Re: BG: Carter Stanley Song- "Single Girl"

[JamesAlanShelton]

The song "Single Girl" was on the "Together For The Last Time" album which was on Rebel Records (Rebel- 1512). It has never been released on CD but I think you can still get it on cassette. It features songs recorded at the Stanley Brothers' last full show together at the old barn at the Brown County Jamboree in Bean Blossom, Indiana on October 16, 1966 as well as some live cuts from 1956. It is a great album and has always been a big inspiration for me as well as being one of my favorite Stanley albums of all time.    The song "Single Girl" (the official title is "Single Girl, Married Girl) was one of the very first songs recorded by the Carter Family at the historic Bristol Sessions in 1927. By the fall of 1966, it seems to have become a favorite of Carter Stanley's. On stage at Bean Blossom that day, Carter prefaced the song by saying:    "I'm gonna try one now for you....I believe the Carter Family recorded this, you might remember it, some of you.... I don't sing it very good, but it's a good song. I hope you enjoy "The Single Girl".   Carter was putting everything he had into the show although his health and voice were growing noticably weaker. But he still sang with all that feeling that he had, like he meant and felt every word that he sang. Both Ralph and George Shuffler were in top form that day too. After that show, they went to Nashville, TN to attend the annual DJ Convention and were honored there with a dinner by their fan club. (The last time I was at George Shuffler's house, he showed me a little guitar shaped award that was presented to him at that dinner in recognition for all his years of service as a Clinch Mountain Boy). A week later on October 21st, they were to perform at a school in Hazel Green, KY which is near Campton. Carter got sick that night after singing only about three songs and had to leave the stage. Melvin Goins told me the last song he did on stage was "Single Girl". Of course as everyone knows his condition worsened and Carter passed away on December 1, 1966 in Bristol Memorial Hospital.   Things have a way of coming full circle I guess. Ralph Stanley II recorded the "Single Girl" for his new album, "Carrying On" which was just released on Rebel Records on June 29th. I really enjoyed the chance to try to re-create George Shuffler's beautiful guitar intro on the song. I hope I did it justice!   I'm also hoping that some of the above information helps for those of you asking about the "Single Girl".   Sincerely, James A. Shelton