Echoes of the Stanley Brothers

Ralph Stanley

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 13, 2001)
• Original Release Date: March 13, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Varese Fontana
• ASIN: B00005A8MJ
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #176,697 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Are You Proud of America

2. Rock Bottom

3. Another Song, Another Drink

4. Take Me Back

5. You're Going Away

6. Hulla Gull

7. Let's Keep Old Glory Waving

8. River Underground

9. Ain't It Hard

10. Daughter of Geronimo

11. Buckwheat

12. Keep My Love With You

13. Me Walk Lord by Your Side

14. In Heaven We'll Never Grow Old

15. Wings of Angels

16. Darkest Hour Is Just Before Dawn

17. Working on a Building

18. Gathering Flowers for the Master's Bouquet (Master's Bouquet)

19. Leaning on the Everlasting Arm (Leaning on Jesus)

20. White Dove

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stellar two-fer reissue of powerhouse bluegrass lineup, June 15, 2001

By	hyperbolium (Earth, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

This reissue combines two albums, "Michigan Bluegrass," and "Sing Gospel Echoes of the Stanley Brothers," that were recorded for the tiny Jessup label within six weeks of each other in 1971. At that time, five years after the passing of his older brother, Carter, Ralph was carrying on the Stanley Brothers sound, but moving it forward, creating a unique, vital second act to his career. He was also launching the careers of several soon-to-be country music stars.

The 1971 lineup of the Clinch Mountain Boys included veteran members Curly Ray Cline on fiddle and John Cooke (who'd returned from a stint with Bill Monroe) on bass, as well as several stellar new players. Carter's vocals were replaced by Roy Lee Centers (and surprisingly well, considering the original harmonies were crafted by brothers), and additional harmonies and picking were provided by future superstars Keith Whitley and Ricky Skaggs.

Both albums are based on the classic mountain soul of the Stanley Brothers, drawing on the experience of the veterans and the detailed knowledge (and energy) of the newcomers. The first, "Michigan Bluegrass," is titled for the location of the recording rather than anything to do with the music itself. Stanley's twelve original titles include numerous tales of film noir like fatalism, rendered in close harmony with achingly beautiful (and just plain aching) bent, blue notes. "Rock Bottom," "Another Song, Another Drink," "River Underground" and others tell tales of men controlled by love - often love gone very, very wrong.

The opener, "Are You Proud of America," was likely inspired by the societal tensions of the Vietnam era, but the questions it asks run deeper than mere jingoism, and still merit consideration. Removed from their original context, they read more as philosophy than civic pugilism. The similarly inspired "Let's Keep Old Glory Waving," with its simpler message of national pride, also finds a more positive tone in the post-war period. The instrumental "Hulla Gull" gives the band a chance to show off their ensemble string work.

The second LP, "Sing Gospel Echoes of the Stanley Brothers," draws all twelve of its faith-based titles from the public domain. The hopefulness and redemption that permeate these tracks are a perfect counterbalance to the dire circumstances charted on "Michigan Bluegrass." Recorded only six weeks later, the songs of belief and the freedom of afterlife form an answer to the hopelessness and fatality of the first LP. The combination of the two albums creates a cohesive work of immense thought and strength.

Given how tightly traditional bluegrass has held to its roots, the music on these thirty-year old albums seems not to have aged a day. Stanley's singing and banjo picking is as effective as ever, and the playing of the veterans and young hot-shots gels into a superb band. These two albums, available for the first time on CD, make an excellent addition to any bluegrass fan's library.

5.0 out of 5 stars Early Stanley Brothers, September 6, 2008

By	Jonathan Brown (Fair Oaks,, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is an early Stanley Brothers album with some classics. The harmonies are great and this is a bit more rustic than some of the later projects.

2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Bluegrass is still strong...MOUNTAIN MUSIC ORIGINALS", December 3, 2001

By	J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

There have been so many Ralph Stanley firsts...difficult to pick any as his best...his classic tune "Man Of Constant Sorrow", from the film "O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU"...his sound is original, almost "born within" growing up and singing MOUNTAIN MUSIC, which is now called BLUEGRASS.

Ralph Stanley is an institution, probably the foremost authority on the subject of what many people have just discovered ~ BLUEGRASS MUSIC...watched the DVD "Down From The Mountain", where Stanley is interviewed about the upcoming film, which is does guest spots(O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU)...just in time is this release from Varese Sarabande ~ "Echoes Of The Stanley Brothers", within this release of 24 tunes from his Clinch Mountain Boys...melodies and lyrics of EVERYDAY LIFE, as seen through the eyes of hardworking folk...playing and singing is their recreation...and folks, if this is their pass time...I want to be included...as a listener, this is the GREATEST!

Total Time: 60:14 on 24 Tracks ~ Varese Sarabande 302-066-215-2 ~ (2001)