Various Artists - Freight Trains Ride Again, Vol. 1

(Wango CD-117) 2000

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This is another of Ray Davis' compilations which is largely drawn from his basement recordings. This one is noteworthy as it features a different version of The Stanley Brothers Nine Pound Hammer which doesn't appear to have been released elsewhere. In addition there's a version of In The Pines which sounds like it is the same as the Stanley's Dec. 1963 recording which was originally released on the 7" Wango EP-110 and subsequently on the On The Air LP. The odd thing about it though, is that the song introduction is by Carter, whereas the On The Air LP features Ralph handling the emcee work.

Nine Pound Hammer is similar to the version the Stanley's recorded for the John's Country Quartet (reissued as Stanley Brothers Of Virginia, Vol. 2: Long Journey Home), with the same styled guitar intro and banjo / guitar / banjo - break order. This suggests to me that it is an out-take from John's Country Quartet LP, rather than being from one of the other Wango sessions.

Comparing to other live versions, it sounds like Carter often used to mix & match verses in this song, but I've included the lyrics to the two studio cuts here just to highlight the difference between the Freight Trains Ride Again and Long Journey Home recordings:

Other material on the CD includes a couple of live recordings by Mac Wiseman (& Chubby Wise) and The Bluegrass Cardinals. The remainder is taken from Ray Davis' basement studio recordings and as ever is a decent mix of traditional 'grass.

Huge thanks to Todd Gracyk for sending me a copy of this one!

For a detailed breakdown and background to the Stanley's session, check Gary B. Reid's The Music Of The Stanley Brothers book, pages 173-174, 180-183, 204-209, 211-212.

Nine Pound Hammer (Wango 117)

Nine Pound Hammer (Wango 104)

Well a nine pound hammer Is a little too heavy For my size For my size Oh Roll on buddy Don't you roll so slow Honey how can I roll When the wheels won't go banjo break Somebody stole A nine pound hammer They took it and gone They took it and gone Oh Roll on buddy Don't you roll so slow Honey how can I roll When the wheels won't go guitar break Well a nine pound hammer Killed John Henry Ain't a gonna kill me Ain't a gonna kill me Oh Roll on buddy Don't you roll so slow Honey how can I roll When the wheels won't go banjo break Well there ain't one hammer In this tunnel Rings like mine That rings like mine Rings like silver Shines like gold Rings like silver Shines like gold Roll on buddy Make your time Honey, I'm broke down And I can't make mine

Well a nine pound hammer Is a little too heavy For my size For my size Oh Roll on buddy Don't you roll so slow Honey how can I roll When the wheels won't go banjo break Somebody stole A nine pound hammer They took it and gone They took it and gone Oh Roll on buddy Don't you roll so slow Honey how can I roll When the wheels won't go guitar break Goin' up on a mountain Gonna see my baby I ain't a comin' back I ain't a comin' back Roll on buddy Make your time Honey, I'm broke down And I can't make mine (Carter Holler's "Now play it" banjo break Well a nine pound hammer Killed John Henry Ain't a gonna kill me Ain't a gonna kill me Oh Roll on buddy Don't you roll so slow Honey how can I roll When the wheels won't go

Other artwork / related images: