Bottom Line:
This career spanning collection of music is an amazing testament to the pull of Mountain Music. The recordings span a time period of 1946 to 1966, and many of the songs are still being recorded by the artists of today. The Stanley Brothers are one of the cornerstones of the Bluegrass field and to be able to have a sampling of music from throughout their career in one set is a real treat.
From an early age, Carter and Ralph Stanley were pulled in a musical direction. Their parents loved music and while their father sang the old time songs their mother played the banjo and sang as well. They sang in their church and while Carter chose to learn to the play the guitar, Ralph took up the banjo. They started playing on various radio shows, and then both enlisted in the service a couple of years apart. When Carter was discharged he hooked up with The Blue Ridge Mountain Boys. He also was a part of Bill Monroe's band on and off through the years, and Ralph joined Monroe for awhile as well. When Ralph was discharged from service they picked him up at the train station, and they stopped at a radio station to perform before they even went home. I really think that says something about their love of the music. I found it fascinating how they would pick up and play with various bands here and there. Again, it says that the music is what mattered to them, and not necessarily that they make a name for themselves. They just wanted to play what they loved. Many of their songs over the years were penned by Carter, although they performed a lot of AP Carter songs, songs from Bill Monroe and others. They maintained a good working relationship with Monroe, and for a time the rumor was going around that Monroe had said if they would stay with him, he'd change the name of his band to Bill Monroe and the Stanley Brothers.
Their earliest recordings were with Rich-R-Tone Records. Then they recorded for Columbia, Mercury, King and Starday as well as a few independent labels throughout the next 20 years. Ralph developed his signature three finger style method of picking the banjo, and his high baritone provided the background vocals. He was the quiet one of the duo who took care of all the behind the scenes duties. Carter was the outgoing personality and lead singer. Ralph has said that he didn't really consider their sound bluegrass; he felt that they were just the Stanley Brothers singing their own music. It was simply good mountain music. Their sound became unique because they perfected what became known as the 'high lonesome sound.' The sound can really be heard in songs like "The White Dove," "The Lonesome River" and "The Fields Have Turned Brown." "Man of Constant Sorrow," "Pretty Polly" and "O Death" have remained Ralph Stanley signature songs to this day. Carter was silenced far too soon when he passed away at 41 years of age on December 1, 1966. There are 60 songs on three CD's in this great collection from Time Life. The collection covers their entire recording career from 1946 - 1966 and has a very nice biography complete with photos in the CD case. It is designed as a larger book style case which makes it easier to include the little biography book in the middle. It is sure to be a collector's piece.
Track Listing:
Disc One:
- Little Glass of Wine
- The Old Home
- The White Dove
- The Fields Have Turned Brown
- The Lonesome River
- Get Down On Your Knees and Pray
- I'm Lonesome Without You
- This Weary Heart You Stole Away (Wake Up, Sweetheart)
- Our Last Goodbye
- (Say) Won't You Be Mine
- A Voice From on High
- I Just Got Wise
- Blue Moon of Kentucky
- Hard Times
- If That's the Way You Feel
- Orange Blossom Special
- Nobody's Love is Like Mine
- Angel Band
- Who Will call You Sweetheart
- The Cry from the Cross
Disc Two:
- Gonna Paint the Town
- How Mountain Girls Can Love
- Think of What You've Done
- How Far to Little Rock
- Train 45
- Ridin' That Midnight Train
- Man of Constant Sorrow
- Rank Stranger
- Jacob's Vision
- Little Maggie
- God Gave You to Me
- Let Me Rest
- Who Will Sing for Me
- Little Birdie
- Lonesome Night
- Don't Cheat in Our Home Town
- Stone Walls and Steel Bars
- Beautiful Star of Bethlehem
- O Death
- Soldier's Grave
Disc 3:
- Theme & Cotton-Eyed Joe
- Mother No Longer Awaits Me at Home
- The Girl Behind the Bar
- Molly and Tenbrooks
- Are You Waiting Just for Me
- Will You Be Loving Another Man
- Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms
- Black Mountain Blues
- Meet Me Tonight
- Nobody's Business
- Sugar Coated Love
- Tell Me Why My Daddy Don't Come Home
- Hide Ye in the Blood
- East Virginia Blues
- Pretty Polly
- Pig in a Pen
- Will You Miss Me
- Where the Soul Never Dies
- Dust on the Bible
- Single Girl
