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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Clinch Mountain Echo

The Stanley Brothers - A Beautiful Life:

"Singing Pure As A Mountain Stream"

(Rimrock RLP-200) c1967


A Beautiful Life

Average Album Rating: 3.25
(Total votes 12)

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This gospel album, along with An Empty Mansion 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]

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

The history of this album is a bit convoluted, but I think the Rimrock sleeve and track list shown are for a 2nd issue. There were I believe three earlier albums with the same catalogue number (RLP-200). Two were split albums featuring one side by The Stanleys and one side by Jackie & Larry Dickson. One version was entitled "A Beautiful Life" and had a landscape picture on the front, and the other was entitled Goes To Europe. The three Stanley Brothers tracks which were omitted from these split albums, were featured on the V/A - 16 Gospel Hall Of Fame (Rimrock 1003) LP c1967... A third 'RLP-200' album is shown on the rear sleeve of the earlier copies of Goes To Europe, and is titled as 'The World Famous Stanley Brothers - Singing Pure As A Mountain Stream'. According to Charley Pennell's Bluegrass Discography, this version was released in March 1967, and has the same tracks as listed below.

The full version of the album was reissued (Old Homestead OHCS-119) 1978 and on CD (Old Homestead OHCD-119) 1999. A further CD-R release followed in 2008, although I don't have a copy of that to scan.

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

 

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
If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again
02:00
Dec 1965
Goes To Europe

John W. Vaughan
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
A-2
Jesus Savior Pilot Me
03:11
Dec 1965
Goes To Europe

J.R. Baxter / J.R. Gould / Edward Hooper
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
A-3
Over In The Glory Land
02:44
Dec 1965
Goes To Europe

J.E. Reynolds / W.P. Snyder
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
A-4
Beautiful Life
02:35
Dec 1965
Goes To Europe

William M. Golden
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
A-5
Nobody Answered Me
02:55
Dec 1965
16 Gospel Hall Of Fame

William M. Golden
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
B-1
Precious Memories
02:47
Dec 1965
Jacob's Vision

Johnnie Wright
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
B-2
We Shall Meet Someday
02:08
Dec 1965
Goes To Europe

T. Teddie
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
B-3
Amazing Grace
02:24
Dec 1965
Jacob's Vision

John Newton
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
B-4
How Beautiful Heaven Must Be
02:10
Dec 1965
Goes To Europe

A.S. Bridgewater / Andy P. Bland
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
B-5
Farther Along
03:05
Dec 1965
Goes To Europe

W.B. Stevens
  Vcl - Gtr Vcl - Bjo Vcl - Ld Gtr/Bs Fid      
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Ralph Mayo
 
 
 
B-6
Just A Little Talk With Jesus
01:23
Dec 1965
Goes To Europe

Cleavant Derricks
  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 Original Front cover? (image taken from the 'Goes To Europe' rear sleeve).
Old Homestead Front Cover Old Homestead Cover Old Homestead Side One (Early copy) Old Homestead Side Two (Early copy)
Old Homestead Side One (Later copy) Old Homestead Side Two (Later copy)
Old Homestead CD 1999 Old Homestead CD 1999- Rear Cover Old Homestead CD 1999 - 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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