Ralph Stanley - Clinch Mountain Gospel
(Rebel SLP 1571) 1977
Average Album Rating: 4.69
(Total votes 16)
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This Gospel album was recorded on 12th May 1977 at Lemco Sound Studios in Lexington, Ky. It's regarded by many as one of Ralph's best Gospel releases along with Cry From The Cross.
What A Price, by Gene Duty, had previously been recorded by The Stanley Brothers for King in 1965. Gene was friends with Carter and Ralph and several of his tracks were recorded by Ralph. [1] The version here is at a slower tempo with soulful vocals from Keith Whitley.
Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem was another song recorded by The Stanley Brothers for King, and the version here is pretty close to the original.
I've Just Seen The Rock of Ages was written by John B. Preston, who'd spent ten years in prison for armed robbery. He too wrote several songs recorded by Ralph. [2] Incidentally, the 'Rock Of Ages' is a real place in England, where the Rev. Augustus Toplady took shelter in a storm in 1763 and was inspired to write the hymn 'Rock Of Ages'. [3] (My wife and I accidentally stumbled across it, having taken a spur of the moment detour through the Mendip hills on the way to a bluegrass festival in Cornwall...)
Traveling The High Way Home was written and recorded by The Bailes Brothers.
I Am Weary (Let Me Rest) by Pete Kuykendall had been recorded by The Country Gentlemen, and would also be featured in the 'Oh Brother' film/soundtrack by The Cox Family.
Talking of which... Following on from the success of the 'Oh Brother' film/soundtrack, it's not surprising that the album featuring Ralph's version of Oh Death was reissued on CD the same year - (Rebel REB-CD-1571) 2001. The CD comes with an eight-page booklet, with liner notes by Chris Skinker, and a recommendation from Alison Krauss - "I can't think of anything better than this record." For real anoraks, there are slight variations in the print colour tone on the cover and disk (from different manufacturers).
The CD artwork makes use of a B&W photo from the KET 'Bluegrass Bluegrass' TV show that was aired on the 13th June 1977 and can be found on youtube.
The original LP artwork design was by Fred Huffman, who did many of Ralph & Curly Ray's designs around this time. [4]
- Ralph Stanley: banjo, vocals
- Curly Ray Cline: fiddle
- Jack Cooke: bass
- Danny Marshall: mandolin
- Troy 'Renfro' Profitt: lead guitar
- Keith Whitley: guitar, vocals
Chester 'Pop' Marshall sings bass vocal on Over In The Gloryland, Amazing Grace and What A Price.
| Track: |
Title: |
|---|---|
| Side One: |
(17:42) |
| 1 |
Over In The Gloryland |
| J.E. Reynolds / W.P. Snyder |
|
| 2 |
Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem |
| Robert F. Boyce |
|
| 3 |
Oh Death |
| P.D. |
|
| 4 |
There'll Be None On The Other Side |
| David Marshall / R. Stanley |
|
| 5 |
Mother's Not Dead |
| Maynard Spencer / Lance Spencer |
|
| 6 |
Jesus Saviour Pilot Me |
| J.R. Baxter / J.R. Gould / Edward Hooper |
|
| Side Two: |
(17:30) |
| 1 |
Traveling The High Way Home |
| Frankie Bailes / Walter Bailes |
|
| 2 |
I've Just Seen The Rock Of Ages |
| John B. Preston |
|
| 3 |
Amazing Grace |
| P.D. |
|
| 4 |
What A Price |
| Gene Duty / R.Stanley |
|
| 5 |
Are You Afraid To Die |
| Charles Louvin / Ira Louvin / Eddie Hill |
|
| 6 |
I Am Weary (Let Me Rest) |
| Pete V. Kuykendall |
[1] See Brand New Country Songs; Something Old Something New; Sing Michigan Bluegrass[2] See Lonesome And Blue
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_of_Ages_%28Christian_hymn%29
[4] Fred Huffman did the artwork for Curly's It's Bread And Water For...; Who's Gonna Mow My Grass; Ralph's Live At McClure; Down Where The River Bends and I'll Wear A White Robe LPs.