dirt Band commemorates their 25th anniversary by recording a live album Live Two Five in Red Deer, produced by T-Bone Burnett. They return to their original label, Liberty Records, to record Not Fade Away in August 1992. The prestigious Aspen School of Music creates their first scholarship honoring a pop group in the band's name. 20 Years of Dirt is certified gold at the end of 1993. In early 1994, the band returns to the studio and their origins, recording Acoustic, a self-penned, self-produced project that spotlights the "wooden" sound they have championed for years. Uncle Charlie and Will The Circle Be Unbroken, tow historical records, are released on CD. In 1996, the band records a duet with Karla Bonoff, "You Believed in Me", to appear on the MCA Olympic album One Voice. They also record, "Maybe Baby" for the Buddy Holly tribute album Not Fade Away on Decca Records, and in 1996 celebrate 30 years on the road. In 1997 they release The Christmas Album.  In May 1999 they are due to release Bang! Bang! Bang!.

     

    The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band IX The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band IX 1987-1988 The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band IX 1987-1988 Jeff Hanna - guitar/vocals/drums/washboard/percussion
    Jimmie Fadden - guitar/harmonica/vocals
    Bob Carpenter - keyboards/accordion/vocals
    Jimmy Ibbotson - guitar/keyboards/drums/accordion/vocals
    Bernie Leadon - vocals/guitar/banjo/mandolin/mandocello
    "Workin' Band"

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    Warner Brothers (1988)

     

    Dirt Band releases Hold On, it's 19th LP, with the Number One singles "Fishin' in the Dark" and "Baby's Got a Hold on Me." They appear on both the Today Show and the Tonight Show in the same week, and tour Europe. Plain Dirt Fashion and 20 Years of Dirt are certified gold in Canada, and the band releases Workin' Band, scoring two more Top 10 songs.

     

    The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band VIII The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band VIII
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    1982-1987
    Jeff Hanna - guitar/vocals/drums/washboard/percussion
    Jimmie Fadden - guitar/harmonica/vocals
    John McEuen - guitar/fiddle/banjo/mandolin/accordion/vocals
    Bob Carpenter - keyboards/accordion/vocals
    Jimmy Ibbotson - guitar/keyboards/drums/accordion/vocals
    "Hold On"

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    Warner Brothers (1987)

    "Twenty Years of Dirt"

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    Warner Brothers (1986)

    "Partners, Brothers, and Friends"

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    Warner Brothers (1985)

    "Plain Dirt Fashion"

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    Warner Brothers (1984)

    "Let's Go"

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    Liberty Records (1982)

    Band returns to Nashville to record Let's Go, and "Dance Little Jean" goes Top 10 Country. The band also records Plain Dirt Fashion and Partners, Brothers, and Friends. "Long Hard Road" becomes the Dirt Band's first Number One record, and the band eventually has 17 consecutive Top 10 country songs. The band receives nominations from both the CMA and ACM, and perform at the 1984 Olympics in LA and at the first Farm-Aid concert. The Twenty Years of Dirt Collection is released, coinciding with the band's 20th anniversary of their first performance at the Paradox Club in Orange County on May 13, 1966. The Anniversary concert in McNichols Arena in Denver is a sell-out, with guests such as Ricky Skaggs, Emmylou Harris, Doc Watson, John Prine, and others.

     

    The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band VII The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band VII
    1980-1981
    Jeff Hanna - guitar/vocals/drums/washboard/percussion
    Jimmie Fadden - guitar/harmonica/vocals
    Bob Carpenter - keyboards/accordion/vocals 
    John McEuen - guitar/fiddle/banjo/mandolin/accordion/vocals
    Al Garth - violin/keyboards/sax/vocals
    Richard Hathaway - bass
    "Jealousy"

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    Liberty Records (1981)


    "Make a Little Magic"

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    United Artists (1980)

    Nitty Gritty Dirt Band releases Make a Little Magic and Jealousy, and the single "Make a Little Magic" with Nicolette Larson makes the Top 20 pop charts.


    The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band VI
    1978-1979
    The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band VI
    1978-1979

    Jeff Hanna - guitar/vocals/drums/washboard/percussion
    Jimmie Fadden - guitar/harmonica/vocals
    Bob Carpenter - keyboards/accordion/vocals
    John McEuen - guitar/fiddle/banjo/mandolin/accordion/vocals
    Al Garth - sax/fiddle/horns/keyboards/percussion
    Merel Bregante - drums/percussion
    Richard Hathaway - bass

    "An American Dream"

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    United Artists (1979)


    "The Dirt Band"

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    United Artists (1978)

    Group releases Wild Nights and An American Dream LPs, and the single "American Dream" with Linda Ronstadt goes to #13 on the Pop chats. The band also appears on Saturday Night Live and provides arrangement and backing for Steve Martin's King Tut.

