The Stanley Brothers - On Radio, Vol. 1

(County CO-780) 1983

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Along with Vol. 2, this album features radio recordings the Stanley Brothers made for the "Jim Walter Jamboree" show, whilst they were based in Live Oak, Fl. Jim Walter had been running a business building "shell" homes since 1946^[1] and sponsored The Stanley Brothers for a few years in the early 1960s, with a TV show and this syndicated radio show.

The programs aren't dated, but as Carter mentions that A Few More Seasons had just been recorded and Bill Napier had left to join Charlie Moore by May 1960, the shows must date from sometime between Jan - May 1960. The liner notes also say that How Far To Little Rock was featured regularly and as that song entered the Billboard C&W chart on 21st March,^[2] it again points to perhaps a March/April recording date.

Like the 'Stanley Series' these albums are priceless, capturing the Stanley Brothers in fine form, and featuring the excellent Chubby Anthony and Bill Napier. It's also interesting to hear Carter's ultra smooth emcee work, seemlessly working in plugs for 'Jim Walter's homes'.

In addition to the more familiar Stanley Brothers songs, Vol. 1 also includes versions of Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms, Black Mountain Blues and Mississippi Sawyer which I don't think the Stanley Brothers otherwise recorded in the studio.

Both volumes have liner notes by Gary B. Reid and Penny Parsons. Cover Artwork features a painting by Karen Artis, who also did the cover and some photographs for Bob Artis' 1975 book 'Bluegrass'.

'Vol. 1' and Vol. 2 have been reissued on one CD as On Radio, although there is some minor differences, with the closing theme from Side 1 and opening theme from Side 2 being omitted along with a small amount of dialogue.

For more detailed breakdown and background to these radio shows, check Gary B. Reid's The Music Of The Stanley Brothers book, pages 106-107 and 144-146.

Other artwork / related images:

[1] see http://www.searshomes.org/index.php/2014/12/16/jim-walter-homes-a-peek-inside-the-1971-catalog/
[2] https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=pB8EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA39&ots=NqD09RxvcC&dq=King%205306%20billboard%20march%2021%201960&pg=PA39#v=onepage&q&f=false