Clinch Mountain Echo

The Stanley Brothers - Clinch Mountain Bluegrass

(Vanguard 77018) 1994


Clinch Mountain Bluegrass
Rear Cover CD Tray (US) CD Tray (Europe) LR:- George Shuffler, Carter and Ralph at Newport 1964

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This CD contains bits from the Stanley's appearances at two of the Newport Folk Festivals in Newport, Rhode Island. The first eight tracks (including two comedy routines by Lindy Clear and intro by Oscar Brand) are from the first festival in 1959, and the remainder are from 1964.

From the 1959 show The Stanleys, ably assisted by Chubby Anthony and Lindy Clear, only perform five songs. The band are in fine form, but it is odd that Carter would choose to close the short set with Lindy Clear's train impersonation (the second in a show lasting less than 18 minutes), rather than a final song.

At the time of the 1964 shows, Carter was unfortunately suffering from laryngitis, so here the Stanley's performance is sadly below par. It will still be of interest to hard-core fans, but it isn't a good representaton of the Stanleys at their best. For instance on White Dove George Shuffler has to sing lead, and the rendition pales besides Carter's usual vocal work. Likewise on Rank Stranger Ralph sings the lead part, with Carter struggling to sing the chorus; How Mountain Girls Can Love also has George Shuffler singing Carter's part and only on Little Glass Of Wine does Carter fair a little better.

The 1964 material is also taken from a mixture of performances and instrument workshops, so there are two versions of Hard Times, and the sequence of material doesn't 'flow' too well. Furthermore, the CD perhaps falls down a bit because three tracks are duplicated in both the 1959 and 1964 sets (Orange Blossom Special, How Mountain Girls Can Love and Man Of Constant Sorrow).

A photograph from one of their 1964 sets, show Benny Birchfield from the Osborne Brother's filling in on bass. George Shuffler reciprocated by playing with the Osborne's, which can be seen on Murray Lerner's 'Festival' film. Another photograph from the festival shows Ralph and Carter backstage with Johnny Cash.

The front cover photo looks like it might have been taken by John Byrne Cooke, who has three other similiar photo's of the Stanley's from the 1964 festival on his website.

The CD has short ok-ish liner notes by Mary Katherine Aldin, and for Stanley anoraks, the European issue has a slightly different CD tray...

Four of the 1964 cuts have previously appeared on the Various Artists - Bluegrass Breakdown CD:- How Mountain Girls Can Love, Man Of Constant Sorrow, Big Tilda and Orange Blossom Special. Subsequently four of the 1959 cuts have also appeared on the 3xCD Various Artists - Newport Folk Festival 1959-66 set (How Mountain Girls Can Love, Man Of Constant Sorrow, Gathering Flowers From The Master's Bouquet and Choo Choo Comin).

 

For more detailed breakdown and background to these appearances, check Gary B. Reid's The Music Of The Stanley Brothers book, pages 100, 142, 184-186, and 213-214.

Track:
Title:
Time:
Date:
Original Source:
Guitar:
Banjo:
Fiddle:
Mandolin:
Bass:
Lead Guitar:
1
Introduction/Oscar Brand
01:39
?? Jul 1959
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, Rhode Island Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
Chubby Anthony

Lindy Clear


N/A
2
Orange Blossom Special
02:50
?? Jul 1959
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, Rhode Island Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
Chubby Anthony

Lindy Clear


Ervin T. Rouse
3
How Mountain Girls Can Love
01:43
?? Jul 1959
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, Rhode Island Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
Chubby Anthony

Lindy Clear


Ruby Rakes
4
Model T (Comedy Routine)
02:55
?? Jul 1959
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, Rhode Island Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
Chubby Anthony

Lindy Clear


N/A
5
Man Of Constant Sorrow
02:48
?? Jul 1959
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, Rhode Island Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
Chubby Anthony

Lindy Clear


R.D. Burnett
6
Gathering Flowers For The Master's Bouquet
02:54
?? Jul 1959
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, Rhode Island Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
Chubby Anthony

Lindy Clear


Marvin E. Baumgardner
7
Choo Choo Coming
01:51
?? Jul 1959
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, Rhode Island Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
Chubby Anthony

Lindy Clear


Corbet 'Cuddles' Newsome
8
All Aboard For Baltimore (Comedy Routine)
02:30
?? Jul 1959
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, Rhode Island Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
Chubby Anthony

Lindy Clear


N/A
9
White Dove
03:49
?? Jul 1964
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, Rhode Island Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
Red Stanley

Benny Birchfield
George Shuffler

C. Stanley
10
Hard Times
03:55
?? Jul 1964
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, Rhode Island Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
Red Stanley

Benny Birchfield
George Shuffler

R. Stanley
11
Jordan
03:09
?? Jul 1964
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, Rhode Island Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
Red Stanley

Benny Birchfield
George Shuffler

P.D.
12
Rank Stranger
03:30
?? Jul 1964
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, Rhode Island Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
Red Stanley

Benny Birchfield
George Shuffler

Albert E. Brumley
13
Little Birdie
02:41
?? Jul 1964
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, Rhode Island Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
Red Stanley

Benny Birchfield
George Shuffler

P.D.
14
Shout Little Luly
01:30
?? Jul 1964
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, Rhode Island Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
Red Stanley

Benny Birchfield
George Shuffler

P.D.
15
Clinch Mountain Backstep
02:21
?? Jul 1964
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, Rhode Island Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
Red Stanley

Benny Birchfield
George Shuffler

Ruby Rakes
16
Hard Times
03:04
?? Jul 1964
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, Rhode Island Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
Red Stanley

Benny Birchfield
George Shuffler

R. Stanley
17
Little Maggie
03:27
?? Jul 1964
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, Rhode Island Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
Red Stanley

Benny Birchfield
George Shuffler

P.D.
18
How Mountain Girls Can Love
02:15
?? Jul 1964
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, Rhode Island Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
Red Stanley

Benny Birchfield
George Shuffler

Ruby Rakes
19
Man Of Constant Sorrow
03:12
?? Jul 1964
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, Rhode Island Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
Red Stanley

Benny Birchfield
George Shuffler

R.D. Burnett
20
Little Glass Of Wine
03:12
?? Jul 1964
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, Rhode Island Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
Red Stanley

Benny Birchfield
George Shuffler

C. Stanley
21
Big Tilda
02:14
?? Jul 1964
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, Rhode Island Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
Red Stanley

Benny Birchfield
George Shuffler

R. Stanley
22
Orange Blossom Special
04:46
?? Jul 1964
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, Rhode Island Carter Stanley
Ralph Stanley
Red Stanley

Benny Birchfield
George Shuffler

Ervin T. Rouse

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