Buzzbomb - Posted - 12/23/2017:  08:42:01

Well not exactly lost, but definitely nearly forgotten...

Here's a taster from an LP by J.D. Jarvis - "More Bluegrass Gospel Songs" which came out on Rural Rhythm in 1969, and which has backing instrumentation provided by Ralph Stanley, Curly Ray Cline and Larry Sparks. I picked up on it from an article on J.D. in Dec '96 edition of Bluegrass Unlimited... but it seems to have largely gone unnoticed, which is a shame. 19 of the 20 cuts are vocal numbers by J.D. including an early version of "Come On Little Children", which Ralph would later record on "Cry From The Cross", but there's also this instrumental version of "God Loves His Children":-youtu.be/pvcqfQwy1do

I'm emailed Rural Rhythm to ask if it'd be possible for them to re-issue the LP as part of their $6 CD-R Heritage Collection line... so fingers crossed!

Retro - Posted - 12/23/2017:  11:13:45

Thanks, I Love it

The Old Timer - Posted - 12/23/2017:  16:00:05

Oooh, this is generating a lot of envy among my Stanley music friends!

Buzzbomb - Posted - 12/23/2017:  16:18:55

quote:

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Originally posted by The Old Timer

Oooh, this is generating a lot of envy among my Stanley music friends!

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The good news is Rural Rhythm knew about it and are will be considering adding it to their $6 CD-R 'Heritage Collection' series in the new year. Let's hope it happens!

Bk2olKY - Posted - 12/23/2017:  18:40:09

Thanks for posting!! I really enjoyed listening to it. I'm gonna borrow some for Get in Line Brother. I like the quad pinch.

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 12/23/2017:  19:25:47

Ivor,
Wow that sounded great. We forget how good Ralph was in his prime. Just jumped in your face and let it fly. Great bluegrass.
ken

Brian Murphy - Posted - 12/24/2017:  15:08:04

So is "God Loves His Children" the tune for The Grand Ole Opry Song? (The one Jimmy Martin sang on Circle)

Dustyman - Posted - 12/25/2017:  07:10:17

I never forget how good Ralph was !
I have a 6 CD player in my minivan , there is ALWAYS a Ralph Stanley cd in at least one slot !

flyingsquirrelinlay - Posted - 12/25/2017:  07:36:07

Wow, bluegrass at its best!

The Old Timer - Posted - 12/25/2017:  10:13:44

Brian Murphy I think that tune is rather universal in country music. Sure does sound like God Loves His Children, but I even God Loves His Children "appropriated" that melody.

Hylo Brown wrote the Grand Ole Opry Song. Jimmy recorded a TERRIFIC version in the key of G in the mid 50s with Earl Taylor in the band. Much better than the Circle version IMHO. Better key for the banjo!