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

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(Starday 406)


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Curly Ray Cline - They Cut Down The Old Pine Tree

(Rebel SLP 1509) 1971


They Cut Down The Old Pine Tree

Average Album Rating: 4
(Total votes 3)

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Please rate this album:

This album was recorded on the 11-12th December 1971, after the band had finished recording The Old County Church, at Roy Homer's basement studio.

I reckon many will consider this one of Curly's best releases.

Consisting largely of a mix of fiddle tunes, it features just two Curly Ray vocal numbers: a version of The Delmore Brothers' Farmer's Girl; and the title track They Cut Down The Old Pine Tree. The latter is a catchy number recalling the sad tale of how they cut done the old pine tree to make a coffin for his sweetheart, who would never be alone 'in the grave tonight' because his heart would always be with her... Although credited on the LP to Curly Ray, it was first issued in 1930 on a 78 by Gene And Glenn[1] and was recorded by several artists including Gene Autry[2] and The Tune Wranglers[3].

Curly's version just repeats one verse and the chorus:

"When they cut down the old pine tree
And they halled it away to the mill
To make a coffin of pine for that sweetheart of mine
When they cut down the old pine tree

She's not alone in her grave tonight
For there my heart will always be
Though we drifted apart when they cut down my heart
When they cut down the old pine tree"

Of the other versions I've heard, The Tune Wranglers is the closest lyrical match I've found to Curlys...

The album also has two breakdowns. Curly had previously recorded the excellent Lonesome Pine Breakdown with The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers for RCA Victor in 1953.[4] Then there's a version of Bill Monroe's Pike County Breakdown, which the Stanley Brothers had also performed but never recorded.[5] This version features Curly, Ricky, Keith and Ralph taking breaks. Great stuff!

Each LP side concludes neatly with a instrumental Gospel tune.

Curly had previously cut a version of Lost Girl on The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers LP 'More Bluegrass' (Starday SLP-222) 1963.

Thanks to Billy Q. Smith for the update on They Cut Down The Old Pine Tree song.

  • Curly Ray Cline: fiddle, vocals
  • Roy Lee Centers: guitar
  • Jack Cooke: bass
  • Ricky Skaggs: mandolin
  • Ralph Stanley: banjo
  • Keith Whitley: lead guitar

 

Track:
Title:
Time:
Date:
Original Release:
A-1
They Cut Down The Old Pine Tree
02:10
11-12 Dec 1971
They Cut Down The Old Pine Tree

Willie Raskin / George Brown / Edward Eliscu
  Ld Vcl / Fid Bjo Gtr Tn Vcl / Ld Gtr HiBt Vcl / Mnd Bs  
  Curly Ray Cline
Ralph Stanley
Roy Lee Centers
Keith Whitley
Ricky Skaggs
Jack Cooke  
A-2
Mississippi Sawyer
02:44
11-12 Dec 1971
They Cut Down The Old Pine Tree

P.D.
  Fid Bjo Gtr Ld Gtr Mnd Bs  
  Curly Ray Cline
Ralph Stanley
Roy Lee Centers
Keith Whitley
Ricky Skaggs
Jack Cooke  
A-3
Sweet Thing
02:07
11-12 Dec 1971
They Cut Down The Old Pine Tree

Buddy Starcher
  Fid Bjo Gtr Ld Gtr Fid Bs  
  Curly Ray Cline
Ralph Stanley
Roy Lee Centers
Keith Whitley
Ricky Skaggs
Jack Cooke  
A-4
Lonesome Pine Breakdown
02:09
11-12 Dec 1971
They Cut Down The Old Pine Tree

Curly Ray Cline
  Fid Bjo Gtr Ld Gtr Mnd Bs  
  Curly Ray Cline
Ralph Stanley
Roy Lee Centers
Keith Whitley
Ricky Skaggs
Jack Cooke  
A-5
Lost Girl
02:04
11-12 Dec 1971
They Cut Down The Old Pine Tree

Curly Ray Cline
  Fid Bjo Gtr Ld Gtr Mnd Bs  
  Curly Ray Cline
Ralph Stanley
Roy Lee Centers
Keith Whitley
Ricky Skaggs
Jack Cooke  
A-6
Pass Me Not Oh Gentle Saviour
02:34
11-12 Dec 1971
They Cut Down The Old Pine Tree

Fanny Jane Crosby
  Fid Bjo Gtr Ld Gtr Fid Bs  
  Curly Ray Cline
Ralph Stanley
Roy Lee Centers
Keith Whitley
Ricky Skaggs
Jack Cooke  
B-1
Farmer's Girl
02:10
11-12 Dec 1971
They Cut Down The Old Pine Tree

Alton Delmore / Rabon Delmore
  Ld Vcl / Fid Bjo Gtr Tn Vcl / Ld Gtr HiBt Vcl / Mnd Bs  
  Curly Ray Cline
Ralph Stanley
Roy Lee Centers
Keith Whitley
Ricky Skaggs
Jack Cooke  
B-2
Sally Goodin
02:20
11-12 Dec 1971
They Cut Down The Old Pine Tree

P.D.
  Fid Bjo Gtr Ld Gtr Mnd Bs  
  Curly Ray Cline
Ralph Stanley
Roy Lee Centers
Keith Whitley
Ricky Skaggs
Jack Cooke  
B-3
Tennessee Waltz
02:15
11-12 Dec 1971
They Cut Down The Old Pine Tree

Pee Wee King / Redd Stewart
  Fid Bjo Gtr Ld Gtr Fid Bs  
  Curly Ray Cline
Ralph Stanley
Roy Lee Centers
Keith Whitley
Ricky Skaggs
Jack Cooke  
B-4
Big Daddy Blues
02:37
11-12 Dec 1971
They Cut Down The Old Pine Tree

Curly Ray Cline
  Fid Bjo Gtr Ld Gtr Mnd Bs  
  Curly Ray Cline
Ralph Stanley
Roy Lee Centers
Keith Whitley
Ricky Skaggs
Jack Cooke  
B-5
Pike County Breakdown
01:59
11-12 Dec 1971
They Cut Down The Old Pine Tree

Rupert Jones (Bill Monroe)
  Fid Bjo Gtr Ld Gtr Mnd Bs  
  Curly Ray Cline
Ralph Stanley
Roy Lee Centers
Keith Whitley
Ricky Skaggs
Jack Cooke  
B-6
Precious Memories
02:21
11-12 Dec 1971
They Cut Down The Old Pine Tree

Johnnie Wright
  Fid Bjo Gtr Ld Gtr Fid Bs  
  Curly Ray Cline
Ralph Stanley
Roy Lee Centers
Keith Whitley
Ricky Skaggs
Jack Cooke  
Other artwork / related images:
Rear Cover Side One Side Two

[1] https://www.discogs.com/release/7756605-Gene-And-Glenn-Whippoorwill-They-Cut-Down-The-Old-Pine-Tree
[2] https://www.discogs.com/release/5639186-Gene-Autry-They-Cut-Down-The-Old-Pine-Tree
[3] https://www.discogs.com/master/1231149-The-Tune-Wranglers-They-Cut-Down-The-Old-Pine-Tree-Ill-Be-Hanged-If-Theyre-Goin-To-Hang-Me
[4] Liner notes to The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers - Windy Mountain CD (Bear BCD-16351-AH) 1992.
[5] Versions of Pike County Breakdown by The Stanley Brothers can be found on Stanley Series Vol. 3 No. 4; and V/A - Radio Series Vol. 4.

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

Ralph II ralph2.com

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(Jalyn JLP-129)


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