Down Where the River Bends was released by Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys on Rebel in 1978 (SLP 1579). It was recorded at Lemco Studio in Lexington, Kentucky, in March 1978, with Charles Freeland producing and Cecil Jones as recording engineer.
Carter Stanley died in 1966, and Ralph continued the Clinch Mountain Boys as a solo act from 1967. On this record he plays banjo, with Charlie Sizemore and Junior Blankenship on guitars, Dan Marshall on mandolin, Curly Ray Cline on fiddle and Jack Cooke on bass.
The 14 tracks include the title song and “Dream of a Miner’s Child,” both listed as traditional and arranged by Stanley; “Footprints in the Snow,” credited to Bill Monroe; and several songs from the band itself. Marshall is credited with “Henry Brown,” “The Power of Love” and “Hometown,” and “Just Dreamin’” is credited to Carter and Ralph Stanley. “I Wanna Sing a Song for Carter” is credited to Fannin, and “Cuttin’ the Cornbread” is an instrumental.
Tracklist
- 1 Down Where the River Bends Source Recording 3:03
- 2 Put My Little Shoes Away 2:53
- 3 Footprints in the Snow alt version 2:39
- 4 Henry Brown 1:51
- 5 Just Dreamin' 2:38
- 6 I'll Just Catch A Train And Ride 1:51
- 7 The Old Old House alt version 2:42
- 8 The Power Of Love 1:58
- 9 Dream of a Miner’s Child Source Recording 2:54
- 10 I Wanna Sing A Song For Carter 2:00
- 11 Cuttin' The Cornbread 1:53
- 12 Little Girl And The Dreadful Snake 3:48
- 13 The Little Girl and the Dreadful Snake Source Recording 3:48
- 14 Pretty Woman 2:13
- 15 Hometown 2:46
