(Jessup MB-121) Feb 1973
The third LP by the Goins Brothers was recorded in Jackson, Michigan in November 1971, and released in Feb 1973.
The 'Bluegrass Unlimited' review in April 1973 hit the nail on the head:-
Good Goins grass, straight from the hills and proud of it. They wrote practically all the songs here and there isn't a bad one in the bunch. But the standout feature is the beautiful fiddling of Art Stamper who regrettably didn't make the appointment for the cover photo. Melody keeps flowing from his instrument at a rate that would make even Kenny Baker take notice. His intonation is just as straight and true as any classical fiddler, but with a blues touch that never misses. He's a veteran of bluegrass and it's good to have him back. The songs are a nice mixture of themes, all of them country. Renfro is a longish ballad describing a boy's loss and an old man's help. Poor Man is a sort of serious version of Charming Bestsy: "Rich man worries how to spend his money, poor man has none to lose" etc.
It's tempting to quote from other songs too since there are several really nice ones. They are all redolent of the legendary Lonesome Pine Fiddlers whose ranks the Goins' enlivened considerably in the 'Fiddlers later years. Suffice it to say that if that kind of good, solid 50s country bluegrass is your thing the Goins Brothers have it here and all ready for you.
For me highlights of Side One include the catchy Head Of The Holler; a plum pitifull song/murder ballad Over Yonder Hills; and Art Stamper's hypnotic old-time fiddle instrumental Glory To The Meeting House. On Side Two, City That Lies Four Square is a gospel vocal harmony song with neat mandolin break, whilst Stampers Blues is a sweet sounding fiddle instrumental with overtones of Jerusalem Ridge.
The Goins Brothers later re-recorded City That Lies Four Square on At Their Best 1981 and Run Satan Run CD 1997. The latter version also includes lead vocal by Ralph Stanley.
Head Of The Holler is also included on the Ralph Stanley DVD The Legacy Continues, from an appearance by the Goins Brothers at Ralph's 1998 Memorial Bluegrass Festival in McClure.
Like Melvin, Art Stamper was another CMB, having played on the majority of three of the Stanley Brothers LPs, the first Mercury session and a later Rich-R-Tone session. He would go on to rejoin Ralph c1992/93 when Curly Ray's health was failing.
Track: |
Title: |
Time: |
Date: |
Original Release: |
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A-1 |
Head Of The Holler |
02:39 |
Nov 1971 |
In The Head Of The Holler |
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Melvin Goins / Mike Paxton |
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Ld Vcl / Gtr | Hr Vcl / Bjo | Bs | Fid | Mnd | |||||||||||||||||
Melvin Goins |
Ray Goins |
Bill Rawlings |
Art Stamper |
Leslie Sturgill |
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A-2 |
I Have No Mother Now |
02:47 |
Nov 1971 |
In The Head Of The Holler |
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Melvin Goins / Ray Goins |
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Ld Vcl / Gtr | Hr Vcl / Bjo | Bs | Fid | Mnd | |||||||||||||||||
Melvin Goins |
Ray Goins |
Bill Rawlings |
Art Stamper |
Leslie Sturgill |
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A-3 |
Sweet Face Girl |
02:43 |
Nov 1971 |
In The Head Of The Holler |
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Melvin Goins / Ray Goins |
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Ld Vcl / Gtr | Hr Vcl / Bjo | Bs | Fid | Mnd | |||||||||||||||||
Melvin Goins |
Ray Goins |
Bill Rawlings |
Art Stamper |
Leslie Sturgill |
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A-4 |
Over Yonder Hills |
02:56 |
Nov 1971 |
In The Head Of The Holler |
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Melvin Goins / Mike Paxton |
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Ld Vcl / Gtr | Hr Vcl / Bjo | Bs | Fid | Mnd | |||||||||||||||||
Melvin Goins |
Ray Goins |
Bill Rawlings |
Art Stamper |
Leslie Sturgill |
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A-5 |
Maybe Then I'll Understand |
02:25 |
Nov 1971 |
In The Head Of The Holler |
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Mike Paxton / Melvin Goins |
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Ld Vcl / Gtr | Hr Vcl / Bjo | Bs | Fid | Mnd | |||||||||||||||||
Melvin Goins |
Ray Goins |
Bill Rawlings |
Art Stamper |
Leslie Sturgill |
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A-6 |
Glory To The Meeting House |
01:42 |
Nov 1971 |
In The Head Of The Holler |
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Art Stamper |
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Gtr | Bjo | Bs | Fid | Mnd | |||||||||||||||||
Melvin Goins |
Ray Goins |
Bill Rawlings |
Art Stamper |
Leslie Sturgill |
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B-1 |
Shindig In The Hills |
01:49 |
Nov 1971 |
In The Head Of The Holler |
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Melvin Goins / Ray Goins |
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Ld Vcl / Gtr | Hr Vcl / Bjo | Bs | Fid | Mnd | |||||||||||||||||
Melvin Goins |
Ray Goins |
Bill Rawlings |
Art Stamper |
Leslie Sturgill |
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B-2 |
City That Lies Four Square |
02:57 |
Nov 1971 |
In The Head Of The Holler |
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Ray Goins arr. Melvin Goins |
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Ld Vcl / Gtr | Hr Vcl / Bjo | Bs | Fid | Mnd | |||||||||||||||||
Melvin Goins |
Ray Goins |
Bill Rawlings |
Art Stamper |
Leslie Sturgill |
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B-3 |
Story Of The Poor Man |
02:26 |
Nov 1971 |
In The Head Of The Holler |
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Ray Goins / Melvin Goins |
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Ld Vcl / Gtr | Bjo | Bs | Fid | Mnd | |||||||||||||||||
Melvin Goins |
Ray Goins |
Bill Rawlings |
Art Stamper |
Leslie Sturgill |
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B-4 |
Renfro Valley |
04:23 |
Nov 1971 |
In The Head Of The Holler |
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Mike Paxton / Melvin Goins |
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Ld Vcl / Gtr | Hr Vcl / Bjo | Bs | Fid | Mnd | |||||||||||||||||
Melvin Goins |
Ray Goins |
Bill Rawlings |
Art Stamper |
Leslie Sturgill |
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B-5 |
Stampers Blues |
02:49 |
Nov 1971 |
In The Head Of The Holler |
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Art Stamper |
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Gtr | Bjo | Bs | Fid | Mnd | |||||||||||||||||
Melvin Goins |
Ray Goins |
Bill Rawlings |
Art Stamper |
Leslie Sturgill |
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B-6 |
Music City Waltz |
03:31 |
Nov 1971 |
In The Head Of The Holler |
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Mike Paxton / Melvin Goins |
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Ld Vcl / Gtr | Hr Vcl / Bjo | Bs | Fid | Mnd | |||||||||||||||||
Melvin Goins |
Ray Goins |
Bill Rawlings |
Art Stamper |
Leslie Sturgill |