In 1972, Arthur Smith received quite a surprise. When his 1955 composition “Feudin’ Banjos” was featured as a theme in John Boorman’s thriller film Deliverance, it became a major hit overnight almost twenty years after its initial release. The song’s iconic call-and-response between two banjos is unforgettable, and it’s all thanks to the masterful playing of its two banjoists, Don Reno and Arthur Smith.
This 1979 album marks something of a reunion for the two. Here, Reno’s banjo is accompanied by Smith’s lead guitar as the two cruise through 12 instrumentals. The majority here are classics, standards, and old favorites like “Hello Dolly,” “Over The Rainbow” and “Sheik Of Araby.” Among those are two Arthur Smith originals “Follow Me Boogie” and “Chicken,” as well as the outstanding album-closer “12th Street Rag,” a classic ragtime number which the ensemble absolutely blazes through.
The product of two stalwarts in the CMH catalogue, "Feudin’ Again" was Smith’s second record and Reno’s fifth record for the label. It’s a timeless and warm collection by two bluegrass legends who were there from the start and in it for life.