1953–58 & 1959 is a 1993 two-CD compilation released by Bear Family Records (BCD 15681), collecting all recordings the Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys made for Mercury Records between 1953 and 1958, plus two tracks from a 1959 Blue Ridge session. Carter Stanley (guitar, vocals) and Ralph Stanley (banjo, vocals) lead a rotating cast of sidemen across the Mercury years—including Darrell "Pee Wee" Lambert (mandolin), Charlie Cline (guitar), Floyd "Lightnin'" Chance (bass), and others who cycled through the band across multiple Nashville sessions. The Mercury recordings are among the most highly regarded in the Stanley Brothers' catalog; Ralph Stanley himself cited them as his personal favorite work.
Tracklist
- 1 How Mountain Girls Can Love Source Recording 2:04
- 2 Heaven Seemed So Near 2:11
- 3 Mastertone March 2:24
- 4 She’s More to be Pitied alt version 2:15
- 5 Keep a Memory 2:42
- 6 Reuben alt version 2:53
- 7 Think of What You’ve Done Source Recording 2:08
- 8 Your Selfish Heart 2:18
- 9 Clinch Mountain Backstep alt version 3:27
- 10 Memory of Your Smile 2:17
- 11 Love Me Darling Just Tonight Source Recording 2:13
- 12 Midnight Ramble 2:03
- 13 Blue Moon of Kentucky alt version
- 14 Close By alt version
- 15 Molly and Tenbrooks alt version
