Earliest Recordings: Complete Rich-R-Tone 78s (1947-1952) [Revenant] [Digipak] by Stanley Brothers (The) (CD, Jul-1997, Revenant)

Album Features
UPC:	630814020323
Artist:	Stanley Brothers (The)
Format:	CD
Release Year:	1997
Record Label:	Revenant
Genre:	Bluegrass, Country

Track Listing
1. Molly and Tenbrooks
2. Rambler's Blues, The
3. Mother No Longer Awaits Me
4. Girl Behind the Bar, The
5. Little Maggie
6. Little Glass of Wine, The
7. Our Darling's Gone
8. Jealous Lover, The
9. I Can Tell You the Time
10. Little Birdie
11. Little Glass of Wine - (Alt. Version)
12. Death Is Only a Dream
13. Little Girl and the Dreadful Snake
14. Are You Waiting Just for Me

Details
Distributor:	E1 Distribution (USA)
Recording Type:	Studio
Recording Mode:	Mono
SPAR Code:	n/a

Album Notes
EARLIEST RECORDINGS features 14 songs released as 78s by the duo from 1947 until 1952.The Stanley Brothers: Ralph Stanley (vocals); Darrell "Pee Wee" Lambert, Jim Williams (mandolin); Art Wooten, Art Stamper, Leslie Keith (fiddle); Ray Lambert (bass instrument); Carter Stanley.Personnel: Carter Stanley (vocals, guitar); Ralph Stanley (tenor, banjo).Liner Note Author: Gary B. Reid.Recording information: 1947-1952.Along with Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys, the Stanley Brothers are one of the greatest of the bluegrass harmony acts. Led by Carter's lead croon and guitar, and abetted by Ralph's high-lonesome tenor and fierce banjo playing, the Stanleys started to lay down their enduring legacy on the Rich-R-Tone in the late 1940s, and those early recordings are captured here on this fine collection.The material is comprised of a smattering of gospel numbers, as well as songs that would become central to the Stanley Brothers' repertoire (including "Little Maggie" and "The Little Glass of Wine"). There are also a few uptempo bluegrass jams that allow the brothers to show off their chops. Though the sound quality of these historic 78s can occasionally leave something to be desired, that's to be expected (the oldest ones among them date to 1947), and the enjoyment they bring will ultimately outweigh any knee-jerk audiophile reactions.

Editorial Reviews
4 stars out of 5 - Ralph and late Carter Stanley are heroes to Bob Dylan and one of the most important bluegrass acts ever.
Mojo

...the earliest recordings of the Stanley Brothers reveal a startingly good bluegrass band....Originally recorded in the late 40s and early 50s, for the Rich-R-Tone label, this release is an invaluable addition to [their] remarkable body of work...
Dirty Linen

...collects 14 ancient sides by these protean explorers of the hot, sad art of bluegrass, complete with an extremely well-researched book that appeals to the Greil Marcus inside us all...
Spin (19980401)