An Evening Long Ago: Live 1956

• Artist: The Stanley Brothers
• Rating:
• Release Date: March 16, 2004
• Type: Live
• Genre: Country

Review

Larry Ehrlich was at end of a long day in a studio in Bristol, VA. Carter and Ralph Stanley as well as Ralph Mayo and Curley Lambert entered the studio in front of one microphone, and Ehrlich, after seeing them play hog callings, a couple of radio shows, and a barn dance, asked the band to sing some of the traditional songs they had been recording for the past 16 years. The results, completely unearthed until now, are no less than stunning. This is the Stanleys as listeners have never heard them: laid-back, relaxed, and full of recollection and goodwill, singing and playing songs as familiar to them as their upbringing. These are country and bluegrass songs to be sure, but also some of the old folk ballads that had come out of the Southern mountains along with some Anglo and Celtic ballads from the days of yore. A number of these tracks represent the only available live versions of songs from their repertoire, and a few more are almost impossible to come by in any other way. At least one cut, "Drifiting Too Far from the Shore," was closely associated with Bill Monroe, and a pair are co-written originals, the harrowing murder ballad "The Tale of the Lawson Family" (once or twice covered by the Louvin Brothers) and the beautiful mountain love song "Meet Me Tonight." Ralph wrote a good many others here, or at the very least created original adaptations: "Come All You Tenderhearted," "East Virginia Blues," and "Bound to Ride" among them. But it is on the old songs that the Stanleys shine the brightest: "Poor Ellen Smith," "Dream of a Miner's Child," and their "John Henry" are deeply affecting. The fidelity is good throughout, but the feeling of the mix is what grabs the listener and won't let go. This is a welcome and necessary addition to the Stanley Brothers catalog. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Handsome Molly	G.B. Grayson, Henry Whitter	The Stanley Brothers	(1:57)
East Virginia Blues	Ralph Stanley	The Stanley Brothers	(3:03)
The Story of the Lawson Family	Ralph Stanley, C. Stanley	The Stanley Brothers	(4:55)
Dream of a Miner's Child	Traditional	The Stanley Brothers	(2:41)
Come All You Tenderhearted	Ralph Stanley	The Stanley Brothers	(3:16)
Poor Ellen Smith	Traditional	The Stanley Brothers	(2:14)
Darling Do You Know Who Loves You		The Stanley Brothers	(2:49)
Shout Little Lulie	Ralph Stanley	The Stanley Brothers	(:54)
Bound to Ride	Ralph Stanley	The Stanley Brothers	(2:30)
Meet Me Tonight	Ralph Stanley, C. Stanley	The Stanley Brothers	(3:34)
My Long Skinny Lanky Sarah Jane	Ralph Stanley	The Stanley Brothers	(1:44)
Little Bessie	Ralph Stanley	The Stanley Brothers	(:51)
Train 45	Traditional	The Stanley Brothers	(2:50)
John Henry	Ralph Stanley	The Stanley Brothers	(1:16)
Little Birdie	Ralph Stanley	The Stanley Brothers	(1:36)
Drifting Too Far from the Shore	C.E. Moody	The Stanley Brothers	(3:11)
Orange Blossom Special	Ervin T. Rouse	The Stanley Brothers	(1:48)
Nine Pound Hammer	Traditional	The Stanley Brothers	(2:22)
Feast Here Tonight	Traditional	The Stanley Brothers	(1:56)
Tragic Love	Buddy Dee	The Stanley Brothers	(1:51)

Credits

Lily Lew (Packaging Manager), Steven Berkowitz (A&R), John Jackson (Project Director), Howard Fritzson (Art Direction), Al Quaglieri (Reissue Supervisor), Mark Wilder (Mastering), Liz Reilly (Photo Research), Larry Ehrlich (Producer), Ray Flerlage (Photography), C. Stanley (Arranger), Larry Ehrlich (Liner Notes), David Gahr (Photography), Larry Ehrilich (Engineer), Josh Cheuse (Design)