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:-

Live! At McClure
(Rebel SLP 1554/55)


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A Life Of Constant Sorrow
alifeofsorrow.com

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Ralph Stanley Museum
ralphstanleymuseum.com

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Hills Of Home Festival
drralphstanleyfestival.com

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Rebel Records
rebelrecords.com

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Bluegrass Unlimited
Bluegrass Unlimited
Clinch Mountain Echo

(Estill Stewart &) The Flat Mountain Boys - Choo Choo Coming / I Could Love You (All The Time)

(Arrow 2530) c1954


Choo Choo Coming

This single is notable, as it features the original version of Choo Choo Coming which the Stanley's recorded in 1959. It also is the first recording to include CMB bassist Jack Cooke and top bluegrass fiddler/Blue Grass Boy Kenny Baker.

Originally released on a 78 on the Arrow label circa 1954, Starday reissued it in 1957 on 45 (Starday 45-307) with the sides reversed.

I Could Love You (All The Time) was later reissued on 'The Early Days Of Bluegrass Vol. 2' (Rounder 1014) 1976, and both sides were included on 4xCD set 'The Best Of King And Starday Bluegrass' (King/Gusto KG-0952-4-2) 2004. In addition both sides of the Starday 45 can also be heard on youtube:- https://youtu.be/C_5RCxuMpUA and https://youtu.be/thIKUJYjZC8 respectively.

According to the Gary B. Reid's liner notes to 'The Best Of King And Starday Bluegrass' box set, The Flat Mountain Boys started around 1950 and were popular in eastern Kentucky. They enjoyed success working in drive-in theaters in the area and also worked at a local Jamboree. The group made their sole recording for the Arrow label which was subsequently picked up by Starday. Both songs were written by Corbet 'Cuddles' Newsome. He later recalled: "I knew Carter Stanley from back in the '40s and he knew of me. I sang it (Choo Choo Coming) one day up in Bluefield, West Virginia on a television station there." After the show Carter told him that he wanted the song, which was based on a true incident, Cuddles: "In 1953 I had a train wreck. I ran into a train, it beat me to the crossing. The choo choo beat me."

The only image I've been able to find of the Arrow 78 is from a B&W picture on the rear of the 'The Early Days Of Bluegrass Vol. 2' LP sleeve. If anyone has better colour pictures of the labels, please get in touch via the Contact page!

Thanks to Todd Gracyk for reminding me about this one...

 

 

Track:
Title:
Time:
Date:
Original Release:
A-1
Choo Choo Coming
02:00
c1954
Arrow 2530

Corbet 'Cuddles' Newsome
  Ld Vcl / Gtr Bjo Fid Gtr Hr Vcl / Bs    
  Corbet 'Cuddles' Newsome
Jimmy Braham
Kenny Baker
Jack Cooke
Estil Stewart
   
B-1
I Could Love You (All The Time)
01:39
c1954
Arrow 2530

Corbet 'Cuddles' Newsome
  Ld Vcl / Gtr Bjo Fid Gtr Hr Vcl / Bs    
  Corbet 'Cuddles' Newsome
Jimmy Braham
Kenny Baker
Jack Cooke
Estil Stewart
   
Other artwork / related images:
Choo Choo Coming (Starday 45) I Could Love You (All The Time) (Starday 45)

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

Ralph II ralph2.com

Spotlight on:-

John's Gospel Quartet
(Wango LP-103)


CME Recommends...

A Life Of Constant Sorrow
alifeofsorrow.com

CME Recommends...

Ralph Stanley Museum
ralphstanleymuseum.com

CME Recommends...

Hills Of Home Festival
drralphstanleyfestival.com

CME Recommends...

Rebel Records
rebelrecords.com

CME Recommends...

Bluegrass Unlimited
Bluegrass Unlimited