(Stanleytone STCD-5001) 2001
This CD contains a set that was recorded by Larry Ehrlich at the WCYB radio studio on 24th March 1956. A fan of the Stanley Brothers, from Chicago, he had travelled to Bristol to see the band.
Larry:- "This recording was made... after a long day of radio shows, barn dances, hog auctions and the like, Carter, Ralph, Curley Lambert, Ralph Mayo and I went to WCYB studios around midnight where I set up a mike, asked the Stanley's to sing some of the old traditional songs and turned on the tape recorder."
The recording features many 'oldies' that the Stanley's hadn't at that time recorded, and is quite a relaxed, informal session. Ralph picks mandolin on East Virginia Blues and apparently Curley Lambert's absence on the latter tracks is explained by him having fallen asleep underneath the studio's piano!
Larry didn't have to pay anything to make the recording[1] and much later Ralph released it on CD and sold through his fan-club and at gigs. It was also re-released in 2004 as An Evening Long Ago on Columbia/DMZ, with a slightly longer running time (47:30 mins). The timing difference between the two seems to be fractionally different playback speed of the original tape (about 2%). I can't discern any difference otherwise.
I presume that this is the same Larry Ehrlich, who is co-credited as producer on Ralph's 2002 Ralph Stanley and 2006 A Distant Land To Roam Columbia/DMZ albums.
The Stanleytone CD comes with extensive liner notes by Gary B. Reid.
For more detailed breakdown and background to the session, check Gary B. Reid's The Music Of The Stanley Brothers book, pages 58-59 and 75-76.
Track: |
Title: |
Time: |
Date: |
Original Source: |
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A-1 |
Handsome Molly |
01:57 |
24 Mar 1956 |
WYCB Radio Studio |
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P.D. |
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Gtr | Bjo | Fid | Mnd | ||||||||||||||||||
Carter Stanley |
Ralph Stanley |
Ralph Mayo |
Curley Lambert |
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A-2 |
East Virginia Blues |
03:05 |
24 Mar 1956 |
WYCB Radio Studio |
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A.P. Carter |
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Gtr | Bjo | Fid | Mnd | ||||||||||||||||||
Carter Stanley |
Ralph Stanley |
Ralph Mayo |
Curley Lambert |
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A-3 |
The Story Of The Lawson Family |
04:56 |
24 Mar 1956 |
WYCB Radio Studio |
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Walter 'Kid' Smith |
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Gtr | Bjo | Fid | Mnd | ||||||||||||||||||
Carter Stanley |
Ralph Stanley |
Ralph Mayo |
Curley Lambert |
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A-4 |
Dream Of A Miner's Child |
02:42 |
24 Mar 1956 |
WYCB Radio Studio |
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Robert Donnelly / Will Geddes |
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Gtr | Bjo | Fid | Mnd | ||||||||||||||||||
Carter Stanley |
Ralph Stanley |
Ralph Mayo |
Curley Lambert |
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A-5 |
Come All You Tenderhearted |
03:18 |
24 Mar 1956 |
WYCB Radio Studio |
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P.D. |
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Gtr | Bjo | Fid | Mnd | ||||||||||||||||||
Carter Stanley |
Ralph Stanley |
Ralph Mayo |
Curley Lambert |
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A-6 |
Poor Ellen Smith |
02:15 |
24 Mar 1956 |
WYCB Radio Studio |
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P.D. |
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Gtr | Bjo | Fid | Mnd | ||||||||||||||||||
Carter Stanley |
Ralph Stanley |
Ralph Mayo |
Curley Lambert |
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A-7 |
Darling Do You Know Who Loves You |
02:50 |
24 Mar 1956 |
WYCB Radio Studio |
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Billy Cox |
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Gtr | Bjo | Fid | Mnd | ||||||||||||||||||
Carter Stanley |
Ralph Stanley |
Ralph Mayo |
Curley Lambert |
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A-8 |
Shout Little Lulie |
00:55 |
24 Mar 1956 |
WYCB Radio Studio |
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P.D. |
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Gtr | Bjo | Fid | Mnd | ||||||||||||||||||
