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Ralph Stanley - My Life & Legacy

The Very Best Of...

(Rebel REB-CD-1131) 2014

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This 49 minute CD is quite a decent compilation featuring eighteen tracks. The sound quality is top notch and the sequence of tracks flows well.

The material is drawn from the 1970s with eleven cuts from Roy Lee Centers time as lead vocalist; five from Keith Whitley's tenure; and just one from the Charlie Sizemore era.

The final 'bonus' track, a version of the Carter Family classic Single Girl, Married Girl, was recorded in 1996 and to be honest doesn't match the standard set by the earlier works. It was previously released on a 78rpm disc coupled with Little Birdie (Tompkins Square TSQ22527) 2012. The 'Tompkins Square' 78's were released as limited editions on 'Record Store Day' 21 April 2012, and only available in independent record stores.^[1]

The liner notes on this compilation are fairly scant, with no indication of where the tracks originate.

Ed Ferris plays bass on one cut, as on The Old Home Place album, he took over bass duties whenever Jack Cooke was required to sing.

^{[1] http://www.tompkinssquare.com/archives/209}