The Stanley Brothers - Their Original Recordings

(Melodeon MLP-7322) Feb 1966

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This is an anthology of the Stanley Brothers recordings for Jim Hobart Stanton's 'Rich-R-Tone' label, which they made at the start of their professional career. As such it captures the youthful Stanley's as they developed from being a Mainer style string band to playing Bill Monroe influenced bluegrass.

It was the first time the Rich-R-Tone recordings had been reissued, since they were recorded in the late 40s/early 50s, and was the only form they were released in over 30 years...

As I understand it, because most of the original recordings were made without a bass, Carter only agreed to the album on condition that one was overdubbed. The record was consequently cut with Tom Gray of the Country Gentlemen/Seldom Scene playing along to a tape of the 78s. The overall sound is understandably muted and to make matters worse has also been doctored with some reverb/echo, which was in vogue at the time. Now that there are two CD compilation alternatives (of which Earliest Recordings on Rounder is the best), the album is more of a curio than anthing else.

There are at least two different pressings of the album, which was released on Dick Spotswood's Melodeon label. Some have a red/black cover, and others are just printed in black. I've no idea which is the earlier of the two.

For basic information surrounding the sessions see the entry for the Rounder Earliest Recordings: The Complete Rich-R-Tone 78s CD.

For much more detailed information on these sessions, check Gary B. Reid's The Music Of The Stanley Brothers book, pages 6-19, 33-35 and 39.

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