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

Spotlight on:-

Hand In Hand With Jesus
(Unknown RSS-4563)


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Dr. Ralph Stanley - American Icon

The Definitive Collection

(No Label) 2016


American Icon

Average Album Rating: 2
(Total votes 2)

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Please rate this album:

This 22 track, 60:31 min collection contains recordings made by Ralph between 2004 and circa 2013 at Maggard Sound Studio.

Seven of the tracks were from sessions recorded in 2004 which were previously featured on the Sings His Favorites Now and Then CD. Two a cappella numbers Me And God and Turn Back, Turn Back were previously released on the Nathan & Ralph Stanley - He Suffered For My Reward CD and contain guest vocal performances by Judy and Dan Marshall from The Marshall Family. I'm also 99% sure that the version of Rank Stranger is the same as the 2013 version from Dr Ralph Stanley & Nathan Stanley - Gospel Favorites CD-R.

From the personnel listings in the CD booklet, it looks like the remaining twelve tracks were recorded circa 2011-2013, as Mitchell Van Dyke joined at the start of 2011 and Jimmy Cameron left the CMB's circa September 2013. I think these are all previously unreleased versions...

I'd argue that the 'Definitive' Ralph collection is the Rebel 1971-1973 box set... but this is still a good set, particularly as the unreleased cuts showcase the later CMB line-up with Dewey/James and Mitchell Van Dyke. Ralph's vocals are still mostly pretty good too...

The CD was released by 'Nathan Stanley Entertainment'.

PS: In the booklet - the top left band photo is by Fred Robbins, and was taken at the 1972 Country Gentlemen Bluegrass festival.

 

Track:
Title:
Time:
Date:
Original Release:
A-1
Man Of Constant Sorrow
03:57
c2012
**Previously Unreleased** ??

R.D. Burnett
  Ld Vcl Bjo Gtr Fid Ld Gtr Mnd Bs  
  Ralph Stanley
Mitchell Van Dyke
Nathan Stanley
Dewey Brown
James Alan Shelton
Don Rigsby
Jimmy Cameron
 
A-2
Dream Of A Miner's Child
03:06
c2012
**Previously Unreleased** ??

Robert Donnelly / Will Geddes
  Ld Vcl Bjo Gtr Fid Ld Gtr Mnd Bs  
  Ralph Stanley
Mitchell Van Dyke
Nathan Stanley
Dewey Brown
James Alan Shelton
Don Rigsby
Jimmy Cameron
 
A-3
Hemlock And Primroses
03:23
c2012
**Previously Unreleased** ??

Landon Messer
  Ld Vcl Bjo Gtr Fid Ld Gtr Mnd Bs  
  Ralph Stanley
Mitchell Van Dyke
Nathan Stanley
Dewey Brown
James Alan Shelton
Don Rigsby
Jimmy Cameron
 
A-4
Me And God
02:14
2007
He Suffered For My Reward

Josh Turner
  Ld Vcl Hrmny Vcl Hrmny Vcl          
  Ralph Stanley
Judy Marshall Dan Marshall        
 
A-5
Rocky Island
02:01
2004
Sings His Favorites...

P.D.
  Ld Vcl - Bjo Gtr Fid Ld Gtr Bs      
  Ralph Stanley
Ralph II Stanley
John Rigsby
James Alan Shelton
Jack Cooke
 
   
A-6
Rank Stranger
03:05
2013
Gospel Favorites (*)

Albert E. Brumley
  Hrmny Vcl Bjo Ld Vcl - Gtr Fid Ld Gtr Mnd Bs  
  Ralph Stanley
Mitchell Van Dyke
Nathan Stanley
Dewey Brown
James Alan Shelton
Don Rigsby
Jimmy Cameron
 
A-7
Old Rail Fence
01:59
2004
Sings His Favorites...

Gary Greear
  Ld Vcl Gtr Fid Ld Gtr Bjo Bs Mnd  
  Ralph Stanley
Ralph II Stanley
John Rigsby
James Alan Shelton
Steve Sparkman
Jack Cooke
Nathan Stanley  
A-8
Little Boy Called Joe
02:46
c2012
**Previously Unreleased** ??

Marijohn Wilkin / Wayne P. Walker
  Ld Vcl Bjo Gtr Fid Ld Gtr Mnd Bs  
  Ralph Stanley
Mitchell Van Dyke
Nathan Stanley
Dewey Brown
James Alan Shelton
Don Rigsby
Jimmy Cameron
 
A-9
Sweet Sally Brown
02:23
2004
Sings His Favorites...

Wendy Smith / R. Stanley
  Ld Vcl Hrmny Vcl - Gtr Hrmny Vcl - Fid/Mnd Ld Gtr Bjo Hrmny Vcl - Bs    
  Ralph Stanley
Ralph II Stanley
John Rigsby
James Alan Shelton
Steve Sparkman
Jack Cooke
   
A-10
Turn Back, Turn Back
02:29
2007
He Suffered For My Reward

P.D.
  Ld Vcl Hrmny Vcl Hrmny Vcl          
  Ralph Stanley
Judy Marshall
Dan Marshall
       
 
A-11
Medicine Springs
02:52
c2012
**Previously Unreleased** ??

