This four-CD set is a collection of the entire output of
Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys during an astonishing three-year period in the early '70s. The albums collected here include the first appearance of
Stanley's signature
a cappella bluegrass-gospel, and feature the outstanding lead singing of the late
Roy Lee Centers. The strong incarnation of
the Clinch Mountain Boys features
Curley Ray Cline on fiddle,
Jack Cooke on bass, and
Ricky Lee on lead guitar. Teenage
Stanley disciples and future
country stars
Keith Whitley and
Ricky Skaggs make their first recorded appearances here also, and
Country Gentleman John Duffey stops by to max out the needles on the
Stanley Brothers classic
The Lonesome River. The band runs through straight
bluegrass,
gospel, old-time banjo songs, fiddle tunes, and
Stanley Brothers classics, all with great confidence and style. Songs are pulled from multiple and diverse sources, including
the Carter Family, old
country,
Bill Monroe, and even a beautiful
Jesse Winchester song,
"Brand New Tennessee Waltz." This set is for purists more than
bluegrass neophytes, but no fan of
Ralph Stanley or
the Stanley Brothers should be without it. These albums broke new stylistic ground at a time when there was some concern whether
Ralph Stanley could continue in the wake of
Carter Stanley's death. ~ Ben O'Connor
