Jack Cooke - Sittin' On Top Of The World

(Pinecastle PRC-1157) 2006

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Although Jack Cooke a spent about 39 years as a CMB, this was his sole 'solo' album.

Produced by Jim Lauderdale, it was recorded at Maggard Studios in Big Stone Gap, Va; Moondog Studio in Nashville, Tn; and the Jeff Sterling Studio in Pengrove, Ca. No recording dates are given, but as Todd Meade plays on some tracks and Dewey Brown took over on fiddle in the Summer of 2005, it seems likely to have been recorded around that time.

In Ralph's concerts, space was always given for 'Cookie' to belt out a classic traditional bluegrass or Bill Monroe number, and this collection contains many of the tunes he would often perform on stage with the band.

Jack would I guess have been about 68 years old when the album was cut, and his vocals show some 'wear and tear', but fans of the band will want to grab a copy regardless.

Backing is broadly split between the CMB's and Del McCoury's band, with a few guest vocalists.

Jim Lauderdale also wrote That's How The Cookie Crumbled especially for the project.^[1]

The two bonus tracks are from an October 1963 session by Jack Cooke and The Virginia Mountain Boys at Ark Recording Studios in Cincinnati, Oh. Let Me Rest At The End Of My Journey had originally been released as the 'A'-side of End Of My Journey/New Cripple Creek (Ark 299) c1964; and I've Always Been A Rambler the 'A'-side of I've Always Been A Rambler/Virginia (Mountain) Banjo (Gambler 1641) c1966. It's a shame that the two instrumental 'B'-sides weren't also included... The 'Ark' 45 was reissued by King Bluegrass in 1973 (King Bluegrass 407), and you can hear a sales pitch for it on the Live At The Smithsonian Institution Vol. 2 CD.

• Jack Cooke: guitar, (5, 10) vocal (all)
• Mike Bub: bass (1-9, 11-13)
• Jason Carter: fidle (1-7, 11-13)
• Hubert Cooke: harmony vocal (4, 12)
• Jeanette Cooke: harmony vocal (4, 12)
• David Grisman: mandolin (10)
• Jim Lauderdale: baritone vocal (4), bass vocal (5), guitar (12)
• Del McCoury: guitar, harmony vocal (3, 6, 9)
• Robbie McCoury: banjo (6, 9)
• Ronnie McCoury: mandolin (1-9, 11-13)
• Todd Meade: fiddle (8-10)
• James Alan Shelton: guitar (1-5, 7-8, 10-13)
• Steve Sparkman: banjo (1-5, 7-8, 10-13)
• Ralph Stanley: harmony vocal (10, 11)
• Ralph II Stanley: guitar, (1-5, 7-8, 10-13) baritone vocal (10)

On bonus tracks: (14-15)

• Jack Cooke: guitar, vocals
• Bobby Diamond: banjo
• Roy Hoskins: bass
• Bill Sage: fiddle

Other artwork / related images:

[1] 'Bluegrass Unlimited' review May 2007.