The Stanley Brothers - Sing The Songs Of Bill Monroe

(Gusto GT-0547) c2004

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Another Gusto compilation, this time with 23 songs from the King/Starday catalogue, having some association with Bill Monroe. i.e. usually having been recorded by Bill Monroe or The Monroe Brothers.

From the Monroe Brothers there's: Six Month's Ain't Long, Lover's Quarrel (aka Let Us Be Lover's Again), How Beautiful Heaven Must Be (We Read Of A Place That's Called Heaven), Little Joe, Weeping Willow (Weeping Willow Tree) and Will The Circle Be Unbroken.

Likewise with Bill Monroe: Mother's Only Sleeping, No Letter Today (No Letter In The Mail), Working On A Building (I'm Working On A Building), I'll Meet You In Church Sunday Morning, Wicked Path Of Sin (This Wicked Path Of Sin), I Saw The Light, Little Maggie, Back Up And Push , Pass Me Not, Over In The Glory Land ((We're Going) Just Over In The Glory Land), Somebody Touched Me and Hills Of Roane County (Roane County Prison).

Also included is Pretty Little Miss In The Garden which Bill Monroe recorded as Pretty Fair Maiden In The Garden in Nov. 1966; What About You - April 1969; and Jenny Lynn - Jan. 1971.

The inclusion of Midnight Ramble a revamping of Bill's Tennessee Blues and Stoney Creek (similar to Salt Creek) are perhaps questionable, but at least this compilation isn't just another random selection and has a decent playing time!

Nowadays however, the King/Starday material is probably best obtained on the two 4xCD box sets The Early Starday/King Years, 1958-1961 and The King Years, 1961-1965.

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.