Tribute to the American Duck

Tribute to the American Duck is the seventh album by bluegrass group The Dillards. Released only a year after Roots and Branches, Tribute features the same lineup and a similar sound. Billy Ray Latham's electric guitar features on "Caney Creek," and folk rock influences are evident in the song writing and cover choice. The album features a re-recorded version of "Dooley" from the Dillards' debut, Back Porch Bluegrass.

Mitch Jayne again assumes a more subdued role in Tribute, ceding his role as bassist to two electric bass players. He does, however, contribute more to the songwriting of the album than to Roots and Branches, and he makes his debut as a lead vocalist in the final song, "What's Time to a Hog?" Rodney Dillard's wife Linda Dillard begins contributing to the Dillards in this album, singing backup vocals and co-writing "Carry Me Off" with Rodney and Mitch.

Track listing

1. "Music is Music" (Rodney Dillard, Mitch Jayne)
2. "Caney Creek" (I. Alexander)
3. "Dooley" (Rodney Dillard, Mitch Jayne)
4. "Love has Gone Away" (Rodney Dillard, Mitch Jayne)
5. "You've Gotta Be Strong" (Jenny La Milrand)
6. "Carry Me Off" (Linda Dillard, Rodney Dillard, Mitch Jayne)
7. "Smile for Me" (Gary Itri)
8. "Hot Rod Banjo" (B. Clifford, J. H. Burnett, P. Potash)
9. "Daddy was a Mover" (Rodney Dillard, Mitch Jayne)
10. "What's Time to a Hog?" (Dean Webb, Mitch Jayne)

Personnel

• Rodney Dillard: lead vocal, guitar, dobro
• Billy Ray Latham (spelled "Lathum" throughout the original liner notes): guitar, banjo, dobro
• Dean Webb: mandolin
• Mitch Jayne: lead vocal on "What's Time to a Hog?"
• John Hartford: fiddle
• Paul York, John Raines, Don Gallese: drums and percussion
• Linda Dillard: backup vocal
• Colin Cameron, Gary Itri: bass
• Irv Dugan: guitar, road manager
• Andrew Belling: keyboard
• Buck Graves: dobro

Produced by Rodney Dillard

Sources

• Liner notes of original LP