Clinch Mountain Echo

CMB Birthdays this month:

04 Feb 1972 - Steve Sparkman. Harlan, Kentucky.

04 Feb 1906 - Art Wooten. Born 'Arthur James Wooten' in Alleghany, North Carolina.

11 Feb 1960 - Junior Blankenship. Born at the old Grundy Hospital, Grundy, Va.

25 Feb 1927 - Ralph Stanley. Born 'Ralph Edmund Stanley' in Big Spraddle Creek, near Stratton, McClure, Virginia.

29 Feb 1932 - Jim Williams. Born 'James Lee Williams' in Wythe County, Virginia.


In Memoriam:

05 Feb 1980 - Chubby Anthony. Gainesville, Alachua, Florida.

08 Feb 2003 - Ralph 'Joe' Meadows. Silver Spring, Montgomery County, Maryland.

08 Feb 1987 - Harold 'Red' Stanley. Fentress, Tennessee.


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

Ralph II ralph2.com

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The Stanley Brothers - In Memory Of Carter Stanley:

"An Empty Mansion"

(Rimrock RLP-153) 1967


An Empty Mansion

Average Album Rating: 3.25
(Total votes 16)

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This gospel album, along with A Beautiful Life was recorded in December 1965 at Wayne Raney's studio in Concord, Arkansas, but wasn't released until 1967.[1] At the time it was recorded, the Stanleys were inbetween contracts with King.[2]

In the liner notes Ralph gives a brief history of The Stanley Brothers, and has this to say about the recording sessions:- "I don't remember the exact date, but we met a very dear friend by the name of Wayne Raney. We had heard and admired him since we were all very young, but when he started spinning the country records on WCKY in Cincinnati, Ohio we had the priviledge of meeting him. We began to visit him at his home each time we were in that part of the country. It was on one of these visits that he told us we were his favorites when it came to singing hymns, and asked if we would record some hymns that he could someday release on this album. This we did and the songs that you hear on this album are some of the songs we did. Speaking for Carter, the way he felt and the way I feel, Wayne Raney did more for the Stanley Brothers by playing our records and promoting us than anyone else..."

It was the last studio session to feature Carter, and although his vocals are ok, the performances are generally a bit lacklustre. (Or I might just be suffering from gospel overload).

Originally released on Wayne Raney's Rimrock label, the album was reissued (Old Homestead OHCS-118) 1978 and on CD (Old Homestead OHCD-118) 1999. A further CD-R release followed in 2008 (Old Homestead OHCD-118) with the tracks in a different order.

Thanks to Chris Wing for the scans of the Old Homestead LP and 1999 CD covers.

  • Carter Stanley: guitar, vocals
  • Ralph Stanley: banjo, vocals
  • Ralph Mayo: fiddle
  • George Shuffler: lead guitar, bass

NB: Wayne Rayney also plays harmonica on Where The Soul Never Dies

 

For detailed information on these sessions, check Gary B. Reid's The Music Of The Stanley Brothers book, pages 194-196 and 219-220.

 

Track:
Title:
Time:
Date:
Original Release:
A-1
Hand In Hand With Jesus
02:45
Dec 1965
An Empty Mansion

L.D. Huffstutler / Rev. Johnson Oatman Jr.
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
A-2
Lord, I'm Coming Home
02:08
Dec 1965
An Empty Mansion

William J. Fitzpatrick
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
A-3
Softly And Tenderly
02:19
Dec 1965
An Empty Mansion

Will L. Thompson
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
A-4
Hold To God's Unchanging Hand
02:09
Dec 1965
Jacob's Vision

Jennie B. Wilson
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
A-5
The Blood That Stained The Old Rugged Cross
02:47
Dec 1965
An Empty Mansion

Albert E. Brumley
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
A-6
Where Could I Go
01:42
Dec 1965
An Empty Mansion

J.B. Coats
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
A-7
Leaning On The Everlasting Arms
01:55
Dec 1965
An Empty Mansion

Elisha A. Hoffman / Anthony J. Showalter
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
B-1
Are You Washed In The Blood
01:53
Dec 1965
Jacob's Vision

Elisha Hoffman
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
B-2
What Would You Give In Exchange
02:39
Dec 1965
An Empty Mansion

F.J. Berry / James J. Carr
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
B-3
Where The Soul Never Dies
01:37
Dec 1965
An Empty Mansion

William M. Golden
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid Hrmnca    
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
Wayne Raney
 
 
B-4
I'll Meet You In Church Sunday Morning
02:20
Dec 1965
An Empty Mansion

Bill Monroe
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
B-5
An Empty Mansion
02:34
Dec 1965
An Empty Mansion

Clarence A. Luttrell / Beuna Ora Bryant Karnes
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
B-6
This World Is Not My Home
01:58
Dec 1965
An Empty Mansion

Brumley & Sons
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
B-7
I'll Meet You In The Morning
02:21
Dec 1965
An Empty Mansion

Albert E. Brumley
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
Other artwork / related images:
Rear Cover Side One Side Two Later Rimrock Cover?
Old Homestead Cover Old Homestead Cover Old Homestead Side One Old Homestead Side Two
Old Homestead CD 1999 Old Homestead CD 1999- Rear Cover Old Homestead CD 1999 - TRay
Old Homestead CD-R 2008 Old Homestead CD-R 2008 - Rear Cover Old Homestead CD-R 2008 - Tray

[1] Gary B. Reid's book "The Music Of The Stanley Brothers" (p194-196)
[2] A letter dated 27th Feb 1967 to DJ's by Norman Carlson, Indiana Representative of The Stanley Brothers & Bill Monroe Fan Club, reprinted in the 'Stanley Standard' Memorial Issue (p.58) says:- "RIMROCK 200, one side exclusive material recorded by The Stanleys between contracts, is also available.".

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

Ralph II ralph2.com

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