(County CO-753) 1977
This is a reissue of the Wango 103, John's Gospel Quartet - John's Gospel Quartet album, which was recorded at Ray Davis' studio at Johnny's Used Cars in December 1963.[1]
On this LP, Ralph, George Shuffler and Jack Cooke sang lead, and Carter is only heard playing rhythm guitar. The sound is therefore quite different in places, and probably of more interest to hardcore fans, than casual listeners.
The Stanleys had cut three of the songs before. Over In The Gloryland and Lonely Tombs had been recorded on the sessions for For The Good People; and Just A Little Talk With Jesus had previously appeared on a single (Mercury 70718) in 1955.
Also featured are five cuts which had previously been recorded by Bill Monroe: Bill's The Old Cross Road, Charles E. Moody's Drifting Too Far From The Shore plus I Am A Pilgrim, A Beautiful Life and Precious Memories.
The County reissues of the four Wango LP's are all worth picking up, and usually can be found quite cheap. It's a shame however that all four Wango albums haven't appeared on CD - they would after all easily fit on a double CD set.
My copy of this album is a later pressing and it hasn't been reissued on CD.
For detailed information on these sessions, check Gary B. Reid's The Music Of The Stanley Brothers book, pages 174-176 and 210.
Track: |
Title: |
---|---|
Side One: |
(14:38) |
1 |
The Old Crossroads |
Bill Monroe |
|
2 |
Drifting Too Far From The Shore |
Charles E. Moody |
|
3 |
Just A Little Talk With Jesus |
Cleavant Derricks |
|
4 |
Precious Memories |
Johnnie Wright |
|
5 |
I'll Fly Away / Sweet Bye & Bye |
Albert E. Brumley / Samuel Fillmore Bennet - Joseph P. Webster |
|
6 |
Uncloudy Day |
Rev. J.K. Algood / J.F. Kinsey |
|
Side Two: |
(13:43) |
1 |
Over In The Glory Land |
J.E. Reynolds / W.P. Snyder |
|
2 |
Lonely Tombs |
P.D. |
|
3 |
Amazing Grace |
John Newton |
|
4 |
I Am A Pilgrim |
Mary D. Shindler |
|
5 |
A Beautiful Life |
William M. Golden |
|
6 |
Someone's Last Day |
M.H. McKee |