Ralph Stanley - Like Father, Like Son

(Copper Creek CCCD-0110) 1989

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This album was recorded on either the 14th or 15th December 1989 at Maggard Sound Studio, Big Stone Gap, Va.^[1] It was issued on CD and cassette, but has been out of print for some time and now is quite hard to find at a reasonable price.

Way Down Deep had been a country hit for Vern Gosdin in 1983. Sammy and Ralph also sang it on the 1996 Clinch Mountain Boy Reunion 2xCD/DVD.

Wolfe County is a chilling murder ballad, with excellent vocals from Ralph. It's surprising this gem hasn't been recorded more often.

Earl Sykes, who had previously written Daddy's Rose on I'll Answer The Call, contributes three fine tracks: Two Flowers Blooming, Breaks Of The Cumberland and Dirty Black Coal. The latter was re-recorded by Ralph and Ralph II on the Side By Side CD 2013. Earl also had four more songs included on Ralph's 2000 CD While The Ages Roll On. Earl had previously played guitar for Roy McGinnis & The Sunnysiders.

Little Jimmy was co-written by Leonard Stacey & his brother-in-law, Alfred Miller. Leonard was a long-time friend/fan of the Stanleys & Ralph's bus-driver for many years.

Ralph II, aged about 11 at the time the album was recorded, sings Haunted House which had been a hit for Jumpin' Gene Simmons in 1964^[2]. He also picks lead guitar on the old Carter Family chestnut Wildwood Flower.

Another good track is Long Gone which was written by Don Reno / Red Smiley and first recorded by them at a King session in Jan. 1952.^[3]

The photo-session for the artwork by Alan Maggard also resulted in a promo-shot, which was quite widely used - see the Edale Programme picture... (and thanks to Chris Wing for the promo signed promo shots).

• Ralph Stanley: banjo, vocals
• Sammy Adkins: guitar, vocals
• Junior Blankenship: lead guitar
• Curly Ray Cline: fiddle
• Jack Cooke: bass
• Ralph II Stanley: guitar, vocals (*)
• Ernie Thacker: mandolin

NB: (*) Ralph II plays lead guitar on Wildwood Flower and sings on Haunted House.

NB: Liner notes don't specify instruments/vocal parts for individual tracks.

Other artwork / related images: