Search - Ralph Stanley & Clinch Mountain Boys :: Echoes of the Stanley Brothers

Stellar two-fer reissue of powerhouse bluegrass lineup

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 06/16/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This reissue combines two albums, "Michigan Bluegrass," and "Sing Gospel Echoes of the Stanley Brothers," that were recorded for the tiny Jessup label within six weeks of each other in 1971. At that time, five years after the passing of his older brother, Carter, Ralph was carrying on the Stanley Brothers sound, but moving it forward, creating a unique, vital second act to his career. He was also launching the careers of several soon-to-be country music stars.The 1971 lineup of the Clinch Mountain Boys included veteran members Curly Ray Cline on fiddle and John Cooke (who'd returned from a stint with Bill Monroe) on bass, as well as several stellar new players. Carter's vocals were replaced by Roy Lee Centers (and surprisingly well, considering the original harmonies were crafted by brothers), and additional harmonies and picking were provided by future superstars Keith Whitley and Ricky Skaggs.Both albums are based on the classic mountain soul of the Stanley Brothers, drawing on the experience of the veterans and the detailed knowledge (and energy) of the newcomers. The first, "Michigan Bluegrass," is titled for the location of the recording rather than anything to do with the music itself. Stanley's twelve original titles include numerous tales of film noir like fatalism, rendered in close harmony with achingly beautiful (and just plain aching) bent, blue notes. "Rock Bottom," "Another Song, Another Drink," "River Underground" and others tell tales of men controlled by love - often love gone very, very wrong.The opener, "Are You Proud of America," was likely inspired by the societal tensions of the Vietnam era, but the questions it asks run deeper than mere jingoism, and still merit consideration. Removed from their original context, they read more as philosophy than civic pugilism. The similarly inspired "Let's Keep Old Glory Waving," with its simpler message of national pride, also finds a more positive tone in the post-war period. The instrumental "Hulla Gull" gives the band a chance to show off their ensemble string work.The second LP, "Sing Gospel Echoes of the Stanley Brothers," draws all twelve of its faith-based titles from the public domain. The hopefulness and redemption that permeate these tracks are a perfect counterbalance to the dire circumstances charted on "Michigan Bluegrass." Recorded only six weeks later, the songs of belief and the freedom of afterlife form an answer to the hopelessness and fatality of the first LP. The combination of the two albums creates a cohesive work of immense thought and strength.Given how tightly traditional bluegrass has held to its roots, the music on these thirty-year old albums seems not to have aged a day. Stanley's singing and banjo picking is as effective as ever, and the playing of the veterans and young hot-shots gels into a superb band. These two albums, available for the first time on CD, make an excellent addition to any bluegrass fan's library."