Ralph Stanley - Live From Gettysburg

(ToneMaster) 2018

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This is a rather dodgy digital-only release that you can find on Amazon, iTunes etc. Released on 28th Sept 2018, I've not been able to find anything out about the "ToneMaster" label, but wouldn't be surprised if Ralph's estate weren't receiving royalties.

There's no indication of recording date, and the album features the Charlie Sizemore line-up - so the cover with Fred Robbins' picture from Culpepper '73 is misleading. I strongly suspect that it's taken from a set from the 2-3rd May 1981 festival at Gettysburg, as it's very similar to another recording from that show. Both recordings for instance feature Ron Thomason guesting on Amazing Grace, and both include Your Worries And Troubles Are Mine from Ralph's The Stanley Sound Today album which was due to be released shortly & Hemlocks And Primroses.

Much of the dialog between songs is unfortunately cut but recording quality is ok (for a bootleg).

I'm always on the look-out for live recordings of Ralph or the Stanleys - if anyone has any, please get in touch via the Contact page!

• Ralph Stanley: banjo, vocal
• Junior Blankenship: guitar
• Curly Ray Cline: fiddle
• Jack Cooke: bass
• Charlie Sizemore: guitar, vocal

NB: There are no liner notes so the line-up / instrumentation is guesswork.

Other artwork / related images: