Earliest Recordings: Comp Rich-R-Tone 78's 1947-52 [Original recording remastered]

The Stanley Brothers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 12, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Rounder / Umgd
• ASIN: B0000C668B
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #147,559 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Finally, the Stanleys' very first--and very scarce, even when they were initially issued--14 sides return to circulation. The brothers had been together just six months when they signed with the Johnson City, Tennessee, Rich-R-Tone label; their initial efforts are built around old-time, even archaic, mountain harmonies à la the Monroe Brothers and the Carter Family plus Ralph's two-fingered banjo style. By 1952, his three-fingered technique was in place and the Stanleys were the first group following in the footsteps of Bill Monroe's fully realized bluegrass sound. You can hear the evolution here, including two versions of "Little Glass of Wine" (their first "hit"), the strange combination of tensed and relaxed on "Our Darling's Gone," and such breathtaking romps as "Are You Waiting for Me," "Molly and Tenbrook," and "Little Birdie." Carter's warm leads and Ralph's rugged harmonies got even better with time, of course, but with the youthful exuberance they bring to this material, they're already capable of sometimes chilling you to the bone. --John Morthland

Product Description

No Description Available.
Genre: Folk Music
Media Format: Compact Disk
Rating:
Release Date: 12-APR-2005

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Experience their early enthusiasm and delight in their sound, April 26, 2005

By 

J. Ross "a-music_fan" (Roseburg, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Earliest Recordings: Comp Rich-R-Tone 78's 1947-52 (Audio CD)

Playing Time - 35:02 -- The Stanley Brothers started recording just after going to Bristol, Va. in early 1947. Hobart [Jim] Stanton had a company in Johnson City, Tn., had heard them on the radio and contacted them about recording. Initially, the Stanleys recorded at WOPI radio station in Bristol, Va. The first session was Pee Wee Lambert (mandolin), Leslie Keith (fiddle), Carter (guitar) and Ralph (banjo). "Mother No Longer Awaits Me at Home," "The Girl Behind the Bar," "Death is Only a Dream," and "I Can Tell You the Time" were cut. Ray Lambert added bass vocal on the latter two songs. No bass players recorded with the band at the Rich-R-Tone sessions.

And the band wasn't even paid...only promised royalties. The band was happy just to get records out. An early 1948 session with the same personnel captured Little Maggie, The Jealous Lover, The Little Glass of Wine, and Our Darling's Gone. "Little Glass of Wine" quickly became their most popular song and sold 100,000 copies. Around this time, the band was sponsored by a store in Honaker, Va. called Honaker Harness and Saddlery.

A mid-1948 session saw Art Wooten on fiddle instead of Leslie Keith, and the band recorded The Rambler's Blues and Molly and Tenbrook. The band moved to the Columbia label for a few years but returned to Rich-R-Tone for a mid-1952 session recorded at WLSI at Pikeville, KY. Besides Carter and Ralph, this session included Jim Williams (mandolin) and Art Stamper (fiddle). Leslie Keith had left to form his own band, The Lonesome Valley Boys. The Little Girl and the Dreadful Snake, Little Glass of Wine, Are You Waiting Just For Me, and Little Birdie were the four songs cut.

Considered among their most scarce and exciting songs, this CD was made from the old 78s. Many old photos and extensive liner notes written by Gary Reid are well-researched and much appreciated. It's fun to hear some spontaneous hoots and hollers and pounding beats on songs like "Molly and Tenbrook" and "Little Birdie." Obviously, the Stanley Brothers weren't trying to produce the gentle, smooth sound more typical of brother duets from that period. The Stanleys' "old-time mountain music" is traced more to the influence of groups like Mainer's Mountaineers. While certainly not up to the standards of today's recording quality, these songs have significant historic value. These aren't just for collectors or musicologists. Rather, this CD captures an era in the seminal development of bluegrass music before it was even widely known as bluegrass. The Rich-R-Tone sessions allow us to experience this band's early enthusiasm and to delight in the success of their developing sound. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars where the Stanley Brothers legacy begins..., April 12, 2005

By 

Wilbur29 "Wilbur29" (Poughkeepsie,NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Earliest Recordings: Comp Rich-R-Tone 78's 1947-52 (Audio CD)

This is about the 3rd go round on CD for this re-issue of the Stanley Brothers earliest recordings (I also have them on Bear Family & Revenant discs.) If you are interested in bluegrass & want to hear where the sound came from you need this disc. These recordings bridge the gap between old time string band music & the bluegrass that is to come. Ralph Stanley is still touring & I saw him this past weekend & I'm telling you, you need to buy this disc, go see Ralph, & have him autograph the cover. You won't regret buying this piece of history.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Rich-R-Tone collection I've ever heard, January 18, 2006

By 

Ben Dewberry (PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Earliest Recordings: Comp Rich-R-Tone 78's 1947-52 (Audio CD)

Out of the three different issues of the Stanley Brothers Rich R Tone material, this is by far the very best...most of the sides on this CD sound like they came from new copies of these very rare discs. In particular, the bass sounds really come out well.