Carter Stanley |
Ralph Stanley |
Ralph Mayo |
Curley Lambert |
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A-9 |
Bound To Ride |
02:31 |
24 Mar 1956 |
WYCB Radio Studio |
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Arthur Leroy Smith |
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Gtr | Bjo | Fid | Mnd | ||||||||||||||||||
Carter Stanley |
Ralph Stanley |
Ralph Mayo |
Curley Lambert |
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A-10 |
Meet Me Tonight |
03:35 |
24 Mar 1956 |
WYCB Radio Studio |
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Joseph Augustine Wade |
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Gtr | Bjo | Fid | Mnd | ||||||||||||||||||
Carter Stanley |
Ralph Stanley |
Ralph Mayo |
Curley Lambert |
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A-11 |
My Long Skinny Lanky Sarah Jane |
01:44 |
24 Mar 1956 |
WYCB Radio Studio |
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R. Stanley |
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Gtr | Bjo | Fid | Mnd | ||||||||||||||||||
Carter Stanley |
Ralph Stanley |
Ralph Mayo |
Curley Lambert |
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A-12 |
Little Bessie |
00:51 |
24 Mar 1956 |
WYCB Radio Studio |
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P.D. |
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Gtr | Bjo | Fid | Mnd | ||||||||||||||||||
Carter Stanley |
Ralph Stanley |
Ralph Mayo |
Curley Lambert |
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A-13 |
Train 45 |
02:52 |
24 Mar 1956 |
WYCB Radio Studio |
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G.B. Grayson |
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Gtr | Bjo | Fid | Mnd | ||||||||||||||||||
Carter Stanley |
Ralph Stanley |
Ralph Mayo |
Curley Lambert |
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A-14 |
John Henry |
01:16 |
24 Mar 1956 |
WYCB Radio Studio |
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P.D. |
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Gtr | Bjo | Fid | Mnd | ||||||||||||||||||
Carter Stanley |
Ralph Stanley |
Ralph Mayo |
Curley Lambert |
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A-15 |
Little Birdie |
01:36 |
24 Mar 1956 |
WYCB Radio Studio |
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P.D. |
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Gtr | Bjo | Fid | Mnd | ||||||||||||||||||
Carter Stanley |
Ralph Stanley |
Ralph Mayo |
Curley Lambert |
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A-16 |
Drifting Too Far From The Shore |
03:12 |
24 Mar 1956 |
WYCB Radio Studio |
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Charles E. Moody |
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Gtr | Bjo | Fid | Mnd | ||||||||||||||||||
Carter Stanley |
Ralph Stanley |
Ralph Mayo |
Curley Lambert |
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A-17 |
Orange Blossom Special |
01:49 |
24 Mar 1956 |
WYCB Radio Studio |
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Ervin T. Rouse |
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Gtr | Bjo | Fid | Mnd | ||||||||||||||||||
Carter Stanley |
Ralph Stanley |
Ralph Mayo |
Curley Lambert |
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A-18 |
Nine Pound Hammer |
02:22 |
24 Mar 1956 |
WYCB Radio Studio |
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P.D. |
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Gtr | Bjo | Fid | Mnd | ||||||||||||||||||
Carter Stanley |
Ralph Stanley |
Ralph Mayo |
Curley Lambert |
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A-19 |
Feast Here Tonight |
01:57 |
24 Mar 1956 |
WYCB Radio Studio |
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Pete Kirby |
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Gtr | Bjo | Fid | Mnd | ||||||||||||||||||
Carter Stanley |
Ralph Stanley |
Ralph Mayo |
Curley Lambert |
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A-20 |
Tragic Love |
01:50 |
24 Mar 1956 |
WYCB Radio Studio |
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Buddy Dee |
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Gtr | Bjo | Fid | Mnd | ||||||||||||||||||
Carter Stanley |
Ralph Stanley |
Ralph Mayo |
Curley Lambert |
[1] email from Larry Ehrlich quoted in David W. Johnson's book 'Lonesome Melodies - The Lives And Music Of The Stanley Brothers' (p.128)