(Pigeon Roost P RR 001) 1985
This double LP set features performances from 1976 - 1984, from the Berkshire Mountains Bluegrass Festival near Hillsdale, NY.[1]
Two of Ralph's appearances are represented. From 1977, there's Oh Death with the Keith Whitley/Troy 'Renfro' Profitt line-up. Since 'Oh Brother' this tune has taken on a life of it's own... but I think this is probably the most soulful version I've heard.
From 1980, there's a rare live version of Whiskey, originally cut by The Stanley Brothers in 1963 and which Ralph and Ralph Mayo couldn't ever recall playing it before on stage. Here it's done as a request for Nancy Talbot, one of the festival organisers, with Charlie Sizemore handling the vocals/recitation.
Ralph is also featured as a guest with Jimmy Martin (again from 1980) singing Rabbit In A Log...
The rest of the material covers quite a wide spectrum of acoustic music, with some fantastic flat-picking from Dan Crary, sublime harmonies from The Seldom Scene, and two of Peter Rowan's dope classics. Add in Don Stover, Ricky Skaggs, Del McCoury, Don Reno, Red Allen, J.D. Crowe... and it's defintely one to watch out for!
There's also a fab recording of one of Ralph's Berkshire 1977 performances and a 1980 Banjo workshop available at Fred Robbins' site.[2]
Track: |
Title: |
---|---|
Side One: |
(21:07) |
1 |
Sitting On Top Of The World - Harley Allen / Mike Lilly Band |
W. Vinson |
|
2 |
High On A Mountain - Del McCoury & The Dixie Pals |
Reed / Campbell |
|
3 |
Shady Grove - Don Stover |
P.D. |
|
4 |
Ladies Fancy - Dan Crary |
P.D. |
|
5 |
Live And Let Live - Don Reno |
Walker / Sullivan |
|
6 |
Rabbit In The Log - Jimmy Martin with Ralph Stanley |
P.D. |
|
7 |
Train 45 - Bluegrass Cardinals |
P.D. |
|
Side Two: |
(24:53) |
1 |
It Turns Me Inside Out - Seldom Scene |
J. Crutchfield |
|
2 |
My Favorite Memory - Osborne Brothers |
Darrell Statler |
|
3 |
Whiskey - Ralph Mayo |
Kit Carson |
|
4 |
Cold And Windy Night - Johnson Mountain Boys |
Buzz Busby |
|
5 |
Free Mexican Airforce - Peter Rowan |
Peter Rowan |
|
6 |
Shenandoah - Charlie McCoy |
P.D. |
|
7 |
Orange Blossom Special - Charlie McCoy Jam Session |
Ervin T. Rouse |
|
Side 3: |
(23:07) |
1 |
I Will Survive - Spectrum |
Fekaris / Perrin |
|
2 |
Jerusalem Ridge - Blaine Sprouse |
Bill Monroe |
|
3 |
Wait A Minute - Jonathan Edwards |
Herb Pederson |
|
4 |
I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby - J.D. Crowe |
A. Inman |
|
5 |
We Can't Be Darlings Anymore - Red Allen |
6 |
Hobo Joe - Allen Brothers |
Harley Allen |
|
7 |
Panama Red - Peter Rowan Jam Session |
Peter Rowan |
|
Side 4: |
(20:58) |
1 |
Old Fashioned Preacher - Sykes Boys |
G. Stacey / J. Organ |
|
2 |
Children Go Where I Send Thee - The Whites & Ricky Skaggs |
P.D. |
|
3 |
Get In Line Brother - Jimmy Martin |
Lester Flatt |
|
4 |
Jordan's Over Yonder |
The Lewis Family |
|
5 |
Oh Death - Ralph Stanley |
P.D. |
|
6 |
Sandyland - The Whites & Ricky Skaggs |
P.D. |
|
7 |
Someday We'll Meet Again Sweetheart - Don Stover & The Sykes Boys |
Flatt & Scruggs |