Great list, Dan. I didn’t include it on my list, but I really like the Dailey and Vincent album too. You make me want to check out the Stanley album again. Heaven knows I’m a fan of his father’s.
I really haven’t given the Stanley album more

The Chambers-Nicholson album sounds like a great combination so the musical styles I like best. And the Stanley name = Mountain/Bluegrass…so if he’s anywhere near as good as his Dad, that is a natural choice for me.

And I’ve been curious about Jim Lauderdale’s “Honey Songs” for a while now, and you folks are convincing me to at least give it a good listen.

I got my wish and got “Coal” for Christmas, and I love it. Almost as much as Patty’s Mountain Soul. I had some doubts at first about Kathy Mattea’s elegant folk sounding vocals applied to a Mountain themed project, but she really pulls it off. It does bog down in places, I agree…but I think songs like Blue Diamond Mines more than carry it. I loved Kathy’s version of “Harlan” but I still think Patty Loveless’ version is the most convincing. (Love the Paisley version as well though) And “Black Lung Coal” reminds me of Ralph Stanley’s “O Death” stylistically and thematically, though not vocally of course.

Great stuff!