Clinch Mountain Echo

CMB Birthdays this month:

04 Jan 1930 - Ralph Mayo. Born 'Ralph Eugene Mayo' in Surgeonsville, Tennessee.

06 Jan 1934 - Al Elliott.

10 Jan 1923 - Curly Ray Cline. Born in Baisden, Mingo, West Virginia.

16 Jan 1931 - John Shuffler. Valdese, North Carolina.

24 Jan 1947 - Joe Isaacs. Born in Big Hill, Kentucky.


In Memoriam:

04 Jan 2008 - Vernon Derrick. Marshall, Alabama.

23 Jan 2005 - Art Stamper. Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky.


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

Ralph II ralph2.com

Spotlight on:-

Collectors Edition, Vol. 1
(Gusto GT-0103)


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Clinch Mountain Echo

The Stanley Brothers - Riding That New River Train

(Stanleytone ST-5002) 2001


Ridin' That New River Train

Average Album Rating: 4.82
(Total votes 11)

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This recording was made on Sunday 27th August 1961 at the New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md. i.e. Carter's 36th birthday! It was also only 8 days after their father Lee Stanley had died,[1] so it's quite surprising that the performance is upbeat, with the band seemingly in fine spirits.

Ralph:- "Lee had been doing poorly, and we'd known that the day was going to come sooner rather than later, but Carter really took that hard. He was closer to Lee than I was, and I think it weighted on him heavy, he wasn't as strong as he once was."[2]

The gig included George Shuffler on lead guitar, and guest appearances by Jack Cooke on bass and Carl Hawkins (aka Carl Chatski/Chatsky) on mandolin. Most of the songs are fairly typical of the other 1961 sets that have been released, but Ralph's performance of Bill Monroe's I'm On My Way Back To The Old Home and Jack Cooke's rendition of Used To Be may be unique to this set.

Ralph's Man Of Constant Sorrow features some unusual unison vocal singing in parts, possibly by Jack Cooke, and much to the amusement of the other band members.

Pretty Polly is also a bit unusual, as Ralph adds an extra verse, wherein the protangonist gets on a ship and sails out to sea, only to hit a rock and sink!

The show was also interrupted by some yellow jackets, which prompts Carter to adlib a little during Old Love Letters and later calls are made from the stage to find and destroy the nest. Ralph:- "There was a hive tucked in the roof of the stage. Somehow, around the time I played 'Clinch Mountain Backstep', that old forward roll on the banjo got 'em all stirred up and they started swarming.... We had to stop the show for a while and clear the hive out."[3]

The album comes with extensive liner notes by Gary B. Reid.

The show was taped by Leon Kagarise and has much of the intersong dialogue intact. Quality is pretty good, although the latter half sounds like it may play slightly too fast.

Thanks to Chris Wing for the cassette scans.

  • Carter Stanley: guitar, vocal
  • Ralph Stanley: banjo, vocal
  • Jack Cooke: bass (a)
  • Carl Hawkins: mandolin
  • George Shuffler: lead guitar (b)

NB: (a) Jack Cooke sings lead on Molly And Tenbrook and Used To Be.
(b) George Shuffler sings lead on Happy Birthday, Willy Roy and On Top Of Old Smoky.

For more detailed breakdown and background to the show, check Gary B. Reid's The Music Of The Stanley Brothers book, pages 129 and 158-159.

 

Track:
Title:
Time:
Date:
Original Release:
A-1
Steel Guitar Rag
01:11
27 Aug 1961
New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md.

Leon McAuliffe
  Gtr Bjo Ld Gtr Mnd Bs    
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Carl Hawkins
Jack Cooke
 
 
A-2
Introduction
00:41
27 Aug 1961
New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md.

N/A
  Gtr Bjo Ld Gtr Mnd Bs    
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Carl Hawkins
Jack Cooke
 
 
A-3
Old Love Letters
02:39
27 Aug 1961
New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md.

Johnny Bond
  Gtr Bjo Ld Gtr Mnd Bs    
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Carl Hawkins
Jack Cooke
 
 
A-4
Commentary
00:54
27 Aug 1961
New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md.

N/A
  Gtr Bjo Ld Gtr Mnd Bs    
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Carl Hawkins
Jack Cooke
 
 
A-5
Riding That Midnight Train
02:35
27 Aug 1961
New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md.

R. Stanley
  Gtr Bjo Ld Gtr Mnd Bs    
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Carl Hawkins
Jack Cooke
 
 
A-6
Molly And Tenbrooks
03:40
27 Aug 1961
New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md.

Bill Monroe
  Gtr Bjo Ld Gtr Mnd Bs    
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Carl Hawkins
Jack Cooke
 
 
A-7
If I Lose
01:56
27 Aug 1961
New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md.

R. Stanley
  Gtr Bjo Ld Gtr Mnd Bs    
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Carl Hawkins
Jack Cooke
 
 
A-8
Jordan
01:56
27 Aug 1961
New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md.

P.D.
  Gtr Bjo Ld Gtr Mnd Bs    
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Carl Hawkins
Jack Cooke
 
 
A-9
I'm On My Way Back To The Old Home
02:29
27 Aug 1961
New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md.

Bill Monroe
  Gtr Bjo Ld Gtr Mnd Bs    
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Carl Hawkins
Jack Cooke
 
 
A-10
Clinch Mountain Backstep
01:48
27 Aug 1961
New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md.

Ruby Rakes
  Gtr Bjo Ld Gtr Mnd Bs    
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Carl Hawkins
Jack Cooke
 
 
A-11
God Gave You To Me
02:08
27 Aug 1961
New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md.

R. Stanley
  Gtr Bjo Ld Gtr Mnd Bs    
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Carl Hawkins
Jack Cooke
 
 
A-12
Band introductions
01:20
27 Aug 1961
New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md.

N/A
  Gtr Bjo Ld Gtr Mnd Bs    
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Carl Hawkins
Jack Cooke
 
 
A-13
Willy Roy
01:33
27 Aug 1961
New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md.

P.D.
  Gtr Bjo Ld Gtr Mnd Bs    
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Carl Hawkins
Jack Cooke
 
 
A-14
How Mountain Girls Can Love
01:41
27 Aug 1961
New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md.

Ruby Rakes
  Gtr Bjo Ld Gtr Mnd Bs    
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Carl Hawkins
Jack Cooke
 
 
A-15
Next Sunday Darling Is My Birthday
01:54
27 Aug 1961
New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md.

Syd Nathan / Arthur Q. Smith
  Gtr Bjo Ld Gtr Mnd Bs    
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Carl Hawkins
Jack Cooke
 
 
A-16
Happy Birthday
00:19
27 Aug 1961
New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md.

Mildred Hill / Patty Hill ?
  Gtr Bjo Ld Gtr Mnd Bs    
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Carl Hawkins
Jack Cooke
 
 
A-17
The Window Up Above
02:54
27 Aug 1961
New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md.

George Jones
  Gtr Bjo Ld Gtr Mnd Bs    
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Carl Hawkins
Jack Cooke
 
 
A-18
The White Dove
03:12
27 Aug 1961
New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md.

C. Stanley
  Gtr Bjo Ld Gtr Mnd Bs    
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Carl Hawkins
Jack Cooke
 
 
A-19
Used To Be
02:13
27 Aug 1961
New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md.

Bill Monroe
  Gtr Bjo Ld Gtr Mnd Bs    
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Carl Hawkins
Jack Cooke
 
 
A-20
Man Of Constant Sorrow
02:44
27 Aug 1961
New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md.

R.D. Burnett
  Gtr Bjo Ld Gtr Mnd Bs    
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Carl Hawkins
Jack Cooke
 
 
A-21
Rank Stranger
02:50
27 Aug 1961
New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md.

Albert E. Brumley
  Gtr Bjo Ld Gtr Mnd Bs    
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Carl Hawkins
Jack Cooke
 
 
A-22
On Top Of Old Smoky
02:45
27 Aug 1961
New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md.

P.D.
  Gtr Bjo Ld Gtr Mnd Bs    
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Carl Hawkins
Jack Cooke
 
 
A-23
A Few More Years
03:14
27 Aug 1961
New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md.

Horatius Bonar
  Gtr Bjo Ld Gtr Mnd Bs    
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Carl Hawkins
Jack Cooke
 
 
A-24
Pretty Polly
03:22
27 Aug 1961
New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md.

P.D.
  Gtr Bjo Ld Gtr Mnd Bs    
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Carl Hawkins
Jack Cooke
 
 
A-25
Daybreak In Dixie
01:29
27 Aug 1961
New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md.

Bill Napier
  Gtr Bjo Ld Gtr Mnd Bs    
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Carl Hawkins
Jack Cooke
 
 
A-26
How Far To Little Rock
02:57
27 Aug 1961
New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md.

Ruby Rakes
  Gtr Bjo Ld Gtr Mnd Bs    
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Carl Hawkins
Jack Cooke
 
 
A-27
Cumberland Gap
00:15
27 Aug 1961
New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md.

P.D.
  Gtr Bjo Ld Gtr Mnd Bs    
  Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
George Shuffler
Carl Hawkins
Jack Cooke
 
 
Other artwork / related images:
CD Rear Cover CD Tray Cassette Inlay Cassette Inlay
Carter Stanley - 27th August 1961 LR: Ralph, Carter, George Shuffler (hidden), Jack Cooke, Carl Chatski Carter Stanley - New River Ranch 1961

[1] Fitzhugh Lee Stanley died 19th Aug 1961 - www.ancestry.co.uk and David W. Johnson's book 'Lonesome Melodies - The Lives And Music Of The Stanley Brothers' (p.90)
[2] Ralph Stanley and Eddie Dean's book 'Man Of Constant Sorrow' (p. 229)
[3] Ralph Stanley and Eddie Dean's book 'Man Of Constant Sorrow' (p. 361)

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

Ralph II ralph2.com

Spotlight on:-

(Claw Hammer) The Way My Mama Taught Me
(Stanley Tone RTS-1532)


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Rebel Records
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