Initially I wasn't going to include a Stanley Brothers discography, but now that the Song Search feature has been added, it's become pretty obvious that one is needed.
A few Stanley Brothers discographies have been attempted over the years, but Gary B. Reid's The Music Of The Stanley Brothers book is the definitive work, packed with information and it's also an excellent read.[1]
I've tried to use alternative sources wherever possible, principally reissue liner notes, online discographies and label listings. These all however, I think either directly or indirectly, make use of Gary's work, so I apologise in advance for any plagarism.
What follows is a bare-bones listing & as previously done with the Ralph Stanley discography, more detailed info on individual releases will be added in the coming weeks/months...
If you're new to The Stanley Brothers, I'd recommend checking out The Complete Mercury Recordings, The Complete Columbia Stanley Brothers, The Early Starday/King Years, 1958-1961 and The King Years, 1961-1965 CD compilations. These four releases contain all the main recordings by The Stanley Brothers, except for their early period, which is best covered by the Earliest Recordings: The Complete Rich-R-Tone 78s Rounder CD.
Click on any 'hyperlinked' release below to view more info.
On any table, click on a 'Column Header' to sort by ID, Title, Label/Cat No or Year... Clicking once will sort the table [A-Z] and twice will reverse sort as [Z-A].
Including a couple of 'Split' albums with other artists, and compilations where there is a significant set of Stanley Brothers material.
# | Title | Label/Cat No | Year |
---|---|---|---|
1 |
Country Pickin And Singin' (Compilation) |
(Mercury MG-20349) |
Sep 1958 |
2 |
The Stanley Brothers & The Clinch Mountain Boys |
(King KLP-615) |
Mar 1959 |
3 |
Hymns And Sacred Songs |
(King KLP-645) |
Oct 1959 |
4 |
Mountain Song Favorites |
(Starday SLP-106) |
Nov 1959 |
5 |
Sing Everybody's Country Favorites |
(King KLP-690) |
Jun 1960 |
6 |
For The Good People |
(King KLP-698) |
Aug 1960 |
7 |
Sacred Songs From The Hills |
(Starday SLP-122) |
Oct 1960 |
8 |
In Person |
(King KLP-719) |
Nov 1960 |
9 |
The Stanley Brothers (Compilation) |
(Columbia Harmony HL-7291) |
Apr 1961 |
10 |
Old Time Camp Meeting |
(King KLP-750) |
May 1961 |
11 |
Sing The Songs They Like Best |
(King KLP-772) |
Nov 1961 |
12 |
Award Winners At The Folk Song Festival |
(King KLP-791) |
Mar 1962 |
13 |
Good Old Camp Meeting Songs |
(King KLP-805) |
May 1962 |
14 |
Mountain Music Sound Of The Stanley Brothers |
(Starday SLP-201) |
Dec 1962 |
15 |
Folk Concert |
(King KLP-834) |
Mar 1963 |
16 |
Hard Times (Compilation) |
(Mercury MG-20884) |
Nov 1963 |
17 |
Country Folk Music Spotlight |
(King KLP-864) |
Dec 1963 |
18 |
The Best Of The Stanley Brothers (Compilation) |
(London MH(L)-39) |
1963 |
19 |
The Best Of The Stanley Brothers Vol. 2 (Compilation) |
(London MH-139) |
1964 |
20 |
America's Finest Five-String Banjo Hootenanny |
(King KLP-872) |
Jan 1964 |
21 |
John's Gospel Quartet |
(Wango LP-103) |
c1964 |
22 |
Hymns Of The Cross |
(King KLP-918) |
Jul 1964 |
23 |
The Remarkable Stanley Brothers Play And Sing Bluegrass Songs For You |
(King KLP-924) |
Nov 1964 |
24 |
The Best Of The Stanley Brothers (Compilation) |
(Odeon OR-7005) |
1964 |
25 |
Bluegrass Hootenanny (Split Compilation) |
(London MH-186) |
Nov 1964 |
26 |
John's Country Quartet |
(Wango LP-104) |
c1964/5 |
27 |
John's Gospel Quartet |
(Wango LP-105) |
c1965/6 |
28 |
John's Gospel Quartet - Songs Of Mother And Home |
(Wango LP-106) |
c1965/6 |
29 |
Goes To Europe (Split) |
(Rimrock RLP-200) |
c1966 |
30 |
Their Original Recordings (Compilation) |
(Melodeon MLP-7322) |
Feb 1966 |
31 |
The Angels Are Singing (Compilation) |
(Columbia Harmony HL-7377) |
Jun 1966 |
32 |
A Collection Of Original Gospel And Sacred Songs |
(King KLP-963) |
cJun 1966 |
33 |
Jacob's Vision (Compilation) |
(Starday SLP-384) |
Sep 1966 |
34 |
The Famous Song Hits Of The Stanley Brothers (Compilation) |
(Nashville NLP-2037) |
Sep 1966 |
35 |
The Best Of The Stanley Brothers (Compilation) |
(London SLH-46) |
1966 |
36 |
Blue Grass Special (Split Compilation) |
(Stateside SR-8019) |
Jun 1967 |
37 |
Bluegrass Gospel Favorites |
(Cabin Creek CC-203) |
1967 |
38 |
Sing The Best-Loved Sacred Songs Of Carter Stanley (Compilation) |
(King KLP-1013) |
1967 |
39 |
In Memory Of Carter Stanley: "An Empty Mansion" |
(Rimrock RLP-153) |
1967 |
40 |
Memorial Album (Compilation) |
(London SLH-91) |
1967 |
41 |
A Beautiful Life |
(Rimrock RLP-200) |
c1967 |
42 |
How Far To Little Rock (Compilation) |
(King KLP-1046) |
May 1969 |
43 |
On Stage (Live Compilation) |
(Seven Seas SR(M) 287-288) |
1969 |
44 |
Orange Blossom Special (Compilation) |
(Mercury SMX-7108) |
1970 |
45 |
Sweeter Than The Flowers (Compilation) |
(Nashville NLP-2078) |
Apr 1970 |
46 |
The Legendary Stanley Brothers Recorded Live, Vol. 1 (Live Compilation) |
(Rebel SLP-1487) |
1970 |
47 |
The Legendary Stanley Brothers Recorded Live, Vol. 2 (Live Compilation) |
(Rebel SLP-1495) |
1970 |
48 |
Rank Strangers (Compilation) |
(Nashville NLP-2112) |
Apr 1970 |
49 |
Stanley Brothers (Compilation) |
(London SLC(M)-344) |
1971 |
50 |
Together For The Last Time (Live Compilation) |
(Joy 10329) |
1971 |
51 |
The Stanley Brothers & The Clinch Mountain Boys (Compilation) |
(Mercury SFL 9085-6) |
1971 |
52 |
The Stanley Brothers (Compilation) |
(Collectors Classics CC1) |
May 1972 |
53 |
The Stanley Brothers (Compilation) |
(Collectors Classics CC2) |
1973 |
54 |
Stanley Brothers Of Virginia, Vol. 1: That Little Old Country Church House |
(County CO-738) |
1973 |
55 |
Stanley Brothers Of Virginia, Vol. 2: Long Journey Home |
(County CO-739) |
1973 |
56 |
The Stanley Brothers And The Clinch Mountain Boys (Compilation) |
