-
Clinch Mountain Echo

The Stanley Brothers - String, Eraser, And Blotter / Still Trying To Get To Little Rock

(King 5629) Apr 1962


String, Eraser, And Blotter
Still Trying To Get To Little Rock

'Billboard' magazine reviewed the single in their 5th May 1962 edition, giving both sides four stars and describing String, Eraser, And Blotter as:- "This novel lyric thought is sung with feeling by the Brothers. Tune has to do with lost love, of course, and the boys sing it with back country charm." The flipside, Still Trying To Get To Little Rock was similarly described:- Some wry country humor on this talk-sing side. The two boys play along dialog gags. Fine country sounds.[1]

Judging by the review date, this single probably was released in April 1962 shortly after the Award Winners At The Folk Song Festival LP, which contains both sides.

String, Eraser, And Blotter sounds like it was one of those songs brought to the band by King, and was also released by Little Jimmy Dickens later in 1962.[2]

Still Trying To Get To Little Rock was an attempt to follow up on the Stanley's surprise chart success with How Far To Little Rock. Despite having quite funny lyrics, it failed to have any noted success.

Both side of this 7" can be found on The King Years, 1961-1965 4xCD box set.

 

For a detailed breakdown and background to the Stanley's sessions, check Gary B. Reid's The Music Of The Stanley Brothers book, pages 129 and 159-160.

Track:
Title:
Time:
Date:
Original Release:
Guitar:
Banjo:
Fiddle:
Mandolin:
Bass:
Lead Guitar:
A-1
String, Eraser And Blotter
02:17
22 Sep 1961
Award Winners At The Folk Song Festival Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
Chubby Anthony

Chubby Anthony
George Shuffler

Shorty Long / John A. Speca
B-1
Still Trying To Get To Little Rock
02:40
22 Sep 1961
Award Winners At The Folk Song Festival Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
Chubby Anthony

Chubby Anthony
George Shuffler

R. Stanley

Go To Top Of Page [1] https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=1RMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA38&lpg=PA38&dq=Still+Trying+To+Get+To+Little+Rock+/+String,+Eraser,+And+Blotter+billboard+king&source=bl&ots=tjSwU3U3EG&sig=n8oNqptMOSab6JUb_g5zxPPKAvY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwinnPyB2rDVAhVkDMAKHUtoDOAQ6AEIKjAA#v=onepage&q=Still%20Trying%20To%20Get%20To%20Little%20Rock%20%2F%20String%2C%20Eraser%2C%20And%20Blotter%20billboard%20king&f=false
[2] Little Jimmy Dickens - 'Sings Out Behind The Barn' LP (Columbia CL 1887) 1962. See: https://www.discogs.com/Little-Jimmy-Dickens-Out-Behind-The-Barn/master/446077 His version can be heard on youtube.