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:-

Friends Of Old Time Music
(Folkways FA-2390)


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A Life Of Constant Sorrow
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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
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Bluegrass Unlimited
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Clinch Mountain Echo

Jack Cook & Virginia Mountain Boys - I've Always Been A Rambler / Virginia Mountain Banjo

(Gambler 1641) c1966


I've Always Been A Rambler

According to the credits to Jack Cooke's 2006 CD Sittin' On Top Of The World, this single was recorded at the same session as the earlier End Of My Journey / (New) Cripple Creek release (Ark 299) in October 1963.

As with the earlier single, the 'B' side is an instrumental, with Bobby Diamond's banjo and Jack Cooke's lead guitar work being featured heavily. The 'A' side also features lead vocal and some nifty lead guitar by Jack.

I'm not sure that the 1966 release date is correct. It seems a bit odd that recordings made for Ohio's Ark label would get released a year or so later on Gambler, which was based in Springfield, Va. Whatever the reason, the Virginia Mountain Boys had disbanded by the late '60s when Jack spent time out of the music business to support his Mother who was terminally ill. After she had died, a chance meeting with Ralph at a flea market in Norton in Nov. '69 led to his rejoining the CMB's as their long term bass player.

I've Always Been A Rambler was later included as a bonus track on Jack's 2006 CD Sittin' On Top Of The World. Both sides were also included on the 'Country Blue Grass Jamboree' 2xLP (Mad-Bag Productions MB-288-289) 1977, along with five cuts by The Stanley Brothers from the Cabin Creek Bluegrass Gospel Favorites LP, which also featured Jack Cooke on guitar.

Thanks to Todd Gracyk for reminding me about this one.

 

 

Track:
Title:
Time:
Date:
Original Release:
A-1
I've Always Been A Rambler
02:25
Oct 1963
Gambler 1641

G.B. Grayson
  Ld Vcl / Gtr Bjo Fid Bs      
  Jack Cooke
Bobby Diamond
Bill Sage
Roy Hoskins
 
   
A-2
Virginia Mountain Banjo
02:10
Oct 1963
Gambler 1641

Bobby Diamond
  Ld Vcl / Gtr Bjo Fid Bs      
  Jack Cooke
Bobby Diamond
Bill Sage
Roy Hoskins
 
   
Other artwork / related images:
Virginia Mountain Banjo

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

Ralph II ralph2.com

Spotlight on:-

Virginia Traditions: Native Virginia Ballads And Songs
(Blue Ridge Institute BRI-004)


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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
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