(Rebel SLP 1571) 1977
This Gospel album was recorded on 12th May 1977 at Lemco Sound Studios in Lexington, Ky. It's regarded by many as one of Ralph's best Gospel releases along with Cry From The Cross.
What A Price, by Gene Duty, had previously been recorded by The Stanley Brothers for King in 1965. Gene was friends with Carter and Ralph and several of his tracks were recorded by Ralph. [1] The version here is at a slower tempo with soulful vocals from Keith Whitley.
Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem was another song recorded by The Stanley Brothers for King, and the version here is pretty close to the original.
I Just Saw The Rock of Ages was written by John B. Preston, who'd spent ten years in prison for armed robbery. He too wrote several songs recorded by Ralph. [2] Incidentally, the 'Rock Of Ages' is a real place in England, where the Rev. Augustus Toplady took shelter in a storm in 1763 and was inspired to write the hymn 'Rock Of Ages'. [3] (My wife and I accidentally stumbled across it, having taken a spur of the moment detour through the Mendip hills on the way to a bluegrass festival in Cornwall...)
Traveling The High Way Home was written and recorded by The Bailes Brothers.
I Am Weary (Let Me Rest) by Pete Kuykendall had been recorded by The Country Gentlemen, and would also be featured in the 'Oh Brother' film/soundtrack by The Cox Family.
Talking of which... Following on from the success of the 'Oh Brother' film/soundtrack, it's not surprising that the album featuring Ralph's version of Oh Death was reissued on CD the same year - (Rebel REB-CD-1571) 2001. The CD comes with an eight-page booklet, with liner notes by Chris Skinker, and a recommendation from Alison Krauss - "I can't think of anything better than this record." For real anoraks, there are slight variations in the print colour tone on the cover and disk (from different manufacturers).
The CD artwork makes use of a B&W photo from the KET 'Bluegrass Bluegrass' TV show that was aired on the 13th June 1977 and can be found on youtube.
The original LP artwork design was by Fred Huffman, who did many of the Rebel designs around this time, including Ralph & Curly Ray's. [4]
NB: Chester 'Pop' Marshall sings bass vocal on Over In The Gloryland, Amazing Grace and What A Price.
Track: |
Title: |
Time: |
Date: |
Original Release: |
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A-1 |
Over In The Gloryland |
02:08 |
12 May 1977 |
Clinch Mountain Gospel |
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J.E. Reynolds / W.P. Snyder |
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Bjo | Gtr | Fid | Ld Gtr | Mnd | Bs | ||||||||||||||||
Ralph Stanley |
Keith Whitley |
Curly Ray Cline |
Troy 'Renfro' Profitt |
Danny Marshall |
Jack Cooke |
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A-2 |
Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem |
03:54 |
12 May 1977 |
Clinch Mountain Gospel |
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Robert F. Boyce |
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High Bt Vcl - Bjo | Ld Vcl - Gtr | Fid | Ld Gtr | Mnd | Tn Vcl - Bs | ||||||||||||||||
Ralph Stanley |
Keith Whitley |
Curly Ray Cline |
Troy 'Renfro' Profitt |
Danny Marshall |
Jack Cooke |
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A-3 |
Oh Death |
03:00 |
12 May 1977 |
Clinch Mountain Gospel |
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P.D. |
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Bjo | Gtr | Fid | Ld Gtr | Mnd | Bs | ||||||||||||||||
Ralph Stanley |
Keith Whitley |
Curly Ray Cline |
Troy 'Renfro' Profitt |
Danny Marshall |
Jack Cooke |
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A-4 |
There'll Be None On The Other Side |
02:29 |
12 May 1977 |
Clinch Mountain Gospel |
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David Marshall / R. Stanley |
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Bjo | Gtr | Fid | Ld Gtr | Mnd | Bs | ||||||||||||||||
