I Went Downtown to Get My Purse
Peter Stanley & Christopher Stanley

By Robert Stutler

This article appeared in the Richmond Music Journal, June 2000

If this had been a movie instead of an album, the trailer would say, "fun for the entire family."

The little hairs on the back of my neck just stood straight up.

You would think Stanley was wearing a purple dinosaur costume. With the bouncy melodies and happy lyrics, you can just hear the little kids squealing and clapping. That feeling is doubled in songs like John Denver's "Grandma's Feather Bed," "The Unicorn" by the Irish Rovers, and Peter, Paul and Mary's "Puff the Magic Dragon."

And if those songs don't get the message across, there's "I Went Downtown to Get My Purse," which begins with the singing of four-year-old Sara Scott.

Powering these toddler trifles is the excellent guitar craftsmanship and vocal styling that seems to come directly from bluegrass legend Doc Watson. Peter Stanley's resonating voice is like story-telling put to music, and is a sure delight for anyone barely off all fours.

But I haven't been that drunk in a long time.