Ralph Stanley (DMZ/Columbia 510159 2, 2002) arrived in the immediate wake of Stanley's breakthrough on the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack — where his a cappella "O Death" won him the Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal at age 73, outpolling Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, and Johnny Cash. Producer T Bone Burnett reunited with Stanley at Sound Emporium in Nashville with bare-bones accompaniment: Norman Blake (guitar, lap steel), Mike Compton (mandolin), Stuart Duncan (banjo, fiddle), and Dennis Crouch (bass). Stanley set aside his banjo entirely and sang exclusively. The result is a stark collection of gospel, murder ballads, and Appalachian folk — widely compared to the Johnny Cash/Rick Rubin American Recordings series in its unadorned authority.
Tracklist
- 1 Lift Him Up, That's All 4:41
- 2 False Hearted Lover's Blues 4:52
- 3 Henry Lee 4:43
- 4 Girl from the Greenbriar Shore 3:59
- 5 Twelve Gates to the City 1:58
- 6 Little Mathie Grove Source Recording 4:29
- 7 Look On And Cry 3:37
- 8 I’ll Remember You Love In My Prayers alt version 2:26
- 9 Calling You 3:24
- 10 The Death Of John Henry 3:59
- 11 Great High Mountain alt version 3:13
