Search - Jeanie Stanley, Dr. Ralph Stanley, Ralph Stanley II :: Baby Girl: Tribute to My Father Carter Stanley

They keep it mountainous!

J. Ross | Roseburg, OR USA | 10/24/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Playing Time - 43:36 -- Subtitled "A Tribute To My Father Carter Stanley," this project features the lead singing of Jeanie Stanley who was only four years old when her father passed away on December 1, 1966 at age 41. Life on the road was hard, and the emotional and physical strain took its toll. Until his end, Carter sang with strength, feeling and conviction, and those same qualities are what his daughter Jeanie builds into her singing. Jeanie's uncle (Ralph Stanley) and cousin (Ralph Stanley II) also sing lead on a couple numbers. Vocal accompaniment is by Joe Isaacs (a long-time family friend who also produced the album), Stacy York (a member of Joe Isaac's band) and John Rigsby (former mandolin and fiddle player for Dr. Ralph Stanley). This recording includes two songs written by Carter Stanley which have never been recorded entitled, "Two Sides To A Story" and "Jesus Is Precious." The latter is sung acappella by Ralph Stanley. The album closer, "Dream of a Miner's Child" has Jeanie's voice mixed with her father's which was recorded live at the 1961 Chicago Folk Festival. Some favorite selections are the trios (like "The Fields Have Turned Brown") that have Jeanie singing with Ralph Stanley and John Rigsby. Stacy York and Joe Isaacs also sing harmonies on other cuts. "Harbor of Love" is the only quartet. I'm sure glad that Jeanie chose the mournful "Lonesome River" and "The Angels are Singing." I wouldn't have minded if she had included the classic "A Vision of Mother." Jeanie agreed with me that was one song that she wished now she had included, even if it had to make a 15th song.



The instrumental accompaniment is provided by the Clinch Mountain Boys, and they do a fantastic job. They feel it and play it in the old-time mountain way. Stacy York provides some solid harmonizing. The 16-page CD booklet has liner notes by Gary B. Reid, as well as many interesting photographs. None is as touching as the cover photo of Carter and Jeanie as a toddler, and when she closes with "O daddy, dear daddy please don't go away, I never could live without you." Ralph had to prove it could be done, not only with the passing of Carter but another of his lead singers, Roy Lee Centers, a few years later. Now resting in the old Smith Family graveyard in McClure, Va., Carter Stanley is a guardian from on high.



Ralph Stanley provided emotional support, encouragement and wisdom to help Jeanie realize this dream. Ralph says "I'm proud of it. It's good, it's a piece of history and people are gonna' love it." Carter would have been so proud of his "baby girl," and the tribute album also acknowledges the role that Jeanie's mother, Mary, played in remembering Carter and his music. Jeanie sings with rustic mountain twang and powerful delivery that reminds me a bit of Rose Maddox. I'm sure that it was moving experience for all of the musicians to work on this tribute album. The timeless music's sung right, done right, and has the proper feeling for a daughter's tribute to her eloquent songwriting, guitar-picking and singing father. With mountain soul, this album hits you right in the gut. As Jack Cooke would say, they keep it mountainous. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

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