The Country Gazette

It was difficult to think of the Country Gazette as an actual working band by the time What a Way to Earn a Living was recorded. There were only two regular members left: guitarist and banjo player Alan Munde and guitarist/mandolin player Roland White. They relied on an auxiliary of supporting guest musicians on selected tracks, including founding member Byron Berline or Richard Greene on fiddle, bassist Bill Bryson, guitarist Mike Richey, and dobro player Skip Conover. Fortunately, the turmoil in the band's shifting roster doesn't affect the music, as they interpret timeless pieces such as "Dark Hollow," "Last Letter," and the traditional bluegrass favorite "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down" with spirited vocals and tremendous picking. Munde and White also co-composed a pair of first-rate instrumentals, "Goodbye Mitchell Jayne" and "Nantyglo R.F.C." An obscure release that is definitely worth searching for by progressive bluegrass fans. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide