CME: The Very Best Of...

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Top 10's

Viewers highest rated albums from the Discography:

No.	Title:	Score
1	Cry From The Cross	5.00
2	Classic Stanley	5.00
3	Live In Japan	4.92
4	Poor Rambler: His Complete King and Gusto Recordings	4.91
5	The Stanley Sound Around The World	4.91
6	Live At The Smithsonian Institution	4.91
7	1971 - 1973	4.86
8	Play Requests	4.82
9	Something Old, Something New	4.82
10	Sing Michigan Bluegrass	4.69

No.	Title:	Score
1	The Stanley Brothers & The Clinch Mountain Boys 1953 - 1958 & 1959	5.00
2	The Definitive Collection (1947 - 1966)	5.00
3	The Stanley Brothers And The Clinch Mountain Boys	4.94
4	The Stanley Brothers & The Clinch Mountain Boys 1949-52	4.93
5	The King Years, 1961-1965	4.93
6	The Early Starday/King Years, 1958-1961	4.93
7	Mountain Song Favorites	4.92
8	On Radio	4.92
9	Riding That New River Train	4.82
10	Folk Festival	4.82

CMB Birthdays this month:

04 May 1922 - Harold 'Red' Stanley. Born 'Harold Oplis Stanley' in Fentress, Tennessee.

18 May 1938 - Henry Dockery. Walnut Marsh, North Carolina.

28 May 1956 - Ralph 'Hank' Smith. Born 'Ralph Dewayne Smith' in Elliott County, Kentucky.

In Memoriam:

02 May 1974 - Roy Lee Centers. Breathitt County, Kentucky.

03 May 2000 - Bill Napier. Johnson City, Tennessee.

09 May 1989 - Keith Whitley. Goodlettsville, Davidson County, Tennessee.

23 May 2022 - James Price. Parkersburg, Wood, West Virginia.

For the Official Ralph Stanley II and the Clinch Mountain Boys site, visit:

ralph2.com

Spotlight on:-

Live At The Old Homeplace
(Rebel REB 1627)

CME Recommends...

alifeofsorrow.com

CME Recommends...

ralphstanleymuseum.com

CME Recommends...

drralphstanleyfestival.com

CME Recommends...

rebelrecords.com

CME Recommends...

Bluegrass Unlimited

> Stanley Brothers Discography

The Stanley Brothers - The Very Best Of...

50 Original Bluegrass Favourites On 2CDs

(Not Now Music) 2019

This is budget 2xCD (UK?) compilation with 50 tracks from the early Starday / King era. I doubt very much whether the Stanley estate will see any royalties from it, but it is nonetheless a fairly decent set, which largely concentrates on the Stanley's secular material.

The 2xCD set comes in a nice 3-fold digipak and has fairly decent sound quality. The liner notes however are terribly inaccurate & hilariously wrong in places eg. Comments like "Ruby Rakes was Carter Stanley using his wife's maiden name" show a rather basic ignorance & lack of common 'Stanley' knowledge... as does mentioning Ricky Skaggs as popularising the Stanley's music in the '80s, without mentioning his apprenticeship in the band...

For an extensive breakdown by song and background to these sessions, check Gary B. Reid's The Music Of The Stanley Brothers book. For page references, see the Original Release entries.

