V/A - Stories From The Past

(Wango CD-123) 2003

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This compilation of Ray Davis' recordings includes The Vacant Chair by Ralph where he sings the opening and closing parts a cappella and Ray Davis adds his Dying Soldier spoken word monologue in the middle (along with some banjo by Lloyd Douglas). Each of Ralph's parts last approx 25 seconds... and the first has also previously appeared on the Plum Pitiful Vol. 2 CD.

The session with Ralph took place in 1996, with Davis & Douglas presumably adding their parts in 2003.

The track was subsequently included on the 2005 Civil War Memories compilation CD.

Ralph later re-recorded The Vacant Chair with a band on the V/A - Divided & United compilation in 2013. The song first appeared in the 'Worcester Spy' newspaper around Thanksgiving 1861. It was written to commemorate the death of Lieutentant John William Grout of the 15th Massachusetts Infantry, who was killed at the Battle Of Ball's Bluff.

The other material consists of recitations by Ray Davis, with backing from various 1975 sessions by Don Reno & Bill Harrell, assisted by Duck Austin, Ed Ferris, Dale Reno, Ronnie Reno, Buck Ryan, Chubby Wise. Two tracks are from 2002 & 2003 and feature David Davis, Scott Brannon, Lloyd Douglas and Marty Hays.

A full 46:13 min CD of recitations is pretty repetitive, so this will mainly appeal to Don Reno completists.

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