The Stanley Brothers' unique spin on traditional bluegrass, created by banjoist Ralph Stanley and his guitarist brother Carter, first emerged on record in 1947. Their intense, unearthly vocal harmonies and Ralph's distinctive banjo style accounted for much fine music over the 19 years that ended with Carter's untimely death in 1966. Ralph has continued for the past four decades with his Clinch Mountain Boys (Ricky Skaggs and Keith Whitley among its distinguished alumni) and in recent years earned acclaim within and beyond the growing bluegrass audience. Nonetheless, the classic Stanley Brothers recordings of "Rank Stranger" and "Man of Constant Sorrow," among many, continue to inspire country traditionalists, Americana acts, and younger bluegrass exponents.  This superbly programmed three-disc, 60-song collection stands out as the first true Stanley Brothers career anthology, including the memorable "Little Glass of Wine" and the Columbia gems "The Fields Have Turned Brown" through their early '50s years on Mercury and their later work on both Starday and King Records.  Included are unreleased material from the 1950s and '60s, including a 1961 live duet teaming Carter Stanley with Bill Monroe.--Rich Kienzle