(Old Homestead OHS-80053) 1983
This is the second of two 'Stanley' influenced albums by The Keen Brothers. The first, 'Grassy Mountain Sound' (Old Homestead OHS-80047), came out in 1982 and contains 11 covers from the Stanley's repertoire, plus the old-time Red Apple Rag. Both feature a sound which is definitely patterned after the Clinch Mountain Boys, and although not in the same calibre, they're worth hearing.
On the second LP, there is the added bonus of former CMB, Troy 'Renfro' Profitt who provides excellent lead guitar work. This one also includes five orignals, written by Carnice and Remus Keen, which are again in the Stanley style.
From the liner notes to their albums, it transpires that The Keen Brothers grew up in the Grimselyville and Whitewood areas of Southwest Virginia and that they were part of a family of seven boys and three girls born to Harry and Callie Keen. By the time of their debut, they'd been playing bluegrass together for 20 years and performed on a radio show from W.R.I.C. in Richlands Virginia.
Considering how close the band are patterned after the Stanley's, one might have expected to have seen them on the bill at Ralph's festivals... but as far as I can tell they never played at the 'Hills Of Home'.
Today the albums are not easy to find, but they have been uploaded to the net and can be found on the Bluegrass Music Spoken Here blogsite. One track, Laurel Creek is however unfortunately missing from the MP3 download.
Track: |
Title: |
Time: |
Date: |
Original Release: |
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A-1 |
Virginia Gal |
02:21 |
c1983 |
Bluegrass From The Mountain |
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Carnice Keen |
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A-2 |
A Lonely Old Home |
02:40 |
c1983 |
Bluegrass From The Mountain |
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Carnice Keen |
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A-3 |
Darling, Who Let You Down |
02:08 |
c1983 |
Bluegrass From The Mountain |
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Carnice Keen |
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A-4 |
Don't Cheat In Our Home Town |
02:30 |
c1983 |
Bluegrass From The Mountain |
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Ray Pennington / Roy E. Marcum |
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A-5 |
Laurel Creek |
01:40 |
c1983 |
Bluegrass From The Mountain |
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Remus Keen |
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A-6 |
Friend Take Gods Hand |
02:15 |
c1983 |
Bluegrass From The Mountain |
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Carnice Keen |
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B-1 |
I'll Just Go Away |
02:09 |
c1983 |
Bluegrass From The Mountain |
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C. Stanley |
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B-2 |
Keep A Memory |
02:20 |
c1983 |
Bluegrass From The Mountain |
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C. Stanley |
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B-3 |
All I Ever Loved Was You |
02:34 |
c1983 |
Bluegrass From The Mountain |
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Dorothy Skaggs |
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B-4 |
Stairway To Heaven |
02:47 |
c1983 |
Bluegrass From The Mountain |
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Bill Grant |
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B-5 |
Darling Nellie Gray |
02:35 |
c1983 |
Bluegrass From The Mountain |
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Benny Hanby |
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B-6 |
Mothers Not Dead |
03:28 |
c1983 |
Bluegrass From The Mountain |
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Maynard Spencer / Lance Spencer |