Masters of the Banjo

A National Tour of Traditional Banjo Styles

Arhoolie Records – CD 421

Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 1994
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
01 The Eldest Of All (The Nile): Seleshe Damessae (3:37)
02 A Family Quarrel On Sunday: Seleshe Damessae (3:19)
03 If You Come, Come (If You Go, Go): Seleshe Damessae (2:13)
04 John Brown's Dream: Kirk Sutphin (1:40)
05 Let Me Fall: Kirk Sutphin (2:26)
06 Yellow Rose Of Texas: Kirk Sutphin (1:58)
07 Oh My Little Darling: Kirk Sutphin (2:42)
08 The Wild Fox: Tony Ellis (1:55)
09 Wind Chimes And Nursery Rhymes: Tony Ellis (2:32)
10 Cherry Blossom Waltz: Tony Ellis (2:44)
11 Hand In Hand: Tony Ellis (4:14)
12 Bird In The Tree: Seamus Egan (2:32)
13 Charleston / Mason's Apron: Seamus Egan (6:08)
14 Lark In The Morning Medley: Seamus Egan (5:48)
15 The Lover's Return: Laurie Lewis and Dudley Connell (4:30)
16 The Johnson Boys: Carroll Best (1:59)
17 Mcmitchen's Reel: Carroll Best (2:07)
18 Say Old Man, Can You Play The Fiddle?: Carroll Best (1:35)
19 Mississippi Sawyer: Will Keys (2:22)
20 Sweet Fern: Will Keys (3:30)
21 On My Mind: Will Keys (3:05)
22 Evergreen: Will Keys (2:43)
23 Nobody's Love Is Like Mine: Ralph Stanley (2:11)
24 I Just Think I'll Go Away: Ralph Stanley (2:53)
25 Children, Go Where I Send Thee: Ralph Stanley (2:35)
26 Frailing Medley: Ralph Stanley (4:23)
[Credits]
Producer: Joe Wilson and Andy Wallace, Editor: Dave Glasser, Photographer: Jesse Winch, Recorder: Steve Fisher
[Notes]
Recorded in 1993 during a national tour, this collection features seven masters of the banjo. Although the banjo is thought to have evolved from the African banza, the banjo has developed into a uniquely American musical instrument. On this recording the players range from Ethiopian Seleshe Damessae playing a six-string krar to the legendary Appalachian banjo player and singer Ralph Stanley. Using a variety of traditional playing methods—clawhammer, and the two- and three-finger picking style—each player performs several selections.

Virginia Traditions: Ballads from British Tradition

BRI Records BRI-002

Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 1979
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, Bluegrass, Old Time
[Tracklist]
A01 Old Ireland (William Hall): Polly Johnson (2:38)
A02 The Three Maids (The Cruel Brother): Polly Johnson (3:41)
A03 The Farmer's Curst Wife: Joe Hubbard (0:53)
A04 As I Walked Over London's Bridge (Geordie): S.F. Russel (3:55)
A05 Little Massie Grove: Ruby Bowman Plemmons (4:31)
A06 Wild Hog in the Woods (Bangum and the Boar): Eunice Yeatts McAlexander (2:30)
A07 Barbara Allen: Dan Tate (2:52)
A08 Wind and Rain (The Two Sisters): Dan Tate (1:58)
A09 Devil's Nine Questions: Texas Gladden (2:32)
A10 The Bad Girl: Texas Gladden (3:23)
B01 The Turkish Rebelee (The Golden Vanity): Horton Barker (3:45)
B02 House Carpenter: Dorothy Rorick (2:38)
B03 Oh Death: Dock Boggs (3:20)
B04 The Three Babes (The Wife of Usher's Well): Spence Moore (2:57)
B05 Queen Sally: Kate Peters Sturgill (2:33)
B06 Froggie Went a'Courtin': Robert Russel (1:41)
B07 Raging Sea, How It Roars (The Mermaid): Ernest V. Stoneman (3:21)
B08 The Jealous Lover: The Stanley Brothers (2:17)
B09 The Butcher's Boy: Kelly Harrell (3:19)
[Credits]
Producer, Engineer and Liner Notes: Blanton Owen, Producers: Roddy Moore, Lornell and Ferrum College, Photographer: Alfreda Peel, Engineer: Charles Ellerton, Recorders: Herbert Halpert, Emory Hamilton, Mike Seeger, Sidney Robertson Cowell, Alan Lomax and Elizabeth Lomax
[Notes]
Few states in this country can boast of more diverse folkways than Virginia. Many of the material objects—such as barns, tools, and furniture—reflect the traditions that shaped the lives of its earliest settlers and the generations of Virginians who followed. The Commonwealth’s performance traditions of songs, tunes, and tales also tell of a shared heritage involving all classes of people in every facet of life. Because traditions naturally change over time, the documentation of Virginia folk culture is an ongoing process essential to our understanding of the past, present, and future. By recording the folkways of Virginia, the Blue Ridge Institute of Ferrum College and its BRI Record label strive to foster a greater appreciation of our folk roots through an array of interpretive programs. The songs on this recording are ballads in the traditional sense, i.e., they tell a story. The singers are all from southwestern Virginia and present in a variety of styles, ranging from strictly traditional to relatively modern with stringband accompaniment.

