Vintage bluegrass recordings released

Press release

Under the direction of bluegrass historian and researcher Gary Reid – a two-time winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s award for Best Liner Notes - several new vintage bluegrass collections have recently entered the marketplace.

Chief among these is a 4-CD boxed set of recordings by bluegrass legends Don Reno & Red Smiley. Released on the Gusto label (GT-0955) and simply titled 1959–1963, this collection contains 102 songs and tunes that the duo recorded while at King Records during this period. Accompanying the discs is a splendid 26-page full-colour booklet containing much anecdotal information about the recordings as well as a fine assortment of photos – a number of which appear in print for the first time. A similarly packaged release from 1992 documented Reno & Smiley’s early days at King Records (1951–9); the 15-year gap between releases has had bluegrass fans anxious for more – happily, the wait is over!

No less impressive is a wonderful overview of the Stanley Brothers' career as portrayed in a 3-CD set issued by the folks at Time Life: The definitive collection 1947–1966. Carter and Ralph Stanley were perhaps one of the most profilic bluegrass bands to record, committing nearly 500 songs to tape. This collection highlights 60 of the best and, unlike other anthologies that have profiled specific phases of their career, this is the first set to offer a retrospective look at material from all segments of their career. A 7,500-word essay documents the story of the brothers, and a number of photos show their progression from young pickers to bluegrass luminaries. This set is an amazing introduction for those who are new to bluegrass or the Stanley Brothers; for the seasoned veterans of the music, there are a few previously unreleased gems and first-time-on-CD selections.

Yet another offering from the Stanley Brothers is the re-release of a previous boxed-set recording. Originally issued by King Records in 1992, this 4-CD set (called 1958–1961) has been re-mastered and offers an improved listening experience over the original collection. The package has been unavailable for over a year and is back now by popular demand. It highlights the duo’s early efforts at the Starday and King labels; the music of eight different albums (plus a few singles and unissued tracks) are featured.

Additional information about these multi-disc sets – as well as ordering information for those who are interested – can be found at the Copper Creek Records website.

BIB editor's note: The Copper Creek company has done great work in reissuing Stanley Brothers material in the past. Combined with the recent release on two DVDs of Flatt & Scruggs TV shows, this news confirms that we're living in a Golden Age as far as availability of classic material is concerned.