When The Virginia Squires recorded their first album Mountains and Memories (Rebel 1634) in 1984 they sent out a ripple that would extend far beyond their brief three years together as a recording band. Young and exciting with a progressive edge, The Squires paved the way for future groups like Blue Highway, The Lonesome River Band and IIIrd Tyme Out. The band’s lineup includes Mark Newton on guitar and lead vocals, Sammy Shelor on banjo, Ronnie Simpkins on bass and brother Rickie Simpkins on fiddle and mandolin, all of whom would go on to have successful individual careers in bluegrass after The Virginia Squires. Material on the album features several compositions from hot songwriters of the time of which the Randall Hylton-penned “Cold Sheets of Rain” stands out.