Article Contributed by Craft Recordings
Published on 2026-05-06
Photo: Courtesy of Craft Recordings / HighTone Records
Craft Recordings and HighTone Records proudly announce the long-awaited return of Boone Creek — the self-titled 1977 debut from the boundary-pushing supergroup featuring future bluegrass luminaries Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Douglas, Wes Golding, and Terry Baucom. Long out of print and previously unavailable outside its original release, the album returns across all formats, marking its first vinyl pressing in nearly five decades alongside its debut on CD and streaming platforms, including hi-res digital.
In addition to the original album tracklist, the reissue includes four recently unearthed bonus tracks salvaged from the long-lost session tapes — startling, left-field performances that show Boone Creek pushing bluegrass into truly uncharted territory.
Arriving June 26 and available for pre-order now, the release is previewed by Boone Creek’s soul-stirring take on the Flatt & Scruggs classic “I’m Gonna Settle Down,” available to stream and download today. The track highlights the dazzling musicianship and fiery chemistry of four bluegrass masters coming together to form Boone Creek.
In 1976, Skaggs — on mandolin, fiddle, guitar, and vocals — and Douglas, fresh off their tenure with J.D. Crowe & The New South, joined forces with songwriter Wes Golding and banjo player Terry Baucom to create a daring new sound that honored bluegrass tradition while boldly expanding its possibilities.
Pulling inspiration from jam-band looseness, timeless pop songwriting, and even the sleek soft-rock textures of the 1970s, Boone Creek incorporated electric guitar, drums, piano, horns, and synthesizers into their arrangements while maintaining tight bluegrass-inspired vocal harmonies throughout.
At the time, the results proved divisive. When Boone Creek first presented their debut to Rounder Records, the label deemed portions of the material “too commercial,” prompting the band to return to the studio and cut more traditional bluegrass material. The resulting album combined songs from both sessions into a remarkably eclectic and adventurous release that stretched far beyond the accepted bluegrass boundaries of the era.
Following the album’s original release, the master tapes for several unreleased songs vanished.
“When it came time to collect the tapes,” Jerry Douglas explains, “it was found that the engineer had absconded with them.”
Nearly five decades later, the missing tapes were finally recovered — badly damaged and covered in mold. Through extensive restoration work, four previously unheard recordings were rescued, revealing an even more experimental side of Boone Creek that feels decades ahead of its time.
“It’s been over 50 years since Boone Creek made these recordings and it’s great to hear them remastered,” says Ricky Skaggs. “They sound better than ever, and I never thought the previously unreleased cuts would see the light of day. A big thanks to my bandmate, brother Jerry Douglas, for assisting in the remastering process — great job!”
Douglas adds:
“We hope you again enjoy Boone Creek’s freshman effort along with a glimpse back into the ’70s, where the personalities and young dreams of a band gone on safari were never to be completed. This effort formed who we are individually today, unfortunately losing Terry in December of 2023. We thank everyone involved for their tenacity and forward thinking in bringing this remastered lost treasure back into the light.”
Reissue producer Scott Billington called the recovery effort “one of the best ‘what if?’ musical stories of the year,” noting that the restored material offers listeners a deeper glimpse into the creative minds of four extraordinary musicians.
Across the album, Boone Creek move effortlessly between intricate instrumentals and tightly woven harmonies, balancing technical precision with emotional depth. Songs like “White House Blues” and the bittersweet title track showcase the group’s ability to stretch tradition without abandoning it.
The newly recovered tracks include the freewheeling “Hitchhiking to California” and the horn-laced “Dream Song,” which drifts into a subtly psychedelic haze — standout performances on an album that feels remarkably modern nearly 50 years later.
Before disbanding, Boone Creek released one additional album, One Way Track, in 1978 — the inaugural release for the newly formed Sugar Hill Records. During their brief run, the band also featured a rotating cast of bass players, including future country superstar Vince Gill, who contributes harmony vocals on the newly recovered “Misty Wind.”
Following Boone Creek, Skaggs joined Emmylou Harris’ Hot Band and went on to earn 15 GRAMMY Awards while becoming one of the most influential figures in modern roots music. Douglas would later collect 16 GRAMMY Awards and cement his status as one of the most innovative instrumentalists in bluegrass history, currently performing with Alison Krauss and Union Station.
Golding later performed with Shenandoah Cut-Ups and co-founded Wes Golding & Sure Fire, while Baucom became a founding member of Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver and IIIrd Tyme Out before passing away in 2023.
Today, Boone Creek stands as both a time capsule and a revelation — a snapshot of four extraordinary musicians at the beginning of their journeys, completely unafraid to test the limits of bluegrass music.
Pre-Order / Pre-Save Boone Creek
Vinyl Tracklist
Side A
1. Dixieland
2. Dark Is The Night
3. Walkin' In Jerusalem
4. Gonna Settle Down
5. Drifting Too Far From The Shore
6. White House Blues
7. Boone Creek
8. The Memory of Your Smile
Side B
1. Intro
2. Satisfy My Mind
3. Sugar Daddy
4. Ain't Nobody Gonna Miss Me
5. Hitchhiking to California*
6. Misty Wind*
7. Georgia Sunrise*
8. Dream Song*
* Previously unreleased
CD / Digital Tracklist
1. Dixieland
2. Dark Is The Night
3. Walkin' In Jerusalem
4. Gonna Settle Down
5. Drifting Too Far From The Shore
6. White House Blues
7. Boone Creek
8. The Memory of Your Smile
9. Intro
10. Satisfy My Mind
11. Sugar Daddy
12. Ain't Nobody Gonna Miss Me
13. Hitchhiking to California*
14. Misty Wind*
15. Georgia Sunrise*
16. Dream Song*
* Previously unreleased
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