(Mercury FDX-9059-60) |
1974 |
57 |
The Stanley Brothers And The Clinch Mountain Boys Vol. 2 (Compilation) |
(Mercury FDX-9063-4) |
1974 |
58 |
The Best Of The Stanley Brothers (Compilation) |
(London GT-6006) |
1974 |
59 |
Stanley Brothers Of Virginia, Vol. 4 |
(County CO-754) |
1976 |
60 |
On The Air |
(Wango LP-115) |
1976 |
61 |
Recorded 1956-57 (Compilation) |
(Collectors Classics CC LP 7) |
1976 |
62 |
The Stanley Brothers Vol. 1 (Compilation) |
(CBS/Sony 20AP-13) |
1976 |
63 |
The Stanley Brothers Vol. 2 (Compilation) |
(CBS/Sony 20AP-14) |
1976 |
64 |
The Best Of... (Compilation) |
(Gusto/Starday SLP-953) |
1976 |
65 |
Stanley Brothers Of Virginia, Vol. 3: Uncloudy Day |
(County CO-753) |
1977 |
66 |
Vintage Years Vol. 1 (Compilation) |
(Collectors Classics CC LP 11) |
1977 |
67 |
Vintage Years Vol. 2 (Compilation) |
(Collectors Classics CC LP 12) |
1977 |
68 |
16 Greatest Hits (Compilation) |
(Gusto SD-3003) |
1978 |
69 |
20 Bluegrass Originals (Compilation) |
(Gusto GD-5026) |
1978 |
70 |
16 Greatest Gospel Hits (Compilation) |
(Gusto GT-0016) |
1978 |
71 |
Columbia Sessions Vol. 1 (Compilation) |
(Rounder ROU-SS-09) |
1980 |
72 |
I Saw The Light (Compilation) |
(Gusto GT-0062) |
1980 |
73 |
The Stanley Brothers (Compilation) |
(Gusto/Starday SK5-732) |
1980 |
74 |
Shadows Of The Past (Live Compilation) |
(Copper Creek CCLP-0101) |
1981 |
75 |
Old Country Church (Compilation) |
(Gusto GT-0084) |
1981 |
76 |
Vintage Years 1954 - 1956 (Compilation) |
(Collectors Classics CC-16) |
1981 |
77 |
Vintage Years (Compilation) |
(Collectors Classics CC-17) |
1981 |
78 |
Columbia Sessions Vol. 2 (Compilation) |
(Rounder ROU-SS-10) |
1982 |
79 |
Stanley Series, Vol. 1 No. 1 (Live) |
(Copper Creek CCSS-V1N1) |
Jun 1982 |
80 |
Stanley Series, Vol. 1 No. 2 (Live) |
(Copper Creek CCSS-V1N2) |
Sep 1982 |
81 |
Stanley Series, Vol. 1 No. 3 (Live) |
(Copper Creek CCSS-V1N3) |
Dec 1982 |
82 |
Collectors Edition, Vol. 1 (Compilation) |
(Gusto GT-0103) |
1983 |
83 |
Collectors Edition, Vol. 2 (Compilation) |
(Gusto GT-0104) |
1983 |
84 |
Collectors Edition, Vol. 3 (Compilation) |
(Gusto GT-0105) |
1983 |
85 |
Collectors Edition, Vol. 4 (Compilation) |
(Gusto GT-0106) |
1983 |
86 |
Collectors Edition, Vol. 5 (Compilation) |
(Gusto GT-0107) |
1983 |
87 |
Collectors Edition, Vol. 6 (Compilation) |
(Gusto GT-0108) |
1983 |
88 |
On Radio, Vol. 1 |
(County CO-780) |
1983 |
89 |
On Radio, Vol. 2 |
(County CO-781) |
1983 |
90 |
Stanley Series, Vol. 1 No. 4 (Live) |
(Copper Creek CCSS-V1N4) |
1984 |
91 |
Stanley Series, Vol. 2 No. 1 (Live) |
(Copper Creek CCSS-V2N1) |
1984 |
92 |
Stanley Series, Vol. 2 No. 2 (Live) |
(Copper Creek CCSS-V2N2) |
1984 |
93 |
Starday Sessions (Compilation) |
(County CCS-106/7) |
1984 |
94 |
Sacred Songs (Compilation) |
(Collectors Classics CCLP-20) |
1984 |
95 |
Stanley Brothers (Compilation) |
(Richmond N5-2333) |
1986 |
96 |
