The Stanley Brothers - Sing Everybody's Country Favorites

(King KLP-690) Jun 1960

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In September 1959, the Stanley Brothers returned to King to record two albums in just two days. At the behest of label boss Syd Nathan, the band were not allowed to use fiddle or mandolin, with Bill Napier switching to lead guitar, and Chubby Anthony sitting out the sessions in an attempt at getting a sound more like the Delmore Brothers.

With the exception of I'm A Man Of Constant Sorrow, all the material was comprised of songs brought to the band by the studio - hence the 'Sing Everybody's Country Favorites' title.

Whilst the sound is inevitably different, these two albums are landmark releases by virtue of featuring the lead guitar, which was perhaps unique in the bluegrass field at the time, and which became an integral part of the 'Stanley Sound'.

Ahead of the album's release I'm A Man Of Constant Sorrow was issued as a single, backed with How Mountain Girls Can Love (King 5269) in Oct. 1959. Three further singles followed: Sunny Side Of The Mountain / Shenandoah Waltz (King 5291) Dec 1959; Mountain Dew / Old Rattler (King 5347) May 1960; and Sweeter Than The Flowers / Next Sunday, Darling, Is My Birthday (King 5355) May 1960.

Sweet Thing and It's Raining Here This Morning were recycled a few months later on the In Person LP, with Sweet Thing also being issued on one of a set of stereo jukebox 33⅓ singles (King S-7 1612) c1961.

The album was also issued in Japan (Angel HV-1111) 19??, with photo from the In Person album and pressed in red vinyl. The Japanese version also adds two tracks:- How Mountain Girls Can Love and Keep A Memory. The standard US version was also later reissued (Gusto/King K-690) 1986. Nowadays it is probably best found on The Early Starday/King Years, 1958-1961 4xCD box set.

For detailed information on these songs / sessions, check Gary B. Reid's The Music Of The Stanley Brothers book, pages 100-105 and 142-144.

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