The Complete Columbia Stanley Brothers

Columbia CK-53798

Series: Country Classics
Format: CD, Compilation, Mono
Country: US
Released: 1996
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
01 A Vision Of Mother (2:58)
02 The White Dove (3:12)
03 Gathering Flowers For The Master's Bouquet (2:48)
04 Angels Are Singing (In Heaven Tonight) (3:02)
05 It's Never Too Late To Start Over (2:30)
06 Have You Someone (In Heaven Waiting) (2:40)
07 Little Glass Of Wine (2:57)
08 Let Me Be Your Friend (2:42)
09 We'll Be Sweethearts In Heaven (2:37)
10 I Love No One But You (2:36)
11 Too Late To Cry (2:57)
12 The Old Home (2:17)
13 The Drunkard's Hell (2:36)
14 The Fields Have Turned Brown (2:30)
15 Hey! Hey! Hey! (2:41)
16 The Lonesome River (2:43)
17 I'm A Man Of Constant Sorrow (2:55)
18 Pretty Polly (2:49)
19 A Life Of Sorrow (2:42)
20 Sweetest Love (2:21)
21 The Wandering Boy (2:13)
22 Let's Part The Best Of Friends (2:19)
[Credits]
Carter Stanley (guitar/vocals) Ralph Stanley (banjo/vocals) Pee Wee Lambert (mandolin/vocals)
Fiddle: Robert Sumner (tracks: 1 to 8) Les Woodie (tracks: 9 to 18) George Shuffler (tracks: 19 to 22), Bass: James Hughes (tracks: 1 to 8) Ernest Newton (tracks: 9 to 18)
Art Direction, Design: Julian Peploe, Artwork: Robert Contanzo, Compilation Producer: Lawrence Cohn, Graphics: Pat Jerina, Mastering: David Mitson, Product Manager: Rita Cox
[Notes]
Tracks 1 to 8 recorded 3/1/49 in Nashville; 9 to 14 on 11/20/49 in Nashville; 15 to 18 on 11/3/50 in Nashville; 19 to 22 on 4/11/52 in Nashville.

The Best Of The Stanley Brothers

Mercury Nashville 088 170 222-2

Series: 20th Century Masters The Millennium Collection
Format: CD, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 2002
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
01 Who Will Call You Sweetheart
02 Our Last Goodbye
03 (Say) Won't You Be Mine
04 I Long To See The Old Folks
05 A Voice From On High
06 I Worship You
07 Baby Girl
08 Just A Little Talk With Jesus
09 Will He Wait A Little Longer
10 Loving You Too Well
11 Daybreak In Dixie (Instrumental)
12 Angel Band
[Credits]
Carter Stanley (guitar/vocals) Ralph Staley (banjo/vocals)

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Mercury MRNF-02077-2

Format: CD, Album, Soundtrack
Country: US
Released: 2000
Genre: Blues, Folk, World, & Country
Style: Bluegrass, Folk
[Tracklist]
01 Po Lazarus: James Carter & The Prisoners (4:30)
02 Big Rock Candy Mountain: Harry McClintock (2:17)
03 You Are My Sunshine: Norman Blake (4:26)
04 Down To The River To Pray: Alison Krauss (2:53)
05 I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow: The Soggy Bottom Boys Featuring Dan Tyminski (3:13)
06 Hard Time Killing Floor Blues: Chris Thomas King (2:01)
07 I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow: Norman Blake (4:30)
08 Keep On The Sunny Side: The Whites (4:30)
09 I'll Fly Away: Gillian Welch And Alison Krauss (3:57)
10 Didn't Leave Nobody But The Baby: Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss And Gillian Welch (1:58)
11 In The Highways: Sarah, Hannah And Leah Peasall (1:36)
12 I Am Weary (Let Me Rest): The Cox Family (3:16)
13 I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow: John Hartford (2:34)
14 O Death: Ralph Stanley (3:21)
15 In The Jailhouse Now: The Soggy Bottom Boys Featuring Tim Blake Nelson (3:36)
16 : The Soggy Bottom Boys Featuring Dan Tyminski I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow (4:18)
17 Indian War Whoop: John Hartford (1:30)
18 Lonesome Valley: Fairfield Four (4:08)
19 Angel Band: The Stanley Brothers (2:18)
[Credits]
Executive Producer: Denise Stiff, Producer: T-Bone Burnett & Gillian Welch
[Notes]
Music to the Coen Brothers' film "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" Recorded at Sound Emporium, Nashville, TN; Ocean Way, Nashville, TN; and Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, CA.

Blue Grass Special: Don Reno and Red Smiley / The Stanley Brothers

Angel Records HV-1048

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: JP
Released: March 1960
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
A1 Dixie Brakdown (2:20) *
A2 Haw Mountain Girls Can Love (2:05) **
A3 Let's Live For Tonight (2:21) *
A4 Train 45 (2:40) **
A5 Tree Of Life (2:42) *
A6 Mastertone March (2:23) **
B1 Charlotte Brakdown (2:20) *
B2 Think Of What You've Done (2:06) **
B3 How I Miss My Darling Mother (2:36) *
B4 Clinch Mountain Backstep (2:18) **
B5 Love Me Darling Just Tonight (2:15) **
B6 Springtime In Heaven (2:38) *
[Credits]
* Don Reno and Red Smiley and the Tennessee Cut-Ups
** The Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys
[Notes]
Made in Japan by Toshiba Musical Industries LTD.