Clinch Mountain Echo

CMB Birthdays this month:

04 Feb 1972 - Steve Sparkman. Harlan, Kentucky.

04 Feb 1906 - Art Wooten. Born 'Arthur James Wooten' in Alleghany, North Carolina.

11 Feb 1960 - Junior Blankenship. Born at the old Grundy Hospital, Grundy, Va.

25 Feb 1927 - Ralph Stanley. Born 'Ralph Edmund Stanley' in Big Spraddle Creek, near Stratton, McClure, Virginia.

29 Feb 1932 - Jim Williams. Born 'James Lee Williams' in Wythe County, Virginia.


In Memoriam:

05 Feb 1980 - Chubby Anthony. Gainesville, Alachua, Florida.

08 Feb 2003 - Ralph 'Joe' Meadows. Silver Spring, Montgomery County, Maryland.

08 Feb 1987 - Harold 'Red' Stanley. Fentress, Tennessee.


For the Official Ralph Stanley II and the Clinch Mountain Boys site, visit:

Ralph II ralph2.com

Spotlight on:-

Doctor's Orders: A Tribute to Ralph Stanley
(Rebel REB-CD-1841)


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Clinch Mountain Echo

The Stanley Brothers - Goes To Europe

Also Featuring Jackie & Larry Dickson


Goes To Europe

Average Album Rating: 2.17
(Total votes 6)

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This is a split album with one side by The Stanley Brothers and the other by Jackie & Larry Dickson. Another version of the album, with the same tracks and catalogue number (RLP-200) was titled "A Beautiful Life" and featured a landscape picture on the front.

Given the title, I'd guess it was released in 1966, as The Stanleys toured Europe in the spring of 1966, and perhaps then issued as "A Beautiful Life"?

A letter to DJ's sent out on the 27th Feb 1967,[1] says:- "Starday is supplying and distributing SLP-384 (Jacob's Vision), the new gospel release by The Stanleys but they are slightly behind in their pressing. RIMROCK 200, one side exclusive material recorded by The Stanleys between contracts, is also available." This I think confirms that the one-sided version of RLP-200 came first, not to mention the bit about being 'in-between contracts'.

A second version of A Beautiful Life, omitted the Jackie & Larry Dickson cuts, but included the same Stanley Brothers tracks, plus three from the same sessions which had appeared on a V/A - 16 Gospel Hall Of Fame (Rimrock 1003) LP c1967... This seems to have originally been released as 'The World Famous Stanley Brothers - Singing Pure As A Mountain Stream' and subsequently renamed A Beautiful Life.

The Stanley Brothers sessions for the album took place in December 1965 at Wayne Raney's studio in Concord, Arkansas, at the same time as the An Empty Mansion was recorded.[2]

This was the last studio session to feature Carter.

There are at least three versions of the 'Goes To Europe' album, with the same front cover. I think the earliest two had images of other albums, including a picture of 'The World Famous Stanley Brothers - Singing Pure As A Mountain Stream'. The second variation with the box/arrows design is similiar to the later copies of A Beautiful Life, so probably dates from around the same time.

Both the alternate version of (RLP-200) (as "A Beautiful Life" with landscape artwork) and the regular "Goes To Europe" are from the same masters - ie. the writing in the dead wax is the same. Also on both versions the front colour picture is printed on a separate piece of paper and pasted to the front jacket.

  • Carter Stanley: guitar, vocals
  • Ralph Stanley: banjo, vocals
  • Ralph Mayo: fiddle
  • George Shuffler: lead guitar, bass

 

For detailed information on these sessions, check Gary B. Reid's The Music Of The Stanley Brothers book, pages 194-196 and 219-220.

 

Track:
Title:
Time:
Date:
Original Release:
A-1
If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again
02:00
Dec 1965
Goes To Europe

John W. Vaughan
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
A-2
Jesus Savior Pilot Me
03:11
Dec 1965
Goes To Europe

J.R. Baxter / J.R. Gould / Edward Hooper
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
A-3
Over In The Glory Land
02:44
Dec 1965
Goes To Europe

J.E. Reynolds / W.P. Snyder
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
A-4
Beautiful Life
02:35
Dec 1965
Goes To Europe

William M. Golden
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
A-5
We Shall Meet Someday
02:08
Dec 1965
Goes To Europe

T. Teddie
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
A-6
How Beautiful Heaven Must Be
02:10
Dec 1965
Goes To Europe

A.S. Bridgewater / Andy P. Bland
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
A-7
Farther Along
03:05
Dec 1965
Goes To Europe

W.B. Stevens
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
A-8
Just A Little Talk With Jesus
01:23
Dec 1965
Goes To Europe

Cleavant Derricks
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
B-1
Jackie & Larry Dickson - I'll Fly Away
01:50
c1965
Goes To Europe

Albert E. Brumley
B-2
Jackie & Larry Dickson - Just A Closer Walk With Thee
02:34
c1965
Goes To Europe

P.D. (?)
B-3
Jackie & Larry Dickson - Who At My Door Is Standing
02:39
c1965
Goes To Europe

Mary B. Slade
B-4
Jackie & Larry Dickson - Jesus Hold My Hand
02:27
c1965
Goes To Europe

Albert E. Brumley
B-5
Jackie & Larry Dickson - I'm Going That Way
01:21
c1965
Goes To Europe

James Rowe / L.B. Register
B-6
Jackie & Larry Dickson - I'll Live In Glory
01:27
c1965
Goes To Europe

John M. Henson
B-7
Jackie & Larry Dickson - Kneel At The Cross
01:35
c1965
Goes To Europe

Charles Moody
B-8
Jackie & Larry Dickson - Looking For A City
01:52
c1965
Goes To Europe

W. Oliver Cooper
Other artwork / related images:
Rear Cover (early copy) Rear Cover (early copy variant) Rear Cover (later copy) Side One
Side Two Alternate cover Rear cover (Alt. copy) Side One (Alt. copy)
Side Two (Alt. copy)

[1] Letter to DJ's by Norman Carlson, Indiana Representative of The Stanley Brothers & Bill Monroe Fan Club, reprinted in the 'Stanley Standard' Memorial Issue (p.58).
[2] Gary B. Reid's book "The Music Of The Stanley Brothers" (p194-196)

For the Official Ralph Stanley II and the Clinch Mountain Boys site, visit:

Ralph II ralph2.com


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A Life Of Constant Sorrow
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Ralph Stanley Museum
ralphstanleymuseum.com

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