Bound to Ride
When his brother Carter passed away in 1966, there was some question in Ralph Stanley's mind whether or not he'd continue performing his beloved old-time mountain music (he never considered theStanley Brothersto be true bluegrass). Luckily for music fans, he decided that this music was his calling and chose to press on. By 1971, his Clinch Mountain Boys were again one of the finest ensembles in bluegrass. These 20 songs come from Stanley's renaissance 1971-1973 period (with one stray tune from 1976), one of his most productive post-Carter eras, and showcases the classic Stanley sound--raw and plaintive--across the classic Stanley repertoire: old-time folk songs mixed with staples from theCarter Family,Mainer's Mountaineers, and, of course, the Stanley Brothers. Veteran fiddler Curly Ray Cline and lead singer Roy Lee Centers offer sterling support for Stanley's wailing vocals and versatile banjo, which covers a variety of styles from clawhammer to three-finger. TeenagersRicky SkaggsandKeith Whitleyappear on several cuts as well. For die-hards, a more thorough survey of this peak period is available on awonderful four-CD box set.--Marc Greilsamer