“Blue Night” is perhaps the signature number for long-time bluegrass stalwarts Hot Rize, but it was penned by Kirk McGee and first released on an album he recorded with his brother Sam in 1964, Whoop ‘Em Up Cindy.
Hot Rize came along with their self-titled debut album in 1979, featuring the legendary lineup of Tim O’Brien on vocals and mandolin, Charles Sawtelle on guitar, Pete Wernick on banjo and Nick Forster on bass. They kicked it off with “Blue Night” and a jam standard was born.
It’s a fun one for jammers, because it departs from the typical bluegrass chord progressions we’ve heard a million times without demanding any fancy chords. And you don’t have to make decisions about whether to take breaks on the verse or the chorus—it’s all the same.
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Download lyrics and chords for "Blue Night"
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