Track Listing

1. Man of Constant Sorrow
2. Goin' up Home to Live in Green Pastures
3. Rocky Island
4. Old Richmond Prison
5. Oh Death
6. Hard Times
7. Angel Band
8. Little Birdie
9. I Am Weary
10. Dream of a Miner's Child
11. Calling My Children Home
12. Poor Rambler
13. I've Just Seen the Rock of Ages

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7117 in Music
• Brand: Stanley
• Released on: 2001-01-23
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Amazon.com essential recording
Ralph Stanley's half-century-long career received a nice boost late in 2000 with the release of Joel and Ethan Coen's movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? The film prominently featured three tunes from the Stanley repertoire, including the title tune of this stellar anthology (although it's not Stanley's version that's featured in the film). Another is the hillbilly lament "Oh Death," a traditional song that perfectly suits Stanley's high, wavering, mournful voice. Focusing on Stanley's post-Stanley Brothers career, this set serves as a fine introduction to his estimable body of work, including gems like "Goin' Up Home to Live in Green Pastures"--as pretty a country gospel tune as has ever been recorded--"Hard Times," and "Old Richmond Prison." It's an altogether satisfying collection that leaves the listener wanting more. --Gregory McNamee

Customer Reviews

Excellent Career Overview of A Bluegrass Legend
Ralph Stanley is one of the living masters of American music. This release contains music apparently featured in the new Coen Brothers film "O Brother Where Art Thous?", but it also serves as an excellent career overview to Stanley's unique style of Bluegrass.

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.

This is your chance to get to know the Great Ralph Stanley
As a result of "O Brother Where Art Thou?", Ralph Stanley is finally reaching reknown beyond bluegrass fans. Hard core bluegrass fans have known for decades that Ralph Stanley is the premier male mountain singer....this collection will let everyone else know that Stanely is a great singer...period! This collection is a mini-retrospective of Stanley's solo work during the seventies. I'm sorry I missed these songs when they were originally issued because this is bone-chilling, hair-raising mountain singing. Every cut on this CD is a gem; the standout being "Old Richmond Prison," a paen to regret, loneliness and isolation that'll convert you for sure.

Scary Good
It was only a matter of time before greater America woke up to Bluegrass music, the big-beat music with no drums that's been in our backyard for generations.

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.