2008 reissue. Originally released in 1999 and widely regarded as one of the best albums of that year, New West is proud to reissue one of Steve Earle's finest works. The Mountain marks a radical departure from Steve Earle's previous works as it was his first wholly Bluegrass album. He later revealed that he had made the album as a tribute to the founder of bluegrass music the legendary Bill Monroe, who had died in 1996. In order to help flesh out the songs he had written for the album, Steve Earle called upon the famous Bluegrass band of Del McCoury. The album was a critical success and yielded Earle's seventh Grammy nomination for Best Bluegrass Album in 2000. 14 tracks. New West.