Ralph Stanley |
Keith Whitley |
Curly Ray Cline |
Troy 'Renfro' Profitt |
Danny Marshall |
Jack Cooke |
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A-5 |
Mother's Not Dead |
03:27 |
12 May 1977 |
Clinch Mountain Gospel |
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Maynard Spencer / Lance Spencer |
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Bjo | Gtr | Fid | Ld Gtr | Mnd | Bs | ||||||||||||||||
Ralph Stanley |
Keith Whitley |
Curly Ray Cline |
Troy 'Renfro' Profitt |
Danny Marshall |
Jack Cooke |
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A-6 |
Jesus Saviour Pilot Me |
03:08 |
12 May 1977 |
Clinch Mountain Gospel |
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J.R. Baxter / J.R. Gould / Edward Hooper |
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Bjo | Gtr | Fid | Ld Gtr | Mnd | Bs | ||||||||||||||||
Ralph Stanley |
Keith Whitley |
Curly Ray Cline |
Troy 'Renfro' Profitt |
Danny Marshall |
Jack Cooke |
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B-1 |
Traveling The High Way Home |
02:07 |
12 May 1977 |
Clinch Mountain Gospel |
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Frankie Bailes / Walter Bailes |
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Tn Vcl - Bjo | Ld Vcl - Gtr | Fid | Ld Gtr | Mnd | Bt Vcl - Bs | ||||||||||||||||
Ralph Stanley |
Keith Whitley |
Curly Ray Cline |
Troy 'Renfro' Profitt |
Danny Marshall |
Jack Cooke |
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B-2 |
I Just Saw The Rock Of Ages |
03:13 |
12 May 1977 |
Clinch Mountain Gospel |
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John B. Preston |
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Tn Vcl - Bjo | Ld Vcl - Gtr | Fid | Ld Gtr | Mnd | Bs | ||||||||||||||||
Ralph Stanley |
Keith Whitley |
Curly Ray Cline |
Troy 'Renfro' Profitt |
Danny Marshall |
Jack Cooke |
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B-3 |
Amazing Grace |
03:34 |
12 May 1977 |
Clinch Mountain Gospel |
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John Newton |
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Bjo | Gtr | Fid | Ld Gtr | Mnd | Bs | ||||||||||||||||
Ralph Stanley |
Keith Whitley |
Curly Ray Cline |
Troy 'Renfro' Profitt |
Danny Marshall |
Jack Cooke |
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B-4 |
What A Price |
03:27 |
12 May 1977 |
Clinch Mountain Gospel |
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Gene Duty / R.Stanley |
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Bjo | Gtr | Fid | Ld Gtr | Mnd | Bs | ||||||||||||||||
Ralph Stanley |
Keith Whitley |
Curly Ray Cline |
Troy 'Renfro' Profitt |
Danny Marshall |
Jack Cooke |
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B-5 |
Are You Afraid To Die |
02:49 |
12 May 1977 |
Clinch Mountain Gospel |
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Charles Louvin / Ira Louvin / Eddie Hill |
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Bjo | Gtr | Fid | Ld Gtr | Mnd | Bs | ||||||||||||||||
Ralph Stanley |
Keith Whitley |
Curly Ray Cline |
Troy 'Renfro' Profitt |
Danny Marshall |
Jack Cooke |
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B-6 |
I Am Weary (Let Me Rest) |
02:40 |
12 May 1977 |
Clinch Mountain Gospel |
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Pete V. Kuykendall |
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Bjo | Gtr | Fid | Ld Gtr | Mnd | Bs | ||||||||||||||||
Ralph Stanley |
Keith Whitley |
Curly Ray Cline |
Troy 'Renfro' Profitt |
Danny Marshall |
Jack Cooke |
NB: Liner notes don't specify instruments/vocal parts for individual tracks.
[1] See Brand New Country Songs; Something Old Something New; Sing Michigan Bluegrass
[2] See Lonesome And Blue
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_of_Ages_%28Christian_hymn%29
[4] Fred Huffman did the artwork for Curly's It's Bread And Water For...; Who's Gonna Mow My Grass; Ralph's Live At McClure; Down Where The River Bends and I'll Wear A White Robe LPs.