The Unbroken Circle: The Musical Heritage of the Carter Family

Dualtone – 80302-01162-2

Format: CD, Album, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 2004
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Country, Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
01 Worried Man Blues: George Jones (3:11)
02 No Depression In Heaven: Sheryl Crow (3:20)
03 On The Sea of Galilee: Emmylou Harris with the Peasall Sisters(3:16)
04 Engine One-Forty-Three: Johnny Cash (3:38)
05 Never Let The Devil Get the Upper Hand of You: Marty Stuart & Fabulous Superlatives (4:50)
06 Little Moses: Janette and Joe Carter (2:19)
07 Black Jack David: Norman and Nancy Blake with Tim O'Brien (2:57)
08 Bear Creek Blues: John Prine (4:23)
09 You Are My Flower: Willie Nelson (2:39)
10 Single Girl, Married Girl: Shawn Colvin with Earl Scruggs and Randy Scruggs (2:19)
11 Will My Mother Know Me There?: The Whites with Ricky Skaggs (3:04)
12 The Winding Stream: Rosanne Cash (4:31)
13 Rambling Boy: The Del McCoury Band (4:24)
14 Hold Fast To The Right: June Carter Cash (2:55)
15 Gold Watch And Chain: The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with Kris Kristofferson (4:06)
[Credits]
Producer: John Carter Cash
[Notes]
Country musicians, be they alternative, traditional, or neo-traditionalist, never tire of singing praises to the Carter Family. Heck, even the occasional rocker will say a few kind words about the Carter legacy. With this type of enthusiasm, there's never a bad time to put together a tribute album like The Unbroken Circle. The album is packed with VIPs like Emmylou Harris, George Jones, Sheryl Crow, and Willie Nelson, and it even includes no less than three Cashes (Johnny, June Carter, and Rosanne). Despite this impressive list, The Unbroken Circle gets a very rocky start with lukewarm efforts by Jones, Crow, Harris, and Johnny Cash. Jones and Cash sound fairly rough, and Harris' outing, backed by the Peasall Sisters, is underwhelming. Crow's appearance on a country record is somewhat surprising, and perhaps it was meant to add a little pizzazz to the disc. Unfortunately, she sings "No Depression in Heaven" as though she were auditioning for Freakwater. While the album never quite recovers from this early stumble, there are bright spots after those first four songs. Marty Stuart offers a truly superb version of "Never Let the Devil Get the Upper Hand of You," filled with creepy ambience and a fine vocal, while Janette and Joe Carter's take on "Little Moses" sounds more old-time than the Carter Family. There are solid offerings by Nelson, John Prine, and the Del McCoury Band before everything comes to a crash landing with the less polished contributions of June Carter Cash and Kris Kristofferson. While fans of the artists on this compilation may want to check it out, there are better Carter Family collections (Bristol by Ginny Hawker and Kay Justice and Songs of the Carter Family by Jody Stecher and Kate Brislin), and there's always the option of listening to the Carter Family themselves. -- AllMusic Review by Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.

The Carter Sisters – Maybelle, Anita, June & Helen

Bear Family Records – BFX 15080

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue
Country: Germany
Released: 1981
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Country
[Tracklist]
A1 I Like My Lovin' Overtime (2:03)
A2 Love, Oh, Crazy Love (2:42)
A3 You Flopped When You Got Me Alone (2:00)
A4 Don Juan (2:02)
A5 He Went Slippin' Around (2:18)
A6 Heartless Romance (2:48)
A7 Faithless Johnny Lee (2:39)
A8 There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight (2:50)
B1 Jukebox Blues (2:16)
B2 Like All Get Out (2:11)
B3 Time's A Wastin' (2:07)
B4 We've Got Things To Do (2:25)
B5 Keep It A Secret (2:38)
B6 Cool, Cold, Colder (2:35)
B7 Unfit Mother (2:30)
B8 You're Right But I Wish You Were Wrong (2:32)
[Credits]
Maybelle (guitar/vocals) Anita (guitar/bass/vocals) June (autoharp/guitar/bannjo/vocals) Helen Carter (guitar/accordion/vocals)
[Notes]
After the original Carter Family's legendary run ended, Maybelle Carter remained a radio and recording star with her talented daughters Helen, Anita and June. This generation's ties to popular music's bigger picture include Helen's singer-songwriter son Kenny Jones, Anita's marriage to Johnny Cash bandmate Bob Wootton, and both June's first husband, Carl Smith, and her daughter from a second marriage, Rosie Nix-Adams.

Chet Atkins with the Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle 1949

Country Routes – RFD CD 37

Format: CD, Compilation
Country: UK
Released: 2006
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Country
[Tracklist]
01 No Vacancy
02 Today
03 'Deed I Do
04 The Deaf Woman's Courtship
05 In The Pines
06 Eight More Miles To Louisville
07 Ain't It Hard To Love
08 No Tears In Heaven
09 She's Killing Me
10 I'm Fading Fast With The Tide
11 Blue Eyes Cryin' In The Rain
12 Carry Me Off To Old Virginny
13 Lord Lead Me On
14 Columbus Stockade Blues
15 Under The Hickory Nut Tree
16 When God Dips His Love In My Heart
17 What's The Use
18 Keep On The Sunny Side
19 In The Pines
20 Take Me Back To Tulsa
21 You Belong To Me
22 Meeting In The Air
23 Frankie And Johnny
24 Farther Along
25 I'll Be Thinking Of You Little Girl
[Credits]
Chet Atkins (guitar/vocals) Mother Maybelle (guitar/banjo/vocals) Helen Carter (vocals) Anita Carter (vocals) June Carter (vocals)
Remastering: Charlie Crump
[Notes]
After the original Carter Family trio stopped performing together, Maybelle Carter formed Mother Maybelle & the Carter Sisters in 1943 with her daughters Helen, Anita, and June Carter, and in 1947 Maybelle added a young Chet Atkins to the group to play electric lead guitar. This reconstituted Carter Family recorded some 60 songs in 1949 and 1950 to be used as live radio transcriptions, the earliest of which are included here (County Routes released the later sessions on CD in 2005 as The Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle with Chet Atkins). The sound on these transcriptions is clear and sharp, and for those who only know the much more Appalachian-sounding A.P. Carter version of the Carter Family, it is a bit of a revelation, with a more modern Nashville veneer. A half-dozen or so of these tracks are Atkins guitar solos, and he sings an occasional lead vocal and a harmony or two, but it is the Carter sisters' joyous harmonies that really carry the show. Highlights include ensemble pieces like "You Belong to Me," "Someone's Last Day," "Under the Hickory Nut Tree" (featuring Atkins on the lead vocal), several short versions of "In the Pines," and a wonderful duet from Helen and Anita Carter on "Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain." -- AllMusic Review by Steve Leggett

