Rebel Records To Resume Issuing Classic Releases for Digital Download‏

Campaign Kicks Off with Two Ralph Stanley LPs Oct. 19th




Select recordings from County Records to be featured as well


This fall Rebel Records recommences its efforts to make its extensive catalog of yet-to-be reissued recordings available for digital download. The label will be releasing two albums per month for purchase through major online retailers including iTunes and Amazon.com. Releases from both Rebel Records and its sister label County Records will be counted in the campaign and will include classics from artists such as Ralph Stanley, Del McCoury and Kenny Baker among many others. Radio DJ's that receive releases from Rebel via digital download will be sent all these recordings as per usual. Unfortunately, as no physical CD's will be manufactured, DJ's serviced by mail will not receive them.

The campaign starts off with a bang October 19th with the release of two Ralph Stanley albums: Old Country Church (1972) and Lonesome and Blue (1987). Old Country Church features Dr. Ralph in what many bluegrass fans consider his best-ever lineup: Roy Lee Centers on guitar and lead vocals, Curly Ray Cline on fiddle, Keith Whitley on lead guitar, Ricky Skaggs on mandolin and Jack Cooke on bass. The album was Ralph's second gospel release for Rebel Records following his seminal Cry From the Cross LP. While Old Country Church did not yield as many hits as its predecessor, it is still filled with gems such as the upbeat classic "Honey in the Rock" as well as two a cappella hymns: "Village Church Yard" and "When I Get Home."

Lonesome and Blue is a secular album and features Ralph with his mid-1980s lineup: Charlie Sizemore on guitar and lead vocals, Junior Blankenship on lead guitar and the durable Curly Ray Cline and Jack Cooke on fiddle and bass, respectively. Having gone nearly a decade without a personnel change and with nine albums to their credit, Ralph and The Clinch Mountain Boys were a well-oiled machine by the time this record was released in early 1987. In what would be his last recording with the band, Charlie Sizemore is in peak form on lead vocals. Notable tracks include two Randall Hylton-penned numbers, the oft-requested "Room at the Top of the Stairs" and "It's a Hot Night in August," "Old Richmond Prison" (now a latter day standard for Ralph) and remakes of Bill Monroe's "Blue Moon of Kentucky" and the title track, a Stanley Brothers classic originally cut for Mercury.

Stay tuned - upcoming digital exclusive releases include Del McCoury's self-titled first recording for Rebel and Bluegrass Memories, a late 1980s release from Dave Evans.

WV Sen. Byrd’s Mountain Fiddler Album Now Available as CD in Wide Release

Byrd's 1978 vinyl album, "Mountain Fiddler," featuring the senator performing 14 of his favorite old-time and bluegrass songs and tunes has been reissued on CD by County Records of Charlottesville, VA and is available from a wide variety of outlets now.
Charlottesville, VA,-- Fans of old-time and bluegrass music will be glad to know that the music of West Virginia Senator Robert C. Byrd is now widely available on CD.


County Records has reissued WV Senator Robert C. Byrd’s 1978 album of 14 favorite old-time and bluegrass songs and tunes as a CD. The collection, County Records CD 2743, is available through a wide variety of outlets. Byrd died on Monday, June 28. (Cover art courtesy of County Records, Charlottesville, VA.) The CD is a reissue of Byrd’s 1978 album, “Mountain Fiddler,” 14 selections that feature the senator performing his favorite old-time and bluegrass fiddle tunes and songs. The 1977 recording sessions included Doyle Lawson on guitar, James Bailey on banjo, and Spider Gilliam on bass, three of traditional music’s most well-respected talents who were all members of the Country Gentlemen band at the time of Grammy-award-winning Bill McElroy’s original recording.


"We're glad we can offer this recording of him playing in his musical prime. His joy in the music is evident." --Dave Freeman, Owner, County Records

“We’ve had this CD reissue project in the works for about 18 months,” said County Records owner Dave Freeman. “We were hoping that the senator’s health would permit him to be present for the CD reissue debut. We’re mourning his passing on June 28 with West Virginians and traditional music lovers everywhere, and we’re glad that we can offer this recording of him playing in his musical prime. His joy in the music is evident.”
The CD, County CD 2743, is available through County Records, Charlottesville, VA, and other distributers.