OLD & IN THE WAY
OLD & IN THE WAY
Old & In the Way was a bluegrass group formed in 1973. It was composed of Peter Rowan (guitar, vocals), Vassar Clements (fiddle), Jerry Garcia (banjo, vocals), David Grisman (mandolin, vocals), and John Kahn (string bass). When the group was forming, it was intended that John Hartford would be the fiddle player. Based on Hartford's engagements, and Clements' reputational stature in the bluegrass community, Clements became the group's fiddler.
The group performed traditional tunes such as "Pig in a Pen" as well as bluegrass-flavored versions of the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses" and Peter Rowan's "Panama Red". The group had a short existence playing a total of approximately 50 live shows through much of 1973 then briefly reconvening for one bluegrass festival in 1974. All the official Old & In The Way releases consist of live recordings made in San Francisco in October 1973.
Garcia was asked in 1991, “Is Old & In The Way still the biggest-selling bluegrass album?”
“That’s what I’ve heard. I don’t know where those statistics come from, but I think that’s tremendously flattering if it is. Although kind of unfortunate. I mean, what about those guys who spent their lives playing this music? They were certainly great at it.”