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Mike Seeger - Third Annual Farewell Reunion

(Rounder CD-0313) 1994

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This album contains a stellar cast of musicians, performing relatively informally with Mike Seeger at various studios/settings between 1980-1994.

East Virginia Blues with Ralph and Jack Cooke was recorded & mixed on 28th December 1993 at Maggard Sound studios in Big Stone Gap, Va.

Mike Seeger:- "Ralph has kept his music true to his southwest Virginia roots; there is no one on the bluegrass and oldtime country music scene who has greater depth, connection to oldtime music and ability to present it than Ralph Stanley... Back around 1960, I heard an informal recording of this song by Carter and Ralph, the Stanley brothers, that had been made by Chicago lawyer Larry Ehrlich about 1957. On it, Ralph played a cross-tuned mandolin in this same banjo-like style. We've tried to get fairly close to that sound here."^[1]

Ralph's finger picking of the mandolin, was a novelty piece that dated back to the Stanley Brothers' 'Farm and Fun Time' days.^[2] He also cut the track in 1968 on Old Time Music.

Maria Muldaur later appeared on Ralph's 2001 Clinch Mountain Sweethearts, with another version of The Memory Of Your Smile. The version here from 1993, is much more soulful, stripped down version with a bluesy feel. David Grisman is featured on guitar, and Mike Seeger is on mandolin and backing vocals... Great stuff!

Personnel on East Virginia Blues is:-

• Ralph Stanley: mandolin, vocals
• Mike Seeger: guitar, vocals
• Jack Cooke: bass

^{[1] Extract from the liner notes to the 'Third Annual Farewell Reunion'.
[2] John Wright's "Travelling The High Way Home" book (p164/252).}