The Stanley Brothers - The Definitive Collection

(1947 - 1966)

(Time Life B00007883-02) 2007

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This is an excellent 60 track, 3xCD set, which spans the Stanley's entire 20 year career, and as a bonus, includes three previously unreleased recordings, and a few of the rarer Wango/Blue Ridge and Cabin Creek tracks.

Disc One concentrates on their Columbia / Mercury period, while Disc Two covers the Starday/King years. The sound quality on both discs is superb, but you could argue that just two discs isn't sufficient to make this a 'Definitive' collection.

Disc Three contains a mix of early Rich-R-Tone, radio and live recordings, plus the Blue Ridge 45 and some of their Wango/Rimrock/Cabin Creek rarities. Sound quality is therefore a bit variable, but this disc will probably be of most interest to fans.

Of particular note are three previously unreleased live tracks: a rare version of Lester Flatt/Bill Monroe's Will You Be Loving Another Man from Bean Blossom 1955; the poignant Tell Me Why Daddy Don't Come Home from the Ash Grove, Hollywood 1962; and Carter's appearance with Bill Monroe at the Luray Park 4th July 1961 with Sugar Coated Love.^[1]

The set is packaged in a hard book-like cover with splendid artwork, and has an in-depth booklet stapled to it's centre. This contains an excellent, extensive band history by Gary Reid, and an introduction by Ricky Skaggs.

One quote from the booklet, which I can't resist repeating, is Carter's response to being queried by bluegrass DJ Pete Wernick about the term 'bluegrass':- "I think anytime that you play a good song, to me it's hillbilly music. The Carter Family played good hillbilly music and they're definitely not bluegrass, and J.E. Mainer played good hillbilly music and he's not bluegrass, and I don't figure we're bluegrass. We're the Stanley Brothers, that's the way I've always tried to work it... we have got out, I think, and developed a sound of our own. I think as long as you sing a song with the best feeling you've got, and if you do feel it, I think the people will know it and they'll call it whatever they want to call it."

Unfortunately the set is out of print, but second hand copies can still be found for $40 or so.

For detailed information on the songs/sessions check Gary B. Reid's The Music Of The Stanley Brothers book. For page references, see the Original Release entries.

Other artwork / related images:

[1] See the Stanley Series, Vol. 4 No. 2 entry for more details.