Classic Stanley, released by Freeland Records in 1995, is a double-CD compilation of Ralph Stanley live and rare material from the early 1970s — featuring the consequential Clinch Mountain Boys lineups that included Ricky Skaggs, Keith Whitley, and Roy Lee Centers as lead singers. Five tracks come from the 1971 Camp Springs festival; the McClure, Virginia recordings draw from the same May 1975 festival that produced the Live at McClure album. The compilation also includes February 1971 rehearsal recordings and two unreleased 1971 studio tracks — a re-recording of In Memory of Carter Stanley and Blue Yodel #3. The set captures the working Stanley band of the era as a primary archival document.
Tracklist
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms alt version 2:37
- 3 Let's go to the fair
- 4 Pig in a Pen alt version 2:07
- 5 Nobody’s Love Is Like Mine alt version
- 6 Shouting on the Hills of Glory alt version 2:47
- 7 Black Mountain Rag alt version 2:41
- 8 Ricky's record commercial
- 9 Cry From the Cross alt version 2:48
- 10 Green Pastures alt version 3:08
- 11 Children, go where I send thee
- 12 Mother no longer awaits me at home
- 13 Bright morning star
- 14 Memories of Mother alt version 2:51
- 15 Clinch Mountain Backstep alt version 3:27
- 16 Pretty little Indian
- 17 In memory of Carter Stanley
- 18 Little Glass of Wine alt version 2:56
- 19 Blue Yodel #3 alt version 3:24
- 20 Little Maggie / Pretty Polly
- 21 I just think I'll go away
- 22 Why me Ralph?
- 23 Let me rest at the end of my journey
- 24 Stone Walls and Steel Bars alt version 2:09
- 25 Oh Death alt version 2:57
- 26 Rank Stranger alt version 3:08
- 27 Death is only a dream
- 28 You better sit down and pray
- 29 Step out in sunshine
- 30 Take your shoes off Moses
- 31 Katy Daley alt version 2:07
- 32 Who Will Sing for Me alt version 2:08
- 33 The kitten and the cat
- 34 Love Me Darling Just Tonight alt version 2:13