While the "concept" album has always been a staple of rock music, it's rarely been a factor in country--until now. With THE PILGRIM, writer/singer/producer guitarist Marty Stuart has crafted an honest-to-goodness country opera complete with a cast of country legends portraying the various roles. THE PILGRIM is based, Stuart says, on a true story of a love triangle replete with marital infidelity, searching and redemption. Stuart himself plays the role of the lover, the "pilgrim" of the title, as well as a few other characters

Intro (Instrumental) (0:25) -- Sometimes the pleasure's worth the pain (3:10) -- The pilgrim (Act I) (0:54) -- Harlan County (1:32) -- Reasons (3:31) -- Love can go to... (0:31) -- Red, red wine and cheatin' songs (3:11) -- Truckstop (1:27) -- Hobo's prayer (3:37) -- Goin' nowhere fast (3:10) -- The observations of a crow (5:27) -- Intermission (Instrumental) (0:31) -- The greatest love of all time (3:29) -- The greatest love of all time (Reprise) (Instrumental) (1:54) -- Draggin' around these chains of love (3:13) -- The pilgrim (Act II) (0:37) -- Redemption (1:49) -- The pilgrim (Act III) (6:04) -- Outro (2:23) -- Mr. John Henry, steel driving man (Instrumental) (2:00)

Engineer: Jamie Tate; Rocky Schnaars. Producer: Marty Stuart

Personnel: Marty Stuart (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, mandolin); Johnny Cash, George Jones, Emmylou Harris, Pam Tillis, Johnny Counterfeit (vocals); Mike Campbell (12-string acoustic & 6-string electric guitars); Earl Scruggs (acoustic guitar, banjo); Uncle Josh Graves (dobro); Stuart Duncan (fiddle); David Davidson, Chris Teal (violin); Kristin Wilkinson (viola); John Cathcings (cello); Jim Brown (piano, Hammond B-3 organ); Tony Brown, Rusty Golden (piano); Barry Beckett (Hammond B-3 organ); Carl Marsh (organ, calliope, sound effects); Mike Bub (acoustic bass); Larry Marrs (background vocals).Rock & Roll Cowboys: Brad Davis (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars); Gary Hogue (steel guitar); Steve Arnold (bass); Gregg Stocki (drums, timpani, percussion)

Recorded at Abrax Recording