(Cracker Barrel RRE-CD161) 2014
Another of those 'guest' albums, featuring mainly individual vocalists singing songs from the Stanley repertoire, with the CMB's providing most of the back-up.
The sessions took place in November 2014[1] at Jim Lauderdale's house, with additonal help from Ronnie McCoury - mandolin; T Bone Burnett - guitar; Paul Kowert - bass & Ralph II Stanley - guitar.
On some tracks Ralph's involvement is mainly confined to singing back-up, but there are exceptions. Ralph sings lead on the chorus to Rank Stranger and shares lead duties with producers Buddy Miller & Jim Lauderdale on I Am The Man, Thomas.
A couple of the tracks have quite imaginatve arrangements - Gillian Welch & David Rawlings version of Pig In A Pen features Rawlings on clawhammer banjo, and Two Coats with Ralph and Robert Plant sharing lead vocals is atmospheric with droning fiddle backup.
To close the album Ralph sings a ragged but heartfelt rendition of the Hills Of Home tribute to Carter, and his signature song Man Of Constant Sorrow.
The CD was sold through the 'Cracker Barrel' restaurant chain/website.
Ralph would have been 87 when this album was recorded, and although his voice was no longer in it's prime, I'm glad be got to record this one, and glad too that he's obviously had such good supportive family/friends.
Track: |
Vocals: |
Title: |
Time: |
Date: |
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A-1 |
Ralph Stanley w/ Josh Turner |
We Shall Rise |
02:46 |
Nov 2014 |
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J.E. Thomas |
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A-2 |
Ralph Stanley w/ Dierks Bentley |
I Only Exist |
03:31 |
Nov 2014 |
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Joyce Morris / Jimmie Stanley |
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A-3 |
Ralph Stanley w/ Ricky Skaggs |
Sweethearts In Heaven |
02:56 |
Nov 2014 |
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C. Stanley |
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A-4 |
Ralph Stanley w/ Nathan Stanley |
Rank Stranger |
03:21 |
Nov 2014 |
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Albert E. Brumley |
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A-5 |
Ralph Stanley w/ Buddy Miller & Jim Lauderdale |
I Am The Man Thomas |
02:22 |
Nov 2014 |
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Larry Sparks / R. Stanley |
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A-6 |
Ralph Stanley w/ Lee Ann Womack with Aubrie Sellers |
White Dove |
03:39 |
Nov 2014 |
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C. Stanley |
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A-7 |
Ralph Stanley w/ Elvis Costello |
Red Wicked Wine |
02:22 |
Nov 2014 |
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John Brenton Preston |
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A-8 |
Ralph Stanley w/ Gillian Welch & David Rawlings |
Pig In A Pen |
01:58 |
Nov 2014 |
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P.D. or Arthur Smith? |
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A-9 |
Ralph Stanley w/ Robert Plant |
Two Coats |
03:07 |
Nov 2014 |
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R. Stanley |
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A-10 |
Ralph Stanley w/ Del McCoury |
Brand New Tennessee Waltz |
03:55 |
Nov 2014 |
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Jesse James Winchester |
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A-11 |
Ralph Stanley w/ Old Crow Medicine Show |
Short Life Of Trouble |
02:59 |
Nov 2014 |
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G.B. Grayson |
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A-12 |
Ralph Stanley |
Hills Of Home |
02:16 |
Nov 2014 |
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Wendy Smith / R. Stanley |
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A-13 |
Ralph Stanley |
Man Of Constant Sorrow |
02:49 |
Nov 2014 |
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R.D. Burnett |
[1] http://bluegrasstoday.com/ralph-stanley-cd-from-cracker-barrel-january-19/