(Cracker Barrel RRE-CD161) 2014
Another of those 'guest' albums, featuring mainly individual vocalists singing songs from the Stanley repertoire, with the CMB's providing most of the back-up.
The sessions took place in November 2014[1] at Jim Lauderdale's house, with additonal help from Ronnie McCoury - mandolin; T Bone Burnett - guitar; Paul Kowert - bass & Ralph II Stanley - guitar.
On some tracks Ralph's involvement is mainly confined to singing back-up, but there are exceptions. Ralph sings lead on the chorus to Rank Stranger and shares lead duties with producers Buddy Miller & Jim Lauderdale on I Am The Man, Thomas.
A couple of the tracks have quite imaginatve arrangements - Gillian Welch & David Rawlings version of Pig In A Pen features Rawlings on clawhammer banjo, and Two Coats with Ralph and Robert Plant sharing lead vocals is atmospheric with droning fiddle backup.
To close the album Ralph sings a ragged but heartfelt rendition of the Hills Of Home tribute to Carter, and his signature song Man Of Constant Sorrow.
The CD was sold through the 'Cracker Barrel' restaurant chain/website.
Ralph would have been 87 when this album was recorded, and although his voice is no longer what it was, I'm glad be got to record this one, and glad too that he's obviously had such good supportive family/friends.
Track: |
Title: |
---|---|
CD: |
(38:09) |
1 |
We Shall Rise - Josh Turner |
J.E. Thomas |
|
2 |
I Only Exist - Dierks Bentley |
Joyce Morris / Jimmie Stanley |
|
3 |
Sweethearts In Heaven - Ricky Skaggs |
C. Stanley |
|
4 |
Rank Stranger - Nathan Stanley |
Albert E. Brumley |
|
5 |
I Am The Man Thomas - Buddy Miller & Jim Lauderdale |
Larry Sparks / R. Stanley |
|
6 |
White Dove - Lee Ann Womack with Aubrie Sellers |
C. Stanley |
|
7 |
Red Wicked Wine - Elvis Costello |
John Brenton Preston |
|
8 |
Pig In A Pen - Gillian Welch & David Rawlings |
P.D. or Arthur Smith? |
|
9 |
Two Coats - Robert Plant |
R. Stanley |
|
10 |
Brand New Tennessee Waltz - Del McCoury |
Jesse James Winchester |
|
11 |
Short Life Of Trouble - Old Crow Medicine Show |
G.B. Grayson |
|
12 |
Hills Of Home - Ralph Stanley |
Wendy Smith / R. Stanley |
|
13 |
Man Of Constant Sorrow - Ralph Stanley |
R.D. Burnett |