The Stanley Brothers — Hymn

The Stanley Brothers are possible one of the most know and respected figures in the bluegrass genre. The pair where active between 1946 and 1966, and “Hymn” collects together two of the pair’s original albums from late 1950s and early 1960s, and feature here are twenty four tracks of god fearing and mainly up-beat bluegrass.

The Stanley Brothers where one of the first acts to follow on from the true originator of the bluegrass form Bill Monroe. And the brothers sound it’s warm, mainly cheerful musically yet often quite melancholic lyric wise, up beat and tuneful mixture of acoustic guitar and banjo, with sonic support from the fiddle and mandolin. All topped off  with  the pairs vocals- Ralph Stanley with his enthusiastic tenor voice, and Carter with his more earthy Baritone.

First up we have “Hymns and Sacred Songs” which original appeared on Cincinnati, Ohio based king Records in 1959. This first album features twelve tracks in all, and all of the tracks have a god fearing/country Gospel feel to them- with the pairs rich & golden mix of tenor & baritone vocals,  often jig bound mixture of rabidly strummed acoustic rhythm guitar and vibrate banjo, with fiddle and mandolin textures weaved here and there to the mix.

The second album here is from 1960 and it’s entitled “Sacred Songs From the Hills”, this album originally appeared on Beaumont, Texas Starday records. On offer here are another twelve tracks, and the album starts up fairly morose with  “Gathering Flowers for the Masters Bouquet” which is more of slower waltz then the jig bound feel of  many of  the songs on “Hymns and Sacred Songs”. But with-in a few tracks we’re back to more up-beat and jigging like tracks, through I do feel this album does sound a bit more morose and sombre than the first album.

Both albums here have been remastered, but of course with this type of music and it’s date theres a few places where things waver and thin-out, but for the most part the remastering has enhanced the up-beat 'want to jump up 'n' dance vibe' feel of the tracks. The booklet features a two pages write-up by Mojo writer Dave Henderson which  sees him talking about how he finally discovered the Brothers music and a little about the brothers career/ background. All told “Hymn” it’s a very worthy, memorable and rewarding collection of often gospel scented Bluegrass played with great joy and passion by these two masters of the form.