Classic Stanley Sound Lives On
Pawpaw Bruce | Asheville, NC United States | 01/09/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Dr. Ralph Stanley spent two decades as one of the Stanley Brothers and is now in his fourth decade, since Carter Stanley's death in 1966, of his solo career. This collection contains eight LPs that highlight the early years of the Ralph Stanley era. An excellent book contains contemporary reviews of the LPs, a discography,and photos from the early seventies.The 96 cuts include Stanley's clawhammer and three-finger banjo picking, his unique a cappella gospel singing, over 25 songs originally recorded by the Stanley Brothers, and great instrumentals. The Clinch Mountain Boys of this era included Roy Lee Centers, whose vocals were as close to Carter Stanley's singing as anyone will ever get. The last of these LPs was cut shortly before Centers' senseless murder. Jack Cooke remains the bassist to this day. The late Curly Ray Cline played fiddle for Ralph until his retirement in the early nineties. Teenaged Keith Whitley and Ricky Scaggs also perform on several cuts as they begin their careers.My favorites in this collection are THE LONESOME RIVER, LOVING YOU TOO WELL, and SIX MORE MILES. This version of THE LONESOME RIVER displays the Stanley Sound at its best. It features the high baritone trio harmony Carter and Ralph introduced on Columbia Records in the late forties. The similarity between Ralph and Roy Lee harmonies and the Stanley Brothers harmonies doesn't get any better than in LOVING YOU TOO WELL. Both songs are classic examples of Carter Stanley's writing talents. Ralph's solo on SIX MORE MILES is the best I've heard of this Hank Williams classic.No matter what type of bluegrass or traditional mountain music you like, you'll find it here and you'll find it done right. Dr. Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys don't know any other way to do it!"
THE BEST traditional mountain music you could ever hope for!
J. Deaton | 08/17/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It get's no better than this 4 cd set. If you want a true mountain music sound, this is a must have purchase. Most people know how haunting and authentic Dr. Stanley's vocals are thanks to the "O'Brother" soundtrack and you will get the same heartfelt sound on these CD's. What you may not know is that Ralph shares lead singing responsibility with Roy Lee Centers, perhaps the finest Bluegrass singer to ever step in front of a microphone. You may not know the name but Roy Lee was the lead singer and guitar player for The Clinch Mountain Boys from 1971 until his death in 1974. This is a huge portion of the best work the band ever did.
In addition to Ralph and Roy Lee's singing you get the added bonus of musicians like Curly Ray Cline, Jack Cooke and the Kentucky teenagers the world would later know as Keith Whitley and Ricky Skaggs. If you want to throw around the term supergroup, this would be the perfect opportunity to do so.
This is Mountain Music based on the religion and heartache of Southern Appalachia. If you have never had the opportunity to sit in a holler and listen to the old folks harmonize and pick tunes on a cool fall night, this is a close as you will ever get. BUY IT TODAY!
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Track Listings (18) - Disc #1