- Bill Gatton Chevy Show
- Carter Stanley Interview - 1966
- Jim Kent's film 'Ralph Stanley's Bluegrass Festival'
- New WCYB Recording
- Pound Va. 1972 - Video
- Replica Rebel T-Shirt
- R.I.P. Ralph
- Roy Lee Centers Last Show
- Song & Memory Books
- Stanley Brothers - WCYB Acetate
- Stanley Standard - Carter Stanley Memorial Issue
- Suwannee River Jamboree
- Up In The Cloud - 1957-62
The Stanley Brothers - Sweeter Than The Flowers / Next Sunday, Darling, Is My Birthday
(King 5355) May 1960
This 7" was recorded at the session for the Sing Everybody's Country Favorites LP, which was released shortly after this 45.
'Billboard' magazine reviewed the disc in their 30th May 1960 edition, giving both sides four stars. Sweeter Than The Flowers was described saying:- "This noted weeper gets a strong performance by one of the fine standard vocal duets. Solid c.&w. fare."; the flipside, Next Sunday, Darling, Is My Birthday was simply described as:- "The brothers have another weeper, done in traditional style."[1]
Sweeter Than The Flowers had previously been recorded by Moon Mullican for King in 1947,[2] so was probably brought to the session by the record company. Other artists who recorded it included Shorty Long (1948) and several country artists in the '60s including Bobby Bare (1964), Slim Whitman (1964), Kitty Wells (1965), Gene Pitney & George Jones (1965) and George Morgan (1969).[3] Carter's soulful lead vocal may be the reason why Ralph never attempted a re-make.
Next Sunday, Darling, Is My Birthday was likewise recorded by Clyde Moody for King in 1947.[4] Gary Reid provides some interesting info on this song in his liner notes to The Early Starday/King Years, 1958-1961, mentioning that it was a number the Stanley's performed on their WCYB 'Farm & Fun Time' radio show in 1947, and that it had in fact been written by Jim Eanes.[5] It was one of several songs Arthur Q. Smith (an acquaintance of Eanes), took to King and subsequently stole the songwriting credit for.
Next Sunday... was later re-recorded by Ralph with Larry Sparks on lead vocal on the Live At The Old Homeplace in 1983.
Both songs can be found on The Early Starday/King Years, 1958-1961 4xCD box set.
For a detailed breakdown and background to the Stanley's sessions, check Gary B. Reid's The Music Of The Stanley Brothers book, pages 100-102 and 142-143.
| Track: |
Title: |
Time: |
Date: |
Original Release: |
|||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-1 |
Sweeter Than The Flowers |
03:21 |
14 Sep 1959 |
King 5355 |
|||||||||||||||||
| Ervin T. Rouse / Aubrey W. Mullican / Syd Nathan |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Ld Vcl - Gtr | Tn Vcl - Bjo | Bs Vcl - Bs | Bt Vcl - Ld Gtr | ||||||||||||||||||
| Carter Stanley |
Ralph Stanley |
George Shuffler |
Bill Napier |
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| B-1 |
Next Sunday, Darling, Is My Birthday |
02:12 |
14 Sep 1959 |
King 5355 |
|||||||||||||||||
| Syd Nathan / Arthur Q. Smith |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Ld Vcl - Gtr | Tn Vcl - Bjo | Bs | Ld Gtr | ||||||||||||||||||
| Carter Stanley |
Ralph Stanley |
George Shuffler |
Bill Napier |
|
|
||||||||||||||||
Other artwork / related images:
[1] https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=sB8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA43&lpg=PA43&dq=king+5355+billboard+stanley+next+sunday+is+my+birthday&source=bl&ots=NA8r_uJXaS&sig=qQGYKeG48syo5PmxvfqVmJq4dZA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjbvfOVgMPYAhVHZFAKHd_TA28Q6AEIPzAH#v=onepage&q&f=false
[2] https://www.discogs.com/Moon-Mullican-I-Left-My-Heart-In-Texas-Sweeter-Than-The-Flowers/release/2701855
[3] http://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/s/sweeterthantheflowers.shtml
[4] http://www.45worlds.com/78rpm/record/nc179399us
[5] http://jimeanes.com/jimeanes.html
