Clinch Mountain Gospel

by Ralph Stanley

Overview

Originally recorded in a single all-day session in the spring of 1977 and released later that year, this remains the best of the three albums made by Ralph Stanley's band during the brief period between the untimely demise of singer Roy Lee Centers and the beginning of Charlie Sizemore's nine-year tenure with the band. During those few months, Stanley's former singer Keith Whitley returned to take the lead vocal slot, and this stunningly beautiful set of old-time and bluegrass-gospel songs was one of the results. The program is predictable: Chestnuts like "Over in the Gloryland," "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem," "Amazing Grace," and "Mother's Not Dead" are all here, as are a couple of favorite hymn arrangements ("Amazing Grace," "Jesus Savior Pilot Me"). And for fans of the film O Brother, Where Art Thou?, there's an absolutely hair-raising rendition of "Oh, Death"; unlike the a cappella version that Stanley sings in the movie, this one features both Stanley and Whitley with a full-band accompaniment, but it's no less stark and powerful. This is one of the most powerful bluegrass-gospel albums ever made -- never syrupy, never cheaply emotional, it grabs you by the scruff of the neck and fairly dares you not to get right with God. ~ Rick Anderson

Product Details

Release Date:	05/15/2001
Label:	Rebel
UPC:	0032511157126
Rank:	37105

Tracks

1. Over in the Gloryland
2. Beautiful Star of Bethlehem
3. Oh Death
4. There'll Be None on the Other Side
5. Mother's Not Dead
6. Jesus Savior Pilot Me
7. Travelling the Highway Home
8. I've Just Seen the Rock of Ages
9. Amazing Grace
10. What a Price
11. Are You Afraid to Die
12. I Am Weary (Let Me Rest)

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Ralph Stanley   Primary Artist,Banjo,Vocals,Tenor (Vocal)
Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys   Primary Artist
Keith Whitley   Guest Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Baritone (Vocal)
Jack Cooke   Bass (Vocal),Tenor (Vocal),Baritone (Vocal)
Curley Ray Cline   Fiddle
Danny Marshall   Mandolin

Technical Credits

Ira Louvin   Composer
Frankie Bailes   Composer
David Marshall   Composer
Johnny Preston   Composer
John Brenton Preston   Composer
Walter Bailes   Composer
Mark Freeman   Production Coordination
Ralph Stanley   Composer
A.L. Phipps   Composer
David Glasser   Transfer Engineer,Preparation for CD Mastering
Charles R. Freeland   Producer
Charlie Louvin   Composer
Pete Roberts   Composer
Cecil Jones   Engineer
Maynard Spencer   Composer
Nobuharu Komoriya   Tray Photo
Marty Godbey   Photography
Frank Godbey   Photography
Chris Skinker   Liner Notes
Jesse Randall Baxter   Composer
Traditional   Composer
John Newton   Composer
Bernice Johnson Reagon   Composer