The Dillards - Live!!!! Almost!!!!

'Live!!!! Almost!!!!' is a classic bluegrass album that was released in 1964. It was put out by Elektra Records during the height of the American folk music revival. The album captured the band at a pivotal time in their career.

The album was recorded live at The Mecca club, located in Los Angeles, California. Despite the live setting, the album title jokes that the performances were so polished they sounded almost like studio recordings. The club was a popular venue for folk and bluegrass acts in the early 1960s.

The album is firmly rooted in the bluegrass genre, heavily featuring the acoustic string-band sound the group was famous for. It captures the group's instrumental proficiency, highlighting their lightning-fast banjo and guitar work. The Dillards were instrumental in bringing bluegrass music to mainstream, urban audiences.

The album features the classic, original lineup of The Dillards, including Doug Dillard on banjo and Rodney Dillard on guitar. The group's tight vocal harmonies and virtuosic acoustic picking are on full display. This specific roster of musicians heavily influenced future country-rock bands.