Stanley Series, Vol. 2 No. 3 (Live) |
(Copper Creek CCSS-V2N3) |
1986 |
97 |
Stanley Series, Vol. 2 No. 4 (Live) |
(Copper Creek CCSS-V2N4) |
1987 |
98 |
Stanley Series, Vol. 3 No. 1 (Live) |
(Copper Creek CCSS-V3N1) |
1987 |
99 |
Orange Blossom Special (Compilation) |
(Mercury 32PD-236) |
1987 |
100 |
The Stanley Brothers On WCYB Bristol |
(Rebel REB-855) |
1988 |
101 |
Stanley Series, Vol. 3 No. 2 (Live) |
(Copper Creek CCSS-V3N2) |
1989 |
102 |
4 CD Gospel Set (Compilation) |
(Gusto BXS-3624) |
1989 |
103 |
Live At Antioch College 1960 (Live) |
(Vintage Collector's Club ZK-002) |
c198? |
104 |
Stanley Series, Vol. 3 No. 3 (Live) |
(Copper Creek CCCD-3-3) |
1990 |
105 |
On Radio |
(Rebel REB-CD-1115) |
1991 |
106 |
The Stanley Brothers & The Clinch Mountain Boys 1949-52 (Compilation) |
(Bear BCD-15564) |
1991 |
107 |
Stanley Series, Vol. 3 No. 4 (Live) |
(Copper Creek CCCD-5512) |
1992 |
108 | The Early Starday/King Years, 1958-1961 (Compilation) |
(King/Starday KBSCD-7000) |
1993 |
109 |
The Stanley Brothers & The Clinch Mountain Boys 1953 - 1958 & 1959 (Compilation) |
(Bear BCD-15681) |
1993 |
110 |
Clinch Mountain Bluegrass (Live Compilation) |
(Vanguard 77018) |
1994 |
111 |
Angel Band: The Classic Mercury Recordings (Compilation) |
(Mercury MERC-314-528-191-2) |
1995 |
112 |
The Complete Columbia Stanley Brothers (Compilation) |
(Columbia Legacy CK-53798) |
Mar 1996 |
113 |
Stanley Series, Vol. 4 No. 1 (Live) |
(Copper Creek CCCD-5513) |
1996 |
114 |
Stanley Series, Vol. 4 No. 2 (Live) |
(Copper Creek CCCD-5514?) |
c1996 |
115 |
Earliest Recordings (Compilation) |
(Revenant REV-203) |
1997 |
116 |
Amazing Grace (Compilation) |
(Gusto/King KSCD 5104) |
1998 |
117 |
Hills Of Roan County (Compilation) |
(Gusto/King KSCD 5106) |
1998 |
118 |
Bluegrass Salvation: I'm Ready To Go (Compilation) |
(Gusto/King KSCD 5109) |
1998 |
119 |
Don't Cheat In Our Home Town (Compilation) |
(Gusto/Starday 6512-2) |
1998 |
120 |
Best Of The Best: Vintage Bluegrass (Compilation) |
(Gusto/Federal FED-CD-6515-2) |
1998 |
121 |
Best Of The Best: All Bluegrass All Gospel (Compilation) |
(Gusto/Federal FED-CD-6522) |
1998 |
122 |
I'll Meet You In Church Sunday Morning (Compilation) |
(Gusto/King KSCD-5112) |
1999 |
123 |
Berkeley, CA (Live) |
(No Label No #) |
199? |
124 |
Complete Starday And King Instrumentals (Compilation) |
(Gusto/King KSCD5121) |
2000 |
125 |
Old Time Songs (Live in Studio) |
(Stanleytone ST-5001) |
2001 |
126 |
Riding That New River Train (Live) |
(Stanleytone ST-5002) |
2001 |
127 |
Folk Festival (Live) |
(Stanleytone ST-5003) |
2001 |
128 |
Precious Memories (Compilation) |
(Gusto/King KSCD-1504) |
2001 |
129 |
Too Late To Cry (Compilation) |
(Catfish KATCD206) |
2001 |
130 |
The Best Of The Stanley Brothers: The Millennium Collection (Compilation) |
(Mercury MERC-088-170-222-2) |
2002 |
131 |
I'm A Man Of Constant Sorrow (Compilation) |
