Ralph Stanley - Pray For The Boys

(Rebel REB-CD-1687) 1990

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This Gospel album was recorded on 5th December 1990 at Maggard Sound Studio, Big Stone Gap, Va.

Pray For The Boys by Videt Richard Polk was essentially recorded as a tribute to the US troops who were then preparing for action against the Iraqi forces in Kuwait. The song had previously been cut by The Stanley Brothers at their last session for King in September 1965 (at the time of the Vietnam war); and by Flatt & Scruggs in 1952 (Korean war).^[1] Polk was a noted Gospel singer, teacher and songwriter from Baton Rouge, La.^[2]

Searching For A Soldier's Grave (aka Soldier's Grave), although credited to Roy Acuff was actually written by The Bailes Brothers.^[3] The Stanley Brothers had previously recorded it at their last King session.

City Of Gold was written by Larry Efaw, and had previously been recorded with Ralph on the Larry Efaw & Ralph Stanley - I Worship You cassette as Light To Guide Me. Larry is leader of Larry Efaw and The Bluegrass Mountaineers, and they have a CDR 'Clinch Mountain Tradition - A Tribute To The Stanley Brothers' available via their website.^[4]

Old Man Death and Snap A Finger Jesus were written by John B. Preston, who had earlier provided material for Ralph's Lonesome And Blue, Clinch Mountain Gospel and I'll Wear A White Robe albums.

Give Me Wings by Gerald Evans, had previously been recorded by Bill Monroe in 1988 on his 'Southern Flavor' album. Gerald had played with The Goins Brothers, and recorded the track a cappella with the spin-off Shed House Trio Give Me Wings 1988. He later played with Traditional Grass and died in 2010.^[5]

Gary Reid tells us that the photo shoot for the album cover was taken on 31 Dec 1990 outside the Greene Memorial United Methodist Church, at the corner of Church Ave. and 2nd Street, SW, Roanoke VA. Ralph was in town to play at the Iroquois Club later that evening for a big New Years Eve celebration.

• Ralph Stanley: banjo, vocals
• Curly Ray Cline: fiddle
• Jack Cooke: bass
• Ralph 'Hank' Smith: lead guitar
• Ernie Thacker: guitar, vocals

NB: Liner notes don't specify instruments/vocal parts for individual tracks.

Other artwork / related images:

[1] Liner Notes to The Stanley Brothers - 'The King Years 1961-1965' (King KG-0950-2) 2003 and Flatt & Scruggs - 1948-1959 (Bear BCD 15472 DH) 1991.
[2] Videt Polk memorial: https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=70522397
[3] Gary B. Reid's book 'The Music Of The Stanley Brothers' (p.194)
[4] http://www.bluegrassmountaineers.net/bgm_home.htm
[5] http://bluegrasstoday.com/gerald-evans-rip/