Angel Band: The Classic Mercury Recordings

Amazon.com essential recording
After waxing their seminal Rich-R-Tone and Columbia recordings from 1947 to 1952, Carter and Ralph Stanley actually broke up their band, even joining Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys for a short stretch. By 1953, they were back recording for Mercury and continuing to fuse raw, mountain music with Monroe's urgent, propulsive style. When it comes to two-part bluegrass harmonies, the Stanleys are without question the pair to beat: The blend of Carter's rich, warm voice with Ralph's crude, coarse moans stands as one of bluegrass's most distinctive sounds. Whether singing about the home folks (both living and deceased), the Lord, or the lover (both faithful and not), the Stanleys impart a blunt, emotionally honest, soul-baring intensity. Along with the Rich-R-Tone and Columbia sets, this record is an essential collection of not only the Stanley Brothers' work, but of bluegrass in general. --Marc Greilsamer

Tracks:

(Say) Won't You Be Mine
I Long To See The Old Folks
This Weary Heart You Stole Away
Memories Of Mother
A Voice From On High
Could You Love Me (One More Time)
Blue Moon Of Kentucky
Close By
Just A Little Talk With Jesus
I Worship You
Daybreak In Dixie (Instrumental)
Tragic Love
Calling From Heaven
Life Of Sorrow
Baby Girl
Let Me Walk, Lord, By Your Side
Will He Wait A Little Longer
Angel Band

Amazon.com essential recording

After waxing their seminal Rich-R-Tone and Columbia recordings from 1947 to 1952, Carter and Ralph Stanley actually broke up their band, even joining Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys for a short stretch. By 1953, they were back recording for Mercury and continuing to fuse raw, mountain music with Monroe's urgent, propulsive style. When it comes to two-part bluegrass harmonies, the Stanleys are without question the pair to beat: The blend of Carter's rich, warm voice with Ralph's crude, coarse moans stands as one of bluegrass's most distinctive sounds. Whether singing about the home folks (both living and deceased), the Lord, or the lover (both faithful and not), the Stanleys impart a blunt, emotionally honest, soul-baring intensity. Along with the Rich-R-Tone and Columbia sets, this record is an essential collection of not only the Stanley Brothers' work, but of bluegrass in general. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

An incomplete dose of mountain soul........1999-06-02

If you are on a budget and you can afford only one Stanley Brothers album this is probably the best one to buy. The Stanley Brothers Mercury recordings are widely considered to be some of the best Bluegrass ever recorded. My biggest complaint about this album is that, with the exception of Daybreak In Dixie, they left out all the instrumentals. So you don't get to hear what Ralph really could do with a banjo. If you can afford it, buy the Bear Family import, 1953-58/59. It has everything the Stanley Brothers did for Mercury along with good liner notes.

Music Album:

Music Album