Following the success of "O Brother, Where Art Thou," T. Bone Burnett arranged for what turned out to be Ralph's last recording for a major, mainstream label, one he and Carter had been on from 1948 to 1952. This recording features a team of all-stars: Bob Neuwirth co-producing and Norman Blake, Stuart Duncan, Mike Compton, and others picking. It reached #22 on the Billboard County Chart, but only #3 Bluegrass. Ralph Stanley contains none of his banjo playing and features almost entirely traditional material.