Ralph Stanley - Live At McCabe's Guitar Shop

(Digital Club Network DCNCD 1002) 2002

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This album was recorded live on 11th February 2001 at McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica, Ca. Two days before the recent 'Oh Brother' soundtrack had been certified 'gold'.

Although some of the vocals sound slightly clipped during the louder passages, the quality overall is pretty good and the material is a decent representaton of a CMB gig at that time.

Ralph's contribution is limited to vocals and clawhammer banjo on Rocky Island, plus MC work introducing each band member for their spotlight tune.

James Alan Shelton, gives a guitar show-case on an instrumental version of On The Sunny Side Of The Mountain; Jack Cooke sings Sittin' On Top Of The World; Steve Sparkman plays Ralph's most well known instrumenal Clinch Mountain Backstep; Ralph II, whose vocals sound more mature than on earlier releases leads on Jesus Saviour, Pilot Me and the title track from his 2000 solo album, Pretty Girls, City Lights^[1]; James Price makes the rosin fly on Cacklin Hen and then Ralph is introduced for Man Of Constant Sorrow.

The latter section of the CD features a selection from Ralph/Stanley Brothers back-catalogue, including the now obligatory a cappella rendition of Oh Death.

Several of the 'old' vintage Stanley jokes get an airing too...

• Ralph Stanley: vocals
• Jack Cooke: bass
• James Price: fiddle
• James Alan Shelton: lead guitar
• Steve Sparkman: banjo
• Ralph II Stanley: guitar, vocals

NB: Liner notes don't specify instruments/vocal parts for individual tracks, so the above is guesswork.

Other artwork / related images:

[1] Ralph had previously recorded this track as City Lights on The Memory Of Your Smile LP.