Ralph Stanley - Shine On

(Rebel REB-CD-1810) 2005

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This Gospel album was recorded at Maggard Sound Studio in Big Stone Gap, Va and released in 2005, with Ralph II credited as producer.

Ralph handles most of the lead vocal work, with Ralph II leading on My Main Trial Is Yet To Come and John Rigsby swapping lead vocal on the verse/chorus of The Lowest Valley.

The Old Church Yard is perfomed solo by Ralph, in the same manner as the 'Oh Brother' Oh Death performance.

Dolly Parton's Shine On was written for Tammy Wynette's memorial service and appeared on her 1998 'Hungry Again' album.

Let Your Light Shine Out had previously been recorded by The Mullins Family in 1965. Their version appears on a wonderful 23-track CD 'Let Your Light Shine Out - The Mullins Family Anthology' (Virginia Foundation for the Humanities VFHCR103) 2005. The Mullins Family were from Dickenson County, and seems to have indluenced Ralph, with a cappella versions of Snow Covered Mound and Turn Back, Turn Back. Flatt & Scruggs also seem to have got their 1959 arrangement of Cabin On The Hill from the Mullin's 1946 Rich-R-Tone 45. (This was also recorded by Ralph with Raymond Fairchild on the Ralph Stanley & Raymond Fairchild cassette).

I'm not sure, but I presume Pearlie Mullins, who wrote The Lowest Valley, had some connection with The Mullins Family.

On A High, High Mountain is a recitation by Ralph over the melody to Precious Memories (which The Stanley Brothers had cut for Wango).

My Main Trial Is Yet To Come had also been cut by The Stanley Brothers in the early '60s.

Three of the cuts (The Lowest Valley, Why Should We Start And Fear To Die and On A High, High Mountain (as Tribute To Dean Deel)) were also released on Ralph's Sings His Favorites Now And Then CD.

• Ralph Stanley: vocals
• Jack Cooke: bass
• John Rigsby: fiddle, mandolin
• James Alan Shelton: lead guitar
• Steve Sparkman: banjo
• Nathan Stanley: mandolin (*)
• Ralph II Stanley: guitar, vocals

NB: (*) Nathan plays on two tracks, King Of All Kings and I'll Fly Away

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