Ralph Stanley - Christmas Time With...*

(Freeland Recording Co. FRC-CD639) 1993

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This 'Christmas' album was recorded on 21st March, 4th April and 9th May 1993 at Bias Recording studio in Springfield, Va; and 10th May at Big Mo, Kensington Ma.

It is the last CMB recording to feature Curly Ray, as he retired in May 1993, although like the other Freeland releases, Art Stamper's fiddle work is more prevalent.

It is also the last studio recording as a CMB for Junior Blankenship, Ernie Thacker and Art Stamper.

Ernie Thacker's vocal work matured nicely over the time he worked with Ralph, much as Charlie Sizemore's had before him. It's a shame he didn't get to record more with the band, as like Keith Whitley, he just kept getting better.

Ralph had previously cut Bright Morning Star on Cry From The Cross and Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem on Clinch Mountain Gospel.

Tex Logan's classic Christmas Time's A Comin' and Virginia Stauffer's That's Christmas Time To Me were Bill Monroe numbers.

I think that's Nathan Stanley and his cousin on the cover... Santa probably just gave him some spoons.

• Ralph Stanley: banjo, vocals
• Junior Blankenship: lead guitar
• Curly Ray Cline: fiddle
• Jack Cooke: bass
• Shelton Feazell: bass vocal
• Art Stamper: fiddle
• Ernie Thacker: guitar, mandolin vocals

NB: Liner notes don't specify instruments/vocal parts for individual tracks, so the above is guesswork & could well be wrong. (*) On these tracks Shelton Feazell sings Bass vocal.

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