Jim Lauderdale & Ralph Stanley - Lost In The Lonesome Pines

(Dualtone 80302-01125-2) 2002

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This is the second of two decent collaborations between Jim Lauderdale and Ralph. It was recorded at Maggard Sound studios in Big Stone Gap, Va. with the exception of Boat Of Love which was recorded at Bay View Recording, Richmond, Ca.

Bill Monroe's Boat Of Love was performed live by The Stanley Brothers on their last show at Bean Blossom 16th Oct. 1966^[1], the version here features a guest perfomance by George Shuffler on bass/bass vocal. All the other tracks are new to the Stanley repertoire and either written or co-written by Jim Lauderdale.

Three of the songs were co-written with Candace Randolph, who had been a member of The Lost Kentuckians. Some of her songs had previously been recorded by Ralph on The Stanley Sound Today and Lonesome And Blue LPs.

Robert Hunter, the Grateful Dead lyricist, also co-wrote Deep Well Of Sadness.

There was a promo video for the humorous She's Looking At Me, with Allison Moorer.

The album won a Grammy for best bluegrass album in 2002, and it certainly has a strong selection of songs with the CMB's in fine form.

I must confess I don't really know anything about Jim, but he apparently was a bluegrass / Stanley Brothers fan as a child, and had become a prolific Nashvile singer-songwriter, with several albums within the Country/Americana field.

Jim had sung If I Lose with Ralph on the 1997 Clinch Mountain Country project.

He later appeared with Ralph guesting on I Feel Like Singing Today on the Merlefest 2008 CDR, and co-produced the Cracker Barrell Man Of Constant Sorrow CD in 2014.

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

NB: Liner notes don't specify instruments/vocal parts for individual tracks.

Other artwork / related images:

[1] The Stanley Brother's performance is on Together For The Last Time.