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The Stanley Brothers - Stanley Series, Vol. 3 No. 2

(Copper Creek CCSS-V3N2) 1988

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This edition of the Stanley Series contains a gig from 29th August 1962 at the Ash Grove, in Hollywood, Ca. The Stanley's were booked into the club for about two weeks, up until the 16th Sept. and another set from the 30th Aug. can be heard on Stanley Series, Vol. 2 No. 4.

This show predominately features material from the Stanley back catalogue, with an enthusiastic crowd and excellent sound quality. One oddity is a rendition of The Coupon Song, a comedy song, which Bill Monroe recorded in 1941.^[1] Here it is sung by Curley Lambert, with Vernon Derrick adding comedy effects on his fiddle.

Not all of the songs work too well, on Turkey In The Straw for instance, Ralph's banjo work is found lacking, and similiarly Vernon Derrick's break in Hard Times doesn't fit too well.

Some of the interaction with the crowd is quite interesting with Carter fielding requests for Flatt & Scruggs numbers, and tunes that weren't within their current repertoire:- "We're always happy to do your requests and if I ever turn one down it's because there's a good reason, either we don't know it or we can't do it or something like that, it's not that we don't want to do any song... so I hope you'll understand, it's not that I'm trying to give anybody the run around, you asked for 'Train 45' which I'm afraid to try and the number the other gentleman asked for there is one that we don't know and never have known so er... Frankly I don't intend to try to learn it. If you have any other requests I'd be happy to do it for you...".

True to their word, they did however rehearse Train 45 and performed it a couple of days later at the Ash Grove, which can be found on The Legendary Stanley Brothers Recorded Live, Vol. 2.

Although not the best Stanley Brothers performance, this is still a solid set and well worth seeking out.

The show was recorded by Brooks Adams Otis, and as with the other 'Stanley Series' the album comes with song notes/lyrics. There's also a personal recollection from Bob Ensign who helped The Stanleys get the gig and gave them a place to stay during their time in California.

Bass player on the Ash Grove sets was Roger Bush from the Country Boys. On the 18th Sept Carter and Ralph helped produce an album for the Country Boys, with Carter also assisting with the engineering as well. Due to Mac Wiseman's band having the same name, they changed theirs to The Kentucky Colonels. The album, 'The New Sound Of Bluegrass America' (Briar M-109), has been reissued on CD.^[2]

• Carter Stanley: guitar, vocal
• Ralph Stanley: banjo, vocal
• Vernon Derrick: fiddle
• Curley Lambert: mandolin (*)
• Roger Bush: bass

NB: (*) Curley Lambert sings lead on The Coupon Song.

For more detailed breakdown and background to the show, check Gary B. Reid's The Music Of The Stanley Brothers book, pages 52-55, 134-135 and 162-163.

^{[1] Neil V. Rosenberg and Charles K. Wolfe's book 'The Music of Bill Monroe' says that Bill was prevented from recording the songs he'd intended on a session in October 1941, as Pete Pyle wasn't allowed to sing on the session. Consequently the novelty song The Coupon Song and Back Up And Push were recorded instead. The Coupon Song was released on the flip side to Orange Blossom Special. (p. 30-31)
[2] Liner notes from the CD reissue (Sierra Records M-109) 2014.}