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Ralph Stanley's unaccompanied version of Oh Death is a real winner on that soundtrack, and his version of Man of Constant Sorrow was without doubt the blueprint for the version of the song they did in the film.
So if you liked all that stuff this disc could be a logical next step. It is certainly head and shoulders above the many cheap cash-in compilations that are being churned out to capitalise on O Brother's success.
Ralph Stanley's voice tends to ellicit a love or hate response. Personally I find that old codger tone totally enthralling and for me this is white soul music. Craggy and unique.
And on top of that the man plays top notch banjo, with a lot more traditional content than most bluegrass player can muster.
This stuff is the very roots of country music. Its the white blues, the real deal and you should buy it!
Banjoist Ralph and his guitar playing brother, Carter, were the Stanley Brothers, a pioneering act in bluegrass music. Heavily influenced by traditional string band music, the Blue Sky Boys and bluegrass creator Bill Monroe, the Carters recorded and performed together from the late '40's until Carter's premature death in 1966, creating some of the most original and lasting work in the bluegrass field. Carter was the lead singer and showman of the group, and there were real questions whether Ralph Stanley could pursue a successful solo career.
Fortunately for fans of bluegrass, Ralph Stanley was more than up to the challenge. Raplh Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys have been at the forefront of bluegrass for over thirty years, recording numerous albums that combined Ralph's haunting harmony vocals with a series of fine lead vocalists, including Keith Whitley, Roy Lee Centers and Charlie Sizemore. Even at the end of 2000, Ralph Stanley remains active, touring widely and recording frequently with a band that features son Ralph II on as lead vocalist.
The material on this CD was recorded from the '70's through the '90's, and is a fine selection of Stanley's music. It combines traditional tunes, gospel songs and originals. Stanley and his musicians avoid the sterility that afflicts many contemporary bluegrass groups; there is a genuineness and sincerity that sets their work apart. Like his friend, the late Bill Monroe, Stanley's otherworldly harmnonies often dominate the songs, to great effect.
Although Bill Monroe remains the starting place for anyone interested in bluegrass (see "16 Gems" on Columbia/Legacy), Ralph Stanley's "Man of Constant Sorrow" is a terrific introduction to this music.
Ralph Stanley sings songs of sorrow and he means it; I think the scary feeling many listeners talk about comes from Stanley hitting home, a deadeye bullseye on some archetypical fears.
Great fiddle playing, too.
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