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Ralph Stanley - Sings His Favorites Now and Then

(Stanleytone No #) 2004

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This CD was recorded at 'several sessions in 2004' at Maggard Sound Studio in Big Stone Gap, Va, and was only sold at gigs.

Most of the songs are re-workings of earlier material recorded by Ralph or The Stanley Brothers. Ralph's voice is quite craggy, and strained occasionally, but there's still plenty to enjoy and he's on good form on several of the tracks.

Ralph II also sings lead on Rank Stranger and White Dove.

There are also some new songs: The Third Man, The Ringing Of The Hammer are vocal Gospel solo's by Ralph and The Vision is mostly solo vocal by Ralph, with John Rigsby providing a little tenor. Another track, Old Rail Fence features the full CMB's, but is fairly lacklustre.

I'd Be Willing To Run All The Way was recorded by The Bailes Brothers as I'll Run All the Way for King in 1953, but their version wasn't issued until 2012.^[1] Ralph had previosuly recorded it as I'd Be Willing To Go All The Way on his Child Of The King LP.

Listen To The Shepherd had previously been cut on the Jim Lauderdale & Ralph Stanley - Lost In The Lonesome Pines CD in 2002.

Three of the tracks, The Lowest Valley, Why Should We Start And Fear To Die and Tribute To Dean Deel (as On A High, High Mountain) also appear on Ralph's 2005 release on Rebel, Shine On. As far as I can tell, they are the same versions.

Six of the recordings, Rocky Island, Old Rail Fence, Sweet Sally Brown, Purple Robe, How Could I Dream Such A Dream, Shout Little Luly and Room At The Top Of The Stairs later reappeared on the 2016 American Icon - The Definitive Collection CD.

The CD artwork makes use of an old B&W publicity of Ralph at a Radio Staion in Dayton, Oh. in the mid '50s^[2] and a shot taken on 19th Nov 1996 at a Nashville party held to celebrate Ralph's 50th anniversary as a professional musician.^[3]

• Ralph Stanley: clawhammer banjo, vocals
• Jack Cooke: bass
• John Rigsby: fiddle, mandolin
• James Alan Shelton: lead guitar
• Steve Sparkman: banjo
• Nathan Stanley: mandolin (*)
• Ralph II Stanley: guitar, vocals

(*) Nathan plays on three tracks, The Old Rail Fence, Room At The Top Of The Stairs and Hemlocks And Primroses

^{[1] The Bailes Brothers - 'Standing Somewhere In The Shadows' (Bear BCD-17133-AH) 2012.
[2] See p.16 of booklet with 'The Stanley Brothers - Legends Of American Music' 3xCD set (Time Life M19303DIGI) 2007.
[3] See 'The Ralph Stanley Story' (Appalshop) DVD - @ approx 1:07:30.}