The Carter Family On Border Radio 1939 Vol. 3

Arhoolie Records – 413

Format: CD, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 1999
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Country
[Tracklist]
01 Theme / Cannon Ball Blues (2:19)
02 The Story Of Charlie And Nelly (1:36)
03 One Little Word / Alabama Gal (2:54)
04 You Are My Sunshine / Happy Or Lonesome (2:56)
05 Oh, Susanna / On My Way To Canaan's Land (2:37)
06 Going Back To Texas / Great Speckled Bird (3:34)
07 Oh, Death / Don't Bury Me On The Lone Prairie (3:07)
08 When The Spring Roses Are Blooming / Chinese Breakdown (2:29)
09 Way Down Yonder In The Cumberland Mts. / Let The Church Roll On (1:55)
10 Broken Engagement / I Shall Not Be Moved (4:17)
11 Dark Haired True Lover / In Your Care (3:15)
12 Theme / Station ID (1:17)
13 Theme / The Old Lades' Home (2:30)
14 The Winding Stream (2:28)
15 Miner's Blues / Columbus Stockade Blues (3:46)
16 No Home / Prisoner's Dream (3:52)
17 Something Got A Hold Of Me / Spirit Of Love (2:50)
18 Worried Man Blues (1:52)
19 Giddyup Go / Sittin' On Top Of The World (2:48)
20 My Virginia Rose (2:13)
21 Cyclone Of Rye Cove (1:59)
22 Wade In The Water / Charlie Brooks (3:36)
23 Anchored In Love (2:07)
24 I've Been Working On The Railroad / I'll Be Satisfied (2:52)
25 Theme Out & Station ID (1:01)
[Credits]
Sara Carter (guitar/autoharp/vocals) Maybelle Carter (guitar/vocals) A.P. Carter (vocals) Janette Carter, Helen Carter, June Carter, and Anita Carter (guitar/autoharp/vocals)
Producer: Chris Strachwitz, Liner Notes: Ed Kahn, Artwork: Beth Weil, Designer: Wayne Pope and Craig Millman
[Notes]
In 1938 and 1939, the first family of American country music, the Carter Family, recorded transcriptions for radio broadcast on Mexican border radio stations. The recordings featured A.P. Carter, his wife Sara, sister-in-law Maybelle, A.P. and Sara’s daughter Janette (listed as Jeanette in the liner notes), and Maybelle’s three children, Helen, June, and Anita. In 1963, 17 transcription discs were discovered at station XET in Monterrey, Mexico. In 1995, Arhoolie Records released three CDs containing material from the 17 discs. In Volume 3, the Carters sing a mix of country, western, gospel, and children’s songs including "You Are My Sunshine," "Oh, Susanna," "Great Speckled Bird," "Sitting On Top of the World," "Wade in the Water," and "I've Been Working on the Railroad."

The Carter Family On Border Radio 1939 Vol. 2

Arhoolie Records – 412

Format: CD, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 1997
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Country
[Tracklist]
01 Theme / Why There Is A Tear In My Eyes (2:58)
02 Sleep Baby Sleep / Just Another Broken Heart (3:37)
03 Corina (1:21)
04 I Can Not Be Your Sweetheart / Red Wing (3:21)
05 A Broken Down Saint (2:13)
06 Weeping Willow (0:45)
07 You Are My Flower / Gathering Flowers From The Hillside (3:50)
08 The Last Letter / I Wouldn't Mind Dying (3:33)
09 Who's That Knocking At My Window? (2:03)
10 Diamonds In The Rough / The Fatal Wedding (3:00)
11 It's Hard To Please Your Mind / Death Is Only A Dream (2:41)
12 Theme / XET Station Break (1:01)
13 Theme / The Church In The Wildwood (2:02)
14 Are You Tired Of Me, Darling? / Sourwood Mountain (2:48)
15 Bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie / My Bonnie Blue Eyes (3:21)
16 Yankee Doodle / Storms On The Ocean (2:58)
17 Sugar Hill (0:40)
18 Hello Stranger (2:07)
19 Cowboy Jack (1:38)
20 Nobody's Darling / Funny When You Feel That Way (4:03)
21 Dixie Darling (1:37)
22 Shortning Bread / Soldier And His Sweetheart (2:22)
23 Polly Wolly Doodle All Day / My Gold Watch And Chain (2:31)
24 River Of Jordan (1:39)
25 I Will Never Marry / God Gave Noah The Rainbow Sign (3:53)
[Credits]
Sara Carter (guitar/autoharp/vocals) Maybelle Carter (guitar/vocals) A.P. Carter (vocals) Janette Carter, Helen Carter, June Carter, and Anita Carter (guitar