     

    The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band VThe Nitty Gritty Dirt Band V
    1976-1977

    Jeff Hanna - guitar/vocals/drums/washboard/percussion
    Jimmie Fadden - guitar/harmonica/vocals
    John McEuen - guitar/fiddle/banjo/mandolin/accordion/vocals
    John Cable - guitar/bass/vocals
    Jackie Clark - bass/guitar

    "Dirt Silver and Gold"

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    United Artists (1976)

    Dirt Band becomes the first American group selected by the Soviet government to tour the USSR, spending a month in Russia playing to live audiences and a massive TV audience of 145,000,000. Tour incessantly, and release Dirt, Silver and Gold, a 3-record LP.


    The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band IV
    The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band IV
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    1974-1975

    Jeff Hanna - guitar/vocals/drums/washboard/percussion
    Jimmie Fadden - guitar/harmonica/vocals
    John McEuen - guitar/fiddle/banjo/mandolin/accordion/vocals
    Jimmy Ibbotson - guitar/keyboards/drums/accordion/vocals

    "Dream"

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    United Artists (1975)

    "Stars and Stripes Forever"

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    United Artists (1974)

    Band records Stars and Stripes Forever and Dream LPs, and play at an amazing variety of shows, including bluegrass festival one day before opening for Aerosmith. Play to a crowd of 190,000 at a Sedalia MO "Rock Festival" in 103 degree heat, performing as a 4-piece band.

     

    The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band III
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    1969-1973
    Jeff Hanna - guitar/vocals/drums/washboard/percussion
    Jimmie Fadden - guitar/harmonica/vocals
    Les Thompson - bass/guitar/vocals/mandolin
    John McEuen - guitar/fiddle/banjo/mandolin/accordion/vocals
    Jimmy Ibbotson - guitar/keyboards/drums/accordion/vocals
    "Will the Circle Be Unbroken"

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    United Artists (1972)

    "All the Good Times"

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    United Artists (1971)

    "Uncle Charlie"

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    Liberty Records (1970)

    Nitty Gritty Dirt Band relocates to Colorado, and records Uncle Charlie and All the Good Times, "Mr. Bojangles" makes the Top 10 Pop charts. In August 1972 the band ventured to the uncharted wilds of Nashville to record "Will the Circle Be Unbroken", the platinum selling 3 record set. Guest stars include Roy Acuff, Maybelle Carter, Junior Huskey, Doc. Watson, and many more. The Roy Acuff duet of "I Saw the Light" hits the country charts, and the album gets two Grammy nominations. The band tours Japan.

     

    The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band II

    1968-1969

     

    Jeff Hanna - guitar/vocals
    Jimmie Fadden - guitar/harmonica/washtub bass/vocals
    Ralph Barr - guitar/clarinet/vocals
    Les Thompson - bass/guitar/vocals
    John McEuen - guitar/fiddle/banjo/mandolin/vocals
    Chris Darrow - guitar/fiddle

    "Alive"

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    Liberty Records(1969)

    "Rare Junk"
    Liberty Records (1968)

     

    Group records Rare Junk and Alive, stay in the Walt Whitman National Forest, Oregon, for 4 months filming "Paint Your Wagon" with Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin. Play Carnegie Hall and Bill Cosby's opening act, and jam with Dizzy Gillespie.

     

    The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band I

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    1966-1967

    Jeff Hanna - guitar/vocals
    Jimmie Fadden - guitar/harmonica/washtub bass/vocals
    Ralph Barr - guitar/clarinet/vocals
    Les Thompson - bass/guitar/vocals
    Bruce Kunkel - guitar/violin/vocals
    John McEuen - guitar/fiddle/banjo/mandolin/vocals

    "Ricochet"

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    (1967) Liberty Records

    "Nitty Gritty Dirt Band"

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    (1967) Liberty Records

     

    Dirt Band records Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Ricochet LPs; "Buy For Me the Rain" hits the Top 40 on the Pop charts. The band appears on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, living in the "Dirt House" with Duane & Gregg Allman, Steve martin, The Sunshine Company, and William McEuen, their collective manager. Headline with Jack Benny and The Doors in the same week.

     

 

    May 1966
    The Illegitimate Jug Band

    Jeff Hanna - guitar/vocals
    Jimmie Fadden - guitar/harmonica/washtub bass/vocals
    Jackson Browne - guitar/vocals
    Ralph Barr - guitar/clarinet/vocals
    Les Thompson - bass/guitar/vocals
    Bruce Kunkel - guitar/violin/vocals
      Band hangs out at McCabe' Guitar Shop trying to "figure out how not to have to work for a living." Perform in the LA/Orange County Folk-rock scene in 1920's pinstripe suits & cowboy boots.

 

 


Copyright © 2001 The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. All rights reserved.
Revised: Monday, January 01, 2001