The Stanley Brothers - I'm Only Human / Keep Them Cold Icy Fingers Off Of Me

(King 5637) May 1962

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This 7" was taken from the Award Winners At The Folk Song Festival LP, which was released a couple of months prior in March 1962.

'Billboard' magazine reviewed the disc in their 9th June 1962 edition, with both sides getting four stars. I'm Only Human was described as:- "A weeper in the hill tradition, with the boys chiming in with their unmistakable country harmonies, with banjo and guitar spotted in the backing. Side can get a lot of action among the faithful." The flip, Keep Them Cold Icy Fingers Off Of Me was likewise described as:- "A wild and woolly supplication from the boys, with chilling voices permeating the background. Another interesting side for this portion of the traditional market."^[1]

Both songs were presumably brought to the band by King:-

I'm Only Human, written by Jimmy Wells, had previouly been recorded by Ardis Wells on a Mar. 1960 single on the Azalea label, before either being picked up or re-recorded by King's sister label, Federal which released it in June 1961.^[2] You can hear her version on youtube.

The humourous Keep Them Cold Icy Fingers Off Of Me was originally recorded by Fairley Holden and His Six Cold Papas for King in 1947.^[3] You can hear the original version on youtube and there's also a recording online of Fairly performing it on the Renfro Valley Barn Dance in the Digital Library of Appalachia, where it's composer John Lair was the host emcee. The song was also cut by Pee Wee King And His Golden West Cowboys^[4] and Homer & Jethro.

Both sides of the single can be found on The King Years, 1961-1965 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 129 and 159-160.

Other artwork / related images:

[1] https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=RBcEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT38&lpg=PT38&dq=king+5637+billboard+stanley&source=bl&ots=Ft6T6xbreq&sig=LDW4woj-LRDnNKrxr8Sj5GHU4UE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiWhv-7yrXVAhUrBcAKHXfND-MQ6AEILjAB#v=onepage&q=king%205637%20billboard%20stanley&f=false
[2] Ardis Wells - I'm Only Human / Baby Doll (Azalea 131/132) 1960 - see: http://www.45cat.com/record/131d132d; and I'm Only Human / Baby Doll (Federal 12422) 1962 - see http://www.45cat.com/record/4512422
[3] Fairley Holden and His Six Ice Cold Papa's - Keep Them Cold Icey Fingers Off Of Me / Port To Portal Pay (King 612) 1947. See http://www.45worlds.com/78rpm/record/612us
[4] Pee Wee King And His Golden West Cowboys - Keep Them Cold Icey Fingers Off Of Me / Kentucky Waltz (RCA-Victor 20-2263) 1947. See http://www.45worlds.com/78rpm/record/202263. His version can also be heard on youtube:- https://youtu.be/9JRFaroTwB8.