(Golden Stars GSS-5346) |
2002 |
132 |
All Time Greatest Hits (Compilation) |
(Gusto/King KSCD-0507) |
2002 |
133 |
Echoes Of Clinch Mountain (Compilation) |
(Country Stars CTS-55476) |
2002 |
134 |
Best Of The Best: I'm A Man Of Constant Sorrow - O Death (Compilation) |
(Gusto/Federal FED-CD-6560-2) |
2002 |
135 |
The Complete Mercury Recordings (Compilation) |
(Mercury MERC-B0000534-02) |
2003 |
136 |
The King Years, 1961-1965 (Compilation) |
(King KG-0950-2) |
2003 |
137 |
Don't Cheat In Our Home Town: Bluegrass Is Timeless (Compilation) |
(Gusto/King KG 0331-2) |
2003 |
138 |
Lord I'm Coming Home: Bluegrass Is Timeless (Compilation) |
(Gusto/King KG 0332-2) |
2003 |
139 |
Bully Of The Town: Bluegrass Is Timeless (Compilation) |
(Gusto/King KG 0333-2) |
2003 |
140 |
Ridin' That Midnight Train: Bluegrass Is Timeless (Compilation) |
(Gusto/King KG 0334-2) |
2003 |
141 |
What A Friend We Have In Jesus: Bluegrass Is Timeless (Compilation) |
(Gusto/King KG 0335-2) |
2003 |
142 |
Amazing Grace: Bluegrass Is Timeless (Compilation) |
(Gusto/King KG 0336-2) |
2003 |
143 |
An Evening Long Ago (Live in Studio) |
(Columbia CK-86747) |
Mar 2004 |
144 |
Live At New River Ranch (Live) |
(No Label No #) |
c2004 |
145 |
Brown County Jamboree (Live) |
(No Label No #) |
2004 |
146 |
Songs Of The Carter Family (Compilation) |
(Gusto/King KSCD 540) |
c2004 |
147 |
Sing The Songs Of Bill Monroe (Compilation) |
(Gusto GT-0547-2) |
c2004 |
148 |
Choo Choo Coming (Compilation) |
(Gusto GT-0558-2) |
2004 |
149 |
The Essential Masters (Compilation) |
(Varese Sarabande 203-066-609-2) |
2004 |
150 |
Earliest Recordings: The Complete Rich-R-Tone 78s (Compilation) |
(Rounder 11661-1110-2) |
2004 |
151 |
The Essential Gospel Masters (Compilation) |
(Varese Sarabande 203-066-669-2) |
2005 |
152 |
Sweetest Love (Compilation) |
(Country Stars CTS-55525) |
2006 |
153 |
The Definitive Collection (1947 - 1966) (Compilation) |
(Time Life B00007883-02) |
2007 |
154 |
The Later King Years (Compilation) |
(Ace CDCHD-1167) |
2007 |
155 |
Songs Of Tragedy And Redemption (Compilation) |
(Snapper/Complete Country SCOUNTCD001) |
2011 |
156 |
Hymn (Compilation) |
(Righteous PSALM 23:54) |
2011 |
157 |
Eight Classic Albums (Compilation) |
(Real Gone RGMCD009) |
2013 |
158 |
I'm Ready To Go (Compilation) |
(Gusto/Tee Vee TVC 0785) |
2014 |
159 |
Valley View Park 1957 (Live) |
(Stanley Family Records SFR-002) |
2017 |
160 |
The Very Best Of... |
(Not Now Music NOT2CD733) |
2019 |
161 |
Eight Classic Albums Plus Bonus Singles (compilation) |
(Reel To Reel RTRCD-114) |
2019 |
162 |
Selected Singles 1953-1960 (compilation) |
(Jasmine JASMCD-3755) |
2021 |
This is some of the noteworthy compilation appearances, where there is unique material, or where a song has been released with an alternative title...
I don't expect these are in the correct order and I haven't yet attempted to sort the 'A' and 'B' sides out...