Ralph Stanley II: This One Is Two

Features Songs by Lyle Lovett, Townes Van Zandt, Tom T. Hall, Elton John,
Fred Eaglesmith and Stanley Himself.
Read more at www.ralphstanleyii.com

Scott Peavler | October 2008
It is one thing to follow in the footsteps of a famous father who has been performing for well over half-a-century, but to fill in a role that began with Carter Stanley and later involved Larry Sparks, Keith Whitley, Ricky Skaggs and Charlie Sizemore requires a unique determination. The younger Ralph Stanley, known as "Two" to family and friends, has been filling in as guitarist and lead singer for his famous father and the Clinch Mountain Boys since 1995, although this represents the fifth album he has done on his own. Stanley has always maintained that his musical world goes beyond the bluegrass genre and this album makes the point loud and clear.

The 11 tracks on the album represent a variety of stellar songwriters including Garth Brooks, Elton John, Lyle Lovett, Tom T. Hall, Fred Eaglesmith and the late Townes Van Zandt. "Georgia," written by Elton John and Gary Osbourne, expresses a longing for a final look at home before life is gone. Stanley's version of Lovett's "LA County" is a reasonable cover of the original, but the intriguing aspect of this track is my personal suspicion, unconfirmed, that the harmony part may have been performed by an un-credited Ralph Stanley senior. Any song by Tom T. Hall is sure to be a gem, as is "Train Sons." Perhaps the most poignant track on the album is "Carter," which was written by Eaglesmith about Stanley's uncle, who died in 1966 at the age of 41. "Two" has managed to strike a productive balance between the family tradition and his own take on country music."

Read more at www.ralphstanleyii.com

Contacts:
Norma Morris / Erin Morris
Morris Public Relations
615 952-9250
norma@morrispr.biz
www.morrispr.biz

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