The Great Stonemans (MGM SE-4578) was released in 1968. The Stonemans, a family group built around the children of Ernest “Pop” Stoneman, had gone to Nashville in 1965, signed with MGM and begun working with producer Jack Clement, who produced this album; the Country Music Association named them Vocal Group of the Year in 1967. The sessions took place at Clement’s studio on Belmont Boulevard in Nashville on 18 December 1967 and on 10, 11 and 12 April 1968. Pop Stoneman died on 14 June 1968, the month the album appeared.
Most of the eleven songs are not family material. They include Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” Dolly Parton’s “You’re Gonna Be Sorry,” Jerry Herman’s “Hello, Dolly!” and Merle Travis’s “Nine Pound Hammer,” along with two songs by Clement, “Rolling in My Sweet Baby’s Arms” and “Baby Is Gone,” and two by Vincent Matthews, “Christopher Robin” and “Wrinkled, Crinkled, Wadded Dollar Bill.” Family members are credited with “The Love I Left Behind” (Van Stoneman), “Bluegrass Ramble” (Donna Stoneman) and “The Baby-O” (Ernest Stoneman). “Christopher Robin” and “The Love I Left Behind” were issued as a single, MGM K 13945, the same month.
Tracklist
- 1 Christopher Robin 2:21
- 2 You're gonna be sorry 2:18
- 3 Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms alt version 2:37
- 4 Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright alt version 3:20
- 5 The love I left behind 2:47
- 6 Hello, Dolly 2:27
- 7 Wrinkled, crinkle, wadded dollar bill 2:32
- 8 The baby-o 1:45
- 9 Nine Pound Hammer alt version 2:55
- 10 Bluegrass ramble 2:43
- 11 Baby is gone 2:09
- 12 Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright alt version
