Clinch Mountain Echo

The Keen Brothers - Bluegrass From The Mountain

(Old Homestead OHS-80053) 1983


The Keen Brothers - Bluegrass From The Mountain
Rear Cover

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This is the second of two 'Stanley' influenced albums by The Keen Brothers. The first, 'Grassy Mountain Sound' (Old Homestead OHS-80047), came out in 1982 and contains 11 covers from the Stanley's repertoire, plus the old-time Red Apple Rag. Both feature a sound which is definitely patterned after the Clinch Mountain Boys, and although not in the same calibre, they're worth hearing.

On the second LP, there is the added bonus of former CMB, Troy 'Renfro' Profitt who provides excellent lead guitar work. This one also includes five orignals, written by Carnice and Remus Keen, which are again in the Stanley style.

From the liner notes to their albums, it transpires that The Keen Brothers grew up in the Grimselyville and Whitewood areas of Southwest Virginia and that they were part of a family of seven boys and three girls born to Harry and Callie Keen. By the time of their debut, they'd been playing bluegrass together for 20 years and performed on a radio show from W.R.I.C. in Richlands Virginia.

Considering how close the band are patterned after the Stanley's, one might have expected to have seen them on the bill at Ralph's festivals... but as far as I can tell they never played at the 'Hills Of Home'.

Today the albums are not easy to find, but they have been uploaded to the net and can be found on the Bluegrass Music Spoken Here blogsite. One track, Laurel Creek is however unfortunately missing from the MP3 download.

Track:
Title:
Side One:
(13:34)
1
Virginia Gal

Carnice Keen
2
A Lonely Old Home

Carnice Keen
3
Darling, Who Let You Down

Carnice Keen
4
Don't Cheat In Our Home Town

Ray Pennington / Roy E. Marcum
5
Laurel Creek

Remus Keen
6
Friend Take Gods Hand

Carnice Keen
Side Two:
(16:53)
1
I'll Just Go Away

C. Stanley
2
Keep A Memory

C. Stanley
3
All I Ever Loved Was You

Dorothy Skaggs
4
Stairway To Heaven

Bill Grant
5
Darling Nellie Gray

Benny Hanby
6
Mothers Not Dead

Maynard Spencer / Lance Spencer

 


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