ATKINSONS
A REFRESHING SOUND ROOTED IN THE ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS
Discography
The Atkinsons have a recording studio in their home, using ProTools. This is where we record and produce our projects. We spend our winter months, when our playing season is sparce, writing and learning new material for the upcoming summer months. You can expect a new recording in 2015, titled North Country Blues. The title track is a Bob Dylan tune from 1963. Other songs will include songs written by Brandi Carlisle, Nanci Griffin, Chris Smithers, Shelene and Dick Atkinson and others. Stay tuned for another great recording by the Atkinsons with a unique sound.
Live at the Bainbridge Opera House II
This is the second live recording we did at the Bainbridge Opera House. This place has the best acoustics of any opera house we have played in and the audiences are always most appreciative. The CD features Dick on banjo and vocals, Shelene on guitar and vocals, Adam on mandolin, Laura on bass and vocals, Dave on dobro and special guest Nick Piccininni on fiddle. There are fifteen songs.
Twilight of Day
Twilight of Day is the newest release of the Atkinson Family released in June 2011 at the Tug Hill Bluegrass Festival. The CD is dedicated to the memory of Dick's father who passed away December 22, 2010. He was a great lover of bluegrass and old country music and a wonderful artist in many ways. The songs were chosen very carefully for this CD. Dick wrote the title track, "Twilight of Day" and "For a Nickel and a Song". Songwriter Joe LaMay from Kentucky wrote "Sailor's Curse" and Adirondack songwriter Roy Hurd wrote "Wild Mountain Flower". Other songs written by some of Nashville's great songwriters round out this recording. The release includes Nathional Resonator Guitar Champion Dave Bevins on dobro and multi-instrumentalist, Nick Piccininni on mandolin. Dick Atkinson is playing banjo, Liza and Shelene Atkinson on guitar, and Laura Atkinson is playing bass on this recording. Also a few special guests to include Perry Cleveland playing mandolin and Butch Williams playing bass. All four of the Atkinsons, Richard, Shelene, Liza and Laura are singing lead and harmony vocals.
Live at the Bainbridge Opera House
Live at the Bainbridge Opera House, released in October 2006 features Dick Atkinson on banjo and guitar, Liza Atkinson and Shelene Atkinson on guitar, Adam Atkinson on mandolin, Dave Bevins on dobro and Jim Rooney on bass. Photography and video by Ralph Lane. Audio by Ralph Lane and Dick Atkinson. Cover design by Dick Atkinson.
AVAILABLE IN DVD FORMAT WHICH INCLUDES THE FIRST 10 SONGS. Also available in a combo package which includes DVD and CD.
The CD has 15 songs, traditional and original material.
Listen to the Radio
Listen to the Radio, released in July 2005 features Dick Atkinson on banjo and guitar, Liza Atkinson and Shelene Atkinson on guitar, Adam Atkinson on mandolin, Doug Bartlett on fiddle and mandolin, Jim Rooney on bass. Cover design by Adam Atkinson and Shelene Atkinson.
The CD includes 14 songs, traditional and original material. The featured song is one written by Dick Atkinson, "The Silo Stands Alone". This song is about the disappearing family farm. Also by Dick Atkinson, "Paper Shoes" is about a homeless man that is dying. Other originals include, "I'll Find My Savior Waiting", "Broken Dream of Love" and "Sweet Little Angel" by Shelene Atkinson; "A Short Walk In Time" by Liza Atkinson; "Maryville" by Joe LaMay and "Takin' A Ride to the Country" by Barb Heller.
Angels Rejoice
Angels Rejoice released on the MasterShield Label in May 2008 has received some great reviews from radio. Dick Atkinson on banjo and guitar, Liza Atkinson and Shelene Atkinson on guitar, Adam Atkinson on mandolin, Dave Bevins on dobro, Jim Treat on bass. Guest appearance by Ralph Lane playing guitar on the song "Friday". Cover design by Lamay Designs.
"I have indeed received a copy of Angels Rejoice which I have been thoroughly enjoying. Every few years a song comes along that just sends you reeling because of its message, poignancy and delivery. “Friday” is such a song. It’s brilliantly written, the tune matches perfectly and you all have arranged and sing the piece with a knock-out punch. The tune is a masterpiece and is destined to become a gospel classic."
Dave Higgs Nashville Public Radio, Bluegrass Breakdown
"A creative composition that reflects the genius of this band. They have their own unique sound that sets them apart from other bluegrass bands. Their creativity will have them in great demand. The instrumentation here is haunting and memorable." Wayne Bledsoe, KMST
"Syracuse composer John Cadley has done it again. Atkinsons interpret it perfectly!" Bill Knowlton, WCNY/WUNY/WJNY
The CD includes 14 songs, traditional and original material. The featured song "Friday" written by John Cadley is a story about the workers taking Christ up the hill. This story is about how the workers must have felt, the series of events and how they saw it that day.
Tearin' Up the Line
Tearin' Up The Line, released in May 2004 features Dick Atkinson on banjo and guitar, Liza Atkinson and Shelene Atkinson on guitar, Adam Atkinson on mandolin, Becky Buller on fiddle, Junior Barber on dobro and Jim Rooney on bass. Cover design by Shelene Atkinson.
The CD includes 15 songs, traditional and original material. The featured song is one written by Dick Atkinson, "Tearin' Up the Line". The song is based on true events inspired by the closing of an iron ore mine, Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation in Star Lake, NY in the 1970s. Also by Dick Atkinson, "Free and Easy Blues", "Raven's Flight" and "Still He Said He Didn't Love Her". Other originals include, "Hazel" (a song inspired by Miss Hazel Dickens), "My Burdens Are Heavey", "Photograph" and "Grandmother" by Shelene Atkinson; "Marbletown" by Joe LaMay; "Rest My Weary Feet" by Becky Buller; "Mama Put Down That Picture by Sherri Reese; and "Long Long Road" by Barb Heller.