Various Artists - Radio Series Vol. 5

(Wango CD-125) 2005

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The fifth edition of the "Radio Series" includes part of a live broadcast the Stanley's made from "Johnny's Used Car Lot" in Dec. 1963. They had been booked by Ray Davis for the week prior, recording around 25 radio shows for him, and after this afternoon Christmas party show, they recorded the first John's Gospel Quartet LP later in the evening.

Another portion of the "Christmas Show" can be found on Radio Series Vol. 6, and from the introductions by Ray Davis and Ralph, it sounds like the section on this CD comes from later in the afternoon, after that which kicks off Vol. 6.

Not all of the party is included on the tape. At the end of Man Of Constant Sorrow, Ralph introduces How Far To Little Rock which is quickly faded out and the start of following comedy routine is also slightly cut.

As with the other shows Ray Davis recorded in that week, Carter was suffering with laryngitis and so lead vocal work was handled by Ralph (Ralph Stranger), George Shuffler (Late Last Night, Long Black Veil) or both (Drinking From The Fountain). There's also a very short snippet of Gotta Travel On with Henry Dockery on vocal, which isn't listed on the CD.

Sound quality is generally pretty good, but there is a bit of tape wow/speed fluctuation on Drinking From The Fountain.

Jack Cooke and The Kentucky Colonels were also present in the audience, and Jack can be heard making the occasional 'holler' of encouragement, whilst Carter gives an on air plug to the Kentucky Colonels, who were passing by when the broadcast was made.

It's also worth mentioning the Gillis Brothers, who are also featured on Radio Series Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 6 and Vol. 7. In a piece in Bluegrass Unlimited, Ralph Stanley had this to say about them:- "I always hear a lot of good things about people like the Gillis Brothers doing the old Stanley songs in the old way and I'm always glad to hear it, because every time I do, I feel like it's helping to keep mine and Carter's songs alive"."^[1]

It occurred to me that the reason why these 'Radio Series' shows are not split into individual CD tracks, may have been due to the way the US mechanical royalties are calculated (i.e. more tracks would have incurred higher production costs)?

Thanks again to Chris Wing for the loan of this one!

• Carter Stanley: guitar, vocals
• Ralph Stanley: banjo, vocals
• Henry Dockery: bass
• George Shuffler: lead guitar

For a detailed breakdown and background to the Stanley's session, check Gary B. Reid's The Music Of The Stanley Brothers book, pages 174 and 208.

Other artwork / related images:

[1] 'Bluegrass Unlimited' Nov. 1991 - "The Gillis Brothers - Going For Broke" by Janice Brown McDonald (p.33-35)