Track:	Title:		Time:	Date:		Original Release:
A-1	The Wild Side Of Life		02:14	15 Jan 1961		King 5460
	W. Warren / A. Carter
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Bt Vcl - Mnd	Bs
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Art Stamper	Curley Lambert	George Shuffler
A-2	Mountain Dew		02:44	14 Sep 1959		King 5347
	Bascom Lamar Lunsford / Scotty Wiseman
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl	Bt Vcl - Bs	Bs Vcl - Ld Gtr
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	George Shuffler	Bill Napier
A-3	Rank Stranger		03:09	?? May 1960		Starday 506
	Albert E. Brumley
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Bt Vcl - Mnd	Bs	Ld Gtr
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Curley Lambert	Audie Webster	Ralph Mayo
A-4	Let Me Love You One More Time		02:05	11 Jul 1960		In Person
	R. Stanley
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Bs	Bt Vcl - Ld Gtr
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Vernon Derrick	George Shuffler	Curley Lambert
A-5	Carolina Mountain Home		02:20	Sum. 1959		Starday SEP-107
	Len Wright / Estel Lee Scarborough
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Mnd	Bs
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Chubby Anthony	Bill Napier	Al Elliot
A-6	She's More To Be Pitied		02:16	30 Sep 1958		King 5155
	Ruby Rakes
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Mnd	Bs
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Ralph Mayo	Bill Napier	Al Elliot
A-7	It's Raining Here This Morning		02:26	14 Sep 1959		Sings Everybody's Country Favorites
	Grandpa Jones
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Bs Vcl - Bs	Ld Gtr
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	George Shuffler	Bill Napier
A-8	Clinch Mountain Backstep		02:19	01 Oct 1958		Stanley Bros. & The Clinch Mtn Boys
	Ruby Rakes
	Gtr	Bjo	Fid	Mnd	Bs
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Ralph Mayo	Bill Napier	Al Elliot
A-9	I'll Take The Blame		02:08	16 Jan 1961		King 5518
	C. Stanley
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Bt Vcl - Mnd	Bs
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Art Stamper	Curley Lambert	George Shuffler
A-10	I'm A Man Of Constant Sorrow		02:39	15 Sep 1959		King 5269
	R.D. Burnett
	Ld Vcl (v) & Tn (c) - Gtr	Ld Vcl (c) - Bjo	Bs Vcl - Bs	Bt Vcl - Ld Gtr
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	George Shuffler	Bill Napier
A-11	Love Me, Darling, Just Tonight		02:15	30 Sep 1958		King 5165
	M.H. 'Red' Malone / Ruby Rakes
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Mnd	Bs
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Ralph Mayo	Bill Napier	Al Elliot
A-12	Sweet Thing		02:45	14 Sep 1959		Sings Everybody's Country Favorites
	Buddy Starcher
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl	Bs	Ld Gtr
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	George Shuffler	Bill Napier
A-13	Old Love Letters		02:36	11 Jul 1960		King 5415
	Johnny Bond
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Bs	Ld Gtr
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Vernon Derrick	George Shuffler	Curley Lambert
A-14	Train 45		02:46	01 Oct 1958		King 5155
	G.B. Grayson
	Gtr	Bjo	Fid	Mnd	Bs
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Ralph Mayo	Bill Napier	Al Elliot
A-15	Don't Go Out Tonight		02:32	?? May 1960		Starday 546
	G.B. Grayson
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Bs	Ld Gtr
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Ralph Mayo	Audie Webster	Curley Lambert
A-16	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
A-17	Daybreak In Dixie		02:14	11 Jul 1960		King 5384
	Bill Napier
	Gtr	Bjo	Fid	Bs	Ld Gtr
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Vernon Derrick	George Shuffler	Curley Lambert
A-18	Gathering Flowers For The Master's Bouquet		02:29	?? May 1960		Starday 506
	Marvin E. Baumgardner
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Bs	Ld Gtr
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Ralph Mayo	Audie Webster	Curley Lambert
A-19	Little Willie		02:39	15 Jan 1961		Sing The Songs They Like Best
	P.D.
	Gtr	Ld Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Mnd	Bs
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Art Stamper	Curley Lambert	George Shuffler
A-20	Gonna Paint The Town		02:21	Sum. 1958		Starday 406
	R. Stanley
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Mnd	Bt Vcl - Bs		Ld Gtr
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Joe Meadows	Bill Napier	Al Elliot		Gene Meadows
A-21	Ridin' That Midnight Train		02:03	Sum. 1959		Mountain Song Favorites
	R. Stanley
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Mnd	Bs
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Chubby Anthony	Bill Napier	Al Elliot
A-22	Little Maggie		02:47	?? May 1960		Starday 522
	P.D.
	Gtr	Ld Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Bs	Ld Gtr
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Ralph Mayo	Audie Webster	Curley Lambert
A-23	Highway Of Regret		02:04	Sum. 1959		Mountain Song Favorites
	Donald 'Chubby' Anthony
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Mnd	Bt Vcl - Bs
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Chubby Anthony	Bill Napier	Al Elliot
A-24	The Story Of The Lawson Family		02:31	15 Jan 1961		Sing The Songs They Like Best
	R. Stanley / C. Stanley
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Mnd	Bs
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Art Stamper	Curley Lambert	George Shuffler
A-25	Midnight Ramble		02:06	01 Oct 1958		King 5165
	Ruby Rakes
	Gtr	Bjo	Fid	Mnd	Bs
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Ralph Mayo	Bill Napier	Al Elliot

B-1	How Far To Little Rock		02:40	15 Sep 1959		King 5306
	Ruby Rakes
	Vcl - Gtr	Vcl - Bjo	Bs	Ld Gtr
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	George Shuffler	Bill Napier
B-2	Wildwood Flower		02:22	11 Jul 1960		In Person
	A.P. Carter
	Gtr	Bjo	Fid	Bs	Ld Gtr
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Vernon Derrick	George Shuffler	Curley Lambert
B-3	Wild Bill Jones		02:16	15 Jan 1961		Sing The Songs They Like Best
	P.D.
	Gtr	Ld Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Mnd	Bs
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Art Stamper	Curley Lambert	George Shuffler
B-4	The Window Up Above		02:29	15 Jan 1961		King 5460
	George Jones
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Bs	Ld Gtr
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Art Stamper	George Shuffler	Curley Lambert
B-5	Choo Choo Comin'		02:34	Sum. 1959		Starday SEP-107
	Corbet 'Cuddles' Newsome
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Mnd	Bs
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Chubby Anthony	Bill Napier	Al Elliot
B-6	Sunny Side Of The Mountain		02:31	14 Sep 1959		King 5291
	Harry C. McAuliffe / Bobby Gregory
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Bs	Ld Gtr
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	George Shuffler	Bill Napier
B-7	Holiday Pickin'		02:12	Sum. 1958		Starday 413
	R. Stanley
	Gtr	Bjo	Fid	Mnd	Bs		Ld Gtr
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Joe Meadows	Bill Napier	Al Elliot		Gene Meadows
B-8	I'd Worship You		02:19	16 Jan 1961		King 5518
	R. Stanley
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Mnd	Bs
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Art Stamper	Curley Lambert	George Shuffler
B-9	Tragic Romance		03:01	14 Sep 1959		Sings Everybody's Country Favorites
	Wiley Morris / Zeke Morris
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Bs	Ld Gtr
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	George Shuffler	Bill Napier
B-10	Trust Each Other		02:30	Sum. 1959		Starday 438
	R. Stanley
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Mnd	Bs
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Chubby Anthony	Bill Napier	Al Elliot
A-11	How Mountain Girls Can Love		02:08	30 Sep 1958		Stanley Bros. & The Clinch Mtn Boys
	Ruby Rakes
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Mnd	Bt Vcl - Bs
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Ralph Mayo	Bill Napier	Al Elliot
B-12	Your Selfish Heart		02:19	30 Sep 1958		Stanley Bros. & The Clinch Mtn Boys
	Ruby Rakes / Al Elliot
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Mnd	Bt Vcl - Bs
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Ralph Mayo	Bill Napier	Al Elliot
B-13	Daybreak In Dixie (aka Ralph's Banjo Special)		02:00	15 Nov 1957		Banjo In The Hills
	Bill Napier
	Gtr	Bjo	Fid	Fid	Mnd		Bs
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Benny Martin	Howard Forrester	Bill Napier		Curley Lambert
B-14	Mastertone March		02:25	01 Oct 1958		King 5180
	Ruby Rakes
	Gtr	Bjo	Fid	Mnd	Bs
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Ralph Mayo	Bill Napier	Al Elliot
B-15	Beneath The Maple (On The Hill)		02:45	Sum. 1959		Starday 438
	Gussie L. Davis
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Mnd	Bs
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Chubby Anthony	Bill Napier	Al Elliot
B-16	Think Of What You've Done		02:07	01 Oct 1958		Stanley Bros. & The Clinch Mtn Boys
	C. Stanley
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Mnd	Bt Vcl - Bs
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Ralph Mayo	Bill Napier	Al Elliot
B-17	Lover's Quarrel		02:41	15 Jan 1961		Sing The Songs They Like Best
	Gussie Davis
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Mnd	Bs
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Art Stamper	Curley Lambert	George Shuffler
B-18	The Memory Of Your Smile		02:19	30 Sep 1958		Stanley Bros. & The Clinch Mtn Boys
	Ruby Rakes
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Mnd	Bt Vcl - Bs
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Ralph Mayo	Bill Napier	Al Elliot
B-19	A Little At A Time		02:27	Sum. 1959		Mountain Song Favorites
	M.H. 'Red' Malone / R. Stanley
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Mnd	Bs
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Chubby Anthony	Bill Napier	Al Elliot
B-20	Little Benny		02:07	11 Jul 1960		King 5415
	P.D.
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Hi Bt Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Bs Vcl - Bs	Tn Vcl - Ld Gtr
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Vernon Derrick	George Shuffler	Curley Lambert
B-21	Another Night		03:03	Sum. 1959		Mountain Song Favorites
	Jack Adkins
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Mnd	Bs
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Chubby Anthony	Bill Napier	Al Elliot
B-22	Old Rattler		02:07	15 Sep 1959		King 5347
	P.D.
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Bs Vcl - Bs	Bt Vcl - Ld Gtr
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	George Shuffler	Bill Napier
B-23	Hey, Hey, Hey		02:03	15 Jan 1961		Sing The Songs They Like Best
	C. Stanley
	Ld Vcl - Gtr	Tn Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Mnd	Bs
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Art Stamper	Curley Lambert	George Shuffler
B-24	Jenny Lynn		02:07	15 Jan 1961		Sing The Songs They Like Best
	P.D.
	Gtr	Bjo	Fid	Mnd	Bs
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Art Stamper	Curley Lambert	George Shuffler
B-25	Still Trying To Get To Little Rock		02:40	22 Sep 1961		Award Winners At The Folk Song Festival
	R. Stanley
	Vcl - Gtr	Vcl - Bjo	Fid	Bs	Ld Gtr
	Carter Stanley	Ralph Stanley	Chubby Anthony	George Shuffler	George Shuffler

Other artwork / related images:

For the Official Ralph Stanley II and the Clinch Mountain Boys site, visit:

ralph2.com

Spotlight on:-

Bluegrass My Home In The Mountains
(River Track Studios RTS-1415)

CME Recommends...

alifeofsorrow.com

CME Recommends...

ralphstanleymuseum.com

CME Recommends...

drralphstanleyfestival.com

CME Recommends...

rebelrecords.com

CME Recommends...

Bluegrass Unlimited