Bill Grant / R. Stanley
  Ld Vcl Bjo Gtr Fid Ld Gtr Mnd Bs  
  Ralph Stanley
Mitchell Van Dyke
Nathan Stanley
Dewey Brown
James Alan Shelton
Don Rigsby
Jimmy Cameron
 
A-12
Six More Miles
03:34
c2012
**Previously Unreleased** ??

Hank Williams
  Ld Vcl Bjo Gtr Fid Ld Gtr Mnd Bs  
  Ralph Stanley
Mitchell Van Dyke
Nathan Stanley
Dewey Brown
James Alan Shelton
Don Rigsby
Jimmy Cameron
 
A-13
Purple Robe
02:56
2004
Sings His Favorites...

P.D. arr R. Stanley
  Ld Vcl Hrmny Vcl - Gtr Hrmny Vcl - Fid/Mnd Ld Gtr Hrmny Vcl - Bs      
  Ralph Stanley
Ralph II Stanley
John Rigsby
James Alan Shelton
Jack Cooke
 
   
A-14
Poor Ellen Smith
02:36
c2012
**Previously Unreleased** ??

P.D.
  Ld Vcl Bjo Gtr Fid Ld Gtr Mnd Bs  
  Ralph Stanley
Mitchell Van Dyke
Nathan Stanley
Dewey Brown
James Alan Shelton
Don Rigsby
Jimmy Cameron
 
A-15
How Could I Dream Such A Dream
02:17
2004
Sings His Favorites...

Candace K. Randolph / R. Stanley
  Ld Vcl Gtr Fid/Mnd Ld Gtr Bjo Bs    
  Ralph Stanley
Ralph II Stanley
John Rigsby
James Alan Shelton
Steve Sparkman
Jack Cooke
   
A-16
Shout Little Luly
01:27
2004
Sings His Favorites...

P.D.
  Bjo Gtr Fid Ld Gtr Bs      
  Ralph Stanley
Ralph II Stanley
John Rigsby
James Alan Shelton
Jack Cooke
 
   
A-17
Lover's Quarrel
02:48
c2012
**Previously Unreleased** ??

Gussie Davis
  Ld Vcl Bjo Gtr Fid Ld Gtr Mnd Bs  
  Ralph Stanley
Mitchell Van Dyke
Nathan Stanley
Dewey Brown
James Alan Shelton
Don Rigsby
Jimmy Cameron
 
A-18
A Few More Seasons
03:31
c2012
**Previously Unreleased** ??

R. Stanley
  Ld Vcl Bjo Gtr Fid Ld Gtr Mnd Bs  
  Ralph Stanley
Mitchell Van Dyke
Nathan Stanley
Dewey Brown
James Alan Shelton
Don Rigsby
Jimmy Cameron
 
A-19
John Henry
03:34
c2012
**Previously Unreleased** ??

P.D.
  Ld Vcl Bjo Gtr Fid Ld Gtr Mnd Bs  
  Ralph Stanley
Mitchell Van Dyke
Nathan Stanley
Dewey Brown
James Alan Shelton
Don Rigsby
Jimmy Cameron
 
A-20
Brand New Tennessee Waltz
02:42
c2012
**Previously Unreleased** ??

Jesse James Winchester
  Ld Vcl Bjo Gtr Fid Ld Gtr Mnd Bs  
  Ralph Stanley
Mitchell Van Dyke
Nathan Stanley
Dewey Brown
James Alan Shelton
Don Rigsby
Jimmy Cameron
 
A-21
Room At The Top Of The Stairs
02:37
2004
Sings His Favorites...

Randall Hylton
  Ld Vcl Gtr Fid Ld Gtr Bjo Bs Mnd  
  Ralph Stanley
Ralph II Stanley
John Rigsby
James Alan Shelton
Steve Sparkman
Jack Cooke
Nathan Stanley  
A-22
Little Maggie
02:07
c2012
**Previously Unreleased** ??

P.D.
  Ld Vcl Bjo Gtr Fid Ld Gtr Mnd Bs  
  Ralph Stanley
Mitchell Van Dyke
Nathan Stanley
Dewey Brown
James Alan Shelton
Don Rigsby
Jimmy Cameron
 

NB: (*) I'm not 100% sure - but it sounds like it is the same recording. The version on Nathan Stanley - The Legacy Continues is the same length too but a different mix. Gospel Favorites was mentioned on the Bluegrass Today website in 2013[1] although I didn't see copies for sale until 2015.

Other artwork / related images:
Rear Cover Booklet Picture CD Tray

[1] http://bluegrasstoday.com/nathan-and-ralph-take-it-to-the-bank/

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

Ralph II ralph2.com

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