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(Wango CD-117) 2000
This is another of Ray Davis' compilations which is largely drawn from his basement recordings. This one is noteworthy as it features a different version of The Stanley Brothers Nine Pound Hammer which doesn't appear to have been released elsewhere. In addition there's a version of In The Pines which sounds like it is the same as the Stanley's Dec. 1963 recording which was originally released on the 7" Wango EP-110 and subsequently on the On The Air LP. The odd thing about it though, is that the song introduction is by Carter, whereas the On The Air LP features Ralph handling the emcee work.
Nine Pound Hammer is similar to the version the Stanley's recorded for the John's Country Quartet (reissued as Stanley Brothers Of Virginia, Vol. 2: Long Journey Home), with the same styled guitar intro and banjo / guitar / banjo - break order. This suggests to me that it is an out-take from John's Country Quartet LP, rather than being from one of the other Wango sessions.
Comparing to other live versions, it sounds like Carter often used to mix & match verses in this song, but I've included the lyrics to the two studio cuts here just to highlight the difference between the Freight Trains Ride Again and Long Journey Home recordings:
Nine Pound Hammer (Wango 117) | Nine Pound Hammer (Wango 104) |
---|---|
Well a nine pound hammer Oh Roll on buddy banjo break Somebody stole Oh Roll on buddy guitar break Well a nine pound hammer Oh Roll on buddy banjo break Well there ain't one hammer Rings like silver Roll on buddy |
Well a nine pound hammer Oh Roll on buddy banjo break Somebody stole Oh Roll on buddy guitar break Goin' up on a mountain Roll on buddy banjo break Well a nine pound hammer Oh Roll on buddy |
Other material on the CD includes a couple of live recordings by Mac Wiseman (& Chubby Wise) and The Bluegrass Cardinals. The remainder is taken from Ray Davis' basement studio recordings and as ever is a decent mix of traditional 'grass.
Huge thanks to Todd Gracyk for sending me a copy of this one!
For a detailed breakdown and background to the Stanley's session, check Gary B. Reid's The Music Of The Stanley Brothers book, pages 173-174, 180-183, 204-209, 211-212.
Track: |
Title: |
---|---|
CD: |
(56:54) |
1 |
Fireball Mail - Warrior River Boys |
Roy C. Acuff |
|
2 |
Bringing In The Georgia Mail - Lost & Found |
Fred Rose |
|
3 |
Freight Train Boogie - David Davis & Scott Brannon |
Rabon Delmore / Jim Scott |
|
4 |
Wreck Of The Old '97 - Mac Wiseman |
?? |
|
5 |
Wreck Of The 1262 - Scott Brannon |
Carson Robison ? |
|
6 |
Wreck Of The #9 - David Davis & Scott Brannon |
Carson Robison ? |
|
7 |
I'm Blue, I'm Lonesome - James King & David Davis |
Hank Williams / Bill Monroe |
|
8 |
In The Pines - Stanley Brothers |
P.D. |
|
9 |
Lonesome Whistle Blues - Warrior River Boys |
Alan Moore / Elson M. Teat / Rudolph Toombs |
|
10 |
Train 45 (On The Lee Highway) - Gillis Brothers |
G.B. Grayson |
|
11 |
Ridin' On That Midnight Train - Don Reno & Charlie Moorre |
R. Stanley |
|
12 |
Midnight Train - Warrior River Boys |
?? |
|
13 |
Freight Train Blues - Warrior River Boys |
John Lair |
|
14 |
Nine Pound Hammer - Stanley Brothers |
P.D. |
|
15 |
John Henry - Charlie Moore |
P.D. |
|
16 |
Cannonball Blues - Warrior River Boys |
A.P. Carter |
|
17 |
Wabash Cannonball - Mac Wiseman & Chubby Wise |
A.P. Carter |
|
18 |
Ridin' On The L&M - Bluegrass Cardinals |
Lionel Hampton / Dan Burley |
|
19 |
The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore - Bill Harrell |
Jean Ritchie |
|
20 |
Engineer's Child - David Davis & Scott Brannon |
Brook Benton ? |
|
21 |
Train Medley - Bass Mountain Boys & Chubby Wise |