Various Artists - The Audience Pleased

Live Recordings 1959-1975

(Oberlin Folk Music Club OCF-42-756) 1976

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This compilation contains live recordings made at shows organised by the Oberlin College Folk Club. The Stanley Brothers had been booked to appear there, on the afternoon of the 17th March 1962 for the sum of $100 and played just one set of 45 minutes, which is what Carter reckoned was what was as much as they'd paid for.^[1]

Three other songs from the Stanley's set (John Henry, Katy Cline and the closing theme - Long Journey Home), plus closing comments and the comedy 'Propaganda' routine, have also resurfaced on the Shadows Of The Past album.

The concert took place at the Wilder Hall, and afterwards Ralph & Carter posed for a photo on the steps to the college venue with Neil Rosenberg, (future rock producer) Erik Jacobsen and Frank Miller III. Neil Rosenberg later wrote about the event in his 'Blue Grass Generation' book recalling:- "The crowd raised the roof trying for an encore at the end, but to no avail. The band had a date in Cleveland (that night)."

Aside from the Stanley's cut, the material on the compilation LP is a mix of old-time, Irish and English folk, including the New Lost City Ramblers, Pete Seeger and the Red Clay Ramblers (who toured with Ralph in 1977).^[2]

Thanks to Gary Reid for image of the rear LP cover.

If anyone has a tape of the full concert, please get in touch!

• Carter Stanley: guitar, vocals
• Ralph Stanley: banjo, vocals
• George Shuffler: lead guitar
• Chick Stripling: bass

For a detailed breakdown and background to the Oberlin concert, check Gary B. Reid's The Music Of The Stanley Brothers book, pages 130 and 160.

Other artwork / related images:

[1] I know I've seen a quote to this effect - probably in a note from Neil Rosenberg in 'Bluegrass Unlimited', but I've not been able to find it...
[2] See the Red Clay Ramblers amusing recollections of the last tour Ralph did with Keith Whitley: http://www.earlyblurs.com/ralphstanley.htm