Search - Stanley Brothers :: Ralph and Carter/The Later King Years

The first-ever UK CD to be devoted to the classic early 60s recordings of one of bluegrass' greatest-ever 'brother' acts, Carter and Ralph Stanley. This CD picks up for where a previous Stanley Brothers project on Westside Records leaves off and covers the last four years of the Stanleys' career on King Records - 1961-65 - a career that was cruelly terminated by the death of Carter Stanley in 1966. Focusing primarily on tracks that were released on 45s by King, some posthumously, this package includes some of the best vocal and instrumental performances that Carter, Ralph and various line-ups of their group, the Clinch Mountain Boys, laid down during a career that spanned a quarter of a century. Highlights include their original recording of 'Don't Cheat In Our Hometown' - later to be taken to the top of the US Country charts by a famous alumnus of the Clinch Mountain Boys, Ricky Skaggs, and the sombre recitation 'Old And In The Way', the title of which Jerry Garcia, David Grisman and Peter Rowan 'borrowed' to name their all-star bluegrass supergroup of the early 1970s. The instrumentals 'Train 45' and 'Shout Little Lulie' are staples of any budding mandolin player's repertoire. And 'Still Trying To Get To Little Rock' picks up from where the Stanleys' classic 'How Far To Little Rock' left off, mixing cornball humor and white-hot picking in equal measure. The inevitable Ace array of pix and record label shots make this a package that no fan of the Stanley Brothers will want to be without. Happily, Dr Ralph Stanley has been carrying on the Stanley Brothers' legacy for the 40 years that have now passed since his brother's death - and any Clinch Mountain Boys live set inevitably includes more than a handful of the selection featured on this CD.