"Walkin Down Down The Line"
" Ebo Walker"
" Copperfields"
" The Old Man At The Mill "

The Dillards were not a traditional folk rientated band. Rosenberg explains that they were pitched towards the urban folk music market. Jayne's liner notes to the first album describes bluegrass in romantic terms, describing it as representing the rural heritage of America. He "understood the complexities of the music business and carefully shaped the image of the Dillards as real country boys to appeal to the folk revival audiences", he used " playful and urbane manipulation of hillbilly stereotypes and rural images" (Rosenberg p193). Purists denigrated the band's somewhat irreverent attitude - derived from their days as the Darling Family and Mitch's comic monologues. John Stewart said Mitch had "to be the most quoted man in Salem". Through their enjoyment of the music and comic interplay with the audience they helped make the music alive.

As a teenager Rodney joined forces with brother Doug and childhood pals Mitch Jayne and Dean Webb to form “The Dillards”. Feeling limited as a college student, Rodney convinced the rest of the guys that they needed to head west and give their music a “serious” effort. So, in 1962, with little in their pockets besides their dreams, the four headed for California. Soon after they reached the West Coast they were heard by an Elektra Records talent scout and producer, Jim Dickson, who offered them their first recording contract. They also landed regular roles as the pickin’, singin’ “Darling family” on the Andy Griffith TV show.