(Rounder CD-0313) 1994
This album contains a stellar cast of musicians, performing relatively informally with Mike Seeger at various studios/settings between 1980-1994.
East Virginia Blues with Ralph and Jack Cooke was recorded & mixed on 28th December 1993 at Maggard Sound studios in Big Stone Gap, Va.
Mike Seeger:- "Ralph has kept his music true to his southwest Virginia roots; there is no one on the bluegrass and oldtime country music scene who has greater depth, connection to oldtime music and ability to present it than Ralph Stanley... Back around 1960, I heard an informal recording of this song by Carter and Ralph, the Stanley brothers, that had been made by Chicago lawyer Larry Ehrlich about 1957. On it, Ralph played a cross-tuned mandolin in this same banjo-like style. We've tried to get fairly close to that sound here."[1]
Ralph's finger picking of the mandolin, was a novelty piece that dated back to the Stanley Brothers' 'Farm and Fun Time' days.[2] He also cut the track in 1968 on Old Time Music.
Maria Muldaur later appeared on Ralph's 2001 Clinch Mountain Sweethearts, with another version of The Memory Of Your Smile. The version here from 1993, is much more soulful, stripped down version with a bluesy feel. David Grisman is featured on guitar, and Mike Seeger is on mandolin and backing vocals... Great stuff!
Personnel on East Virginia Blues is:-
Track: |
Title: |
---|---|
CD: |
(71:41) |
1 |
Shaking Off The Acorns - L-7s and Dave Grant |
P.D. ? |
|
2 |
Leaving Tennessee - Tim O'Brien |
Don Kelley |
|
3 |
The Memory Of Your Smile - Maria Muldaur and David Grisman |
Ruby Rakes |
|
4 |
Only Remembered - Jody Stecher, Kate Brislin & Larry Hanks |
H. Bonar / John Sweeney |
|
5 |
The Mayor Is A Good Old Boy - Hank Bradley & Sue Thompson |
Hank Bradley |
|
6 |
Boat's Up The River - Olabelle & David Reed |
P.D. ? |
|
7 |
East Virginia Blues - Ralph Stanley & Jack Cooke |
P.D. |
|
8 |
They're At Rest Together - Hazel Dickens & Tom Gray |
Walter Callahan |
|
9 |
The Ballad Of Hollis Brown - Bob Dylan |
Bob Dylan |
|
10 |
Oh, My Little Dutch Girl - Jimmie Driftwood |
P.D. ? |
|
11 |
Deep Shady Grove - Jean Ritchie |
Jean Ritchie |
|
12 |
Cripple Creek - Etta Baker |
P.D. |
|
13 |
Oldtime Sally Ann - Tommy Jarrell & Paul Brown |
P.D. |
|
14 |
Rose In The Mountain - James Leva, Carol Elizabeth Jones & David Winston |
P.D. ? |
|
15 |
Little Cabin Home On The Hill - Carol Elizabeth Jones |
Lester Flatt / Bill Monroe |
|
16 |
Lord Thomas And Fair Ellender - Pete Seeger |
P.D. ? |
|
17 |
900 Miles - Pete Seeger |
P.D. ? |
|
18 |
Savoy Family Waltz - Michael Doucet & Marc Savoy |
Marc Savoy |
|
19 |
I'm Going To The West - Penny and Peggy Seeger |
P.D. |
|
20 |
Bound Steel Blues - New Lost City Ramblers |
Bill Shepherd ? |
|
21 |
Brown's Ferry Blues - John Jackson |
Alton Delmore / Rabon Delmore |
|
22 |
You've Been A Friend To Me - Joe & Jannette Carter and Carl B. Poff |
A.P. Carter |
|
23 |
Frog Heaven -Vivian & Phil Williams and Sandy Bradley |
Vivian Williams |