(Wango CD-114) 2000
The fourth installment of "Radio Series" includes just over 22 min. of Stanley Brothers material which they recorded for Ray Davis in Dec. 1963. As other shows the Stanleys recorded usually lasted around 15mins, it seems this is a combination of two or more, although the 'join' isn't obvious.
As with the other shows, Carter had laryngitis at the time and his participation is largely limited to rhythm guitar plus the occasional introduction and comedy routine. Ralph's banjo work is featured quite prominently, with an excellent rendition of Pretty Polly and a few short instrumentals. Ralph also sings lead vocal on Going To Georgia and performs a rare rendition of Bill Monroe's Pike County Breakdown, which Ralph played live but didn't otherwise record until 1971.[1] Also it's worth mentioning that although Cotton Eyed Joe is shown on the artwork, the CD features a short banjo rendition of Cumberland Gap.
George Shuffler also sings lead on several numbers including Old Love Letters, God Gave You To Me and I Cried Again.
As usual, the rest of the CD also contains excellent radio broadcasts made by The Basement Band (James King / Danny & Michael Paisley / Robert & T.J. Lundy and Jon Glik); and The Warrior River Boys with David Davis, James King, Owen Saunders and Scott Brannon.
All the Wango CD's including the 'Radio Series' are not that easy to find. I think they were sold by Ray Davis over the air (or during fund-raising drives for WAMU Radio), with some copies sold at Ralph's gigs. They all contain good stuff, but the main frustration with the Radio Series is that individual songs aren't given their own CD track. ie. this CD has over 30 pieces of content, but only 11 tracks...
Playing time is approx 72:32 min.
For a detailed breakdown and background to the Stanley's session, check Gary B. Reid's The Music Of The Stanley Brothers book, pages 173-174 and 204-209.
Track: |
Title: |
---|---|
1a |
Theme (Cripple Creek) - Stanley Brothers |
P.D. |
|
1b |
Going To Georgia - Stanley Brothers |
R. Stanley |
|
1c |
Big Tilda - Stanley Brothers |
R. Stanley |
|
2 |
Pretty Polly |
- Stanley Brothers |
P.D. |
3a |
In The Mood - Stanley Brothers |
?? |
|
3b |
Comedy - Stanley Brothers |
N/A |
|
3c |
Old Love Letters - Stanley Brothers |
Johnny Bond |
|
4a |
Cumberland Gap - Stanley Brothers |
P.D. |
|
4b |
Old Crossroads - Stanley Brothers |
Bill Monroe |
|
5a |
Pike County Breakdown - Stanley Brothers |
Rupert Jones (Bill Monroe) |
|
5b |
God Gave You To Me - Stanley Brothers |
R. Stanley |
|
6a |
Comedy - Stanley Brothers |
N/A |
|
6b |
I Cried Again - Stanley Brothers |
Autry Inman |
|
6c |
Theme (Cripple Creek) |
P.D. |
|
7a |
Old Joe Clark - Basement Band |
P.D. |
|
7b |
I Hear A Choo Choo Coming - Basement Band |
Corbet 'Cuddles' Newsome |
|
7c |
If That's The Way You Feel - Basement Band |
R. Stanley / Peggy Stanley |
|
8a |
Live And Let Live - Basement Band |
Wiley Walker / Gene Sullivan |
|
8b |
Cheap Love Affair - Basement Band |
Chuck Carson / Bill Monroe |
|
8c |
Soldier's Joy - Basement Band |
P.D. |
|
9a |
Let's Part The Best Of Friends - Basement Band |
C. Stanley |
|
9b |
Who'll Sing For Me - Basement Band |
John Thomas Ely |
|
9c |
Bill Cheatum - Basement Band |
P.D. |
|
10a |
East Bound Freight Train - Warrior River Boys |
Grandpa Jones |
|
10b |
Lamplighting Time In The Valley - Warrior River Boys |
Lyons/ Hart / Poulton / Goodman / Upson |
|
10c |
Keep On The Sunnyside - Warrior River Boys |
A.P. Carter |
|
11a |
Keep My Love With You - Warrior River Boys |
R. Stanley |
|
11b |
Florida Blues - Warrior River Boys |
Arthur Leroy Smith |
|
11c |
Someone Took My Place With You - Warrior River Boys |
Flatt / Scruggs / Thomas |
|
11d |
Purple Robe - Warrior River Boys |
Odell McLeod |
|
11e |
Dusty Miller - Warrior River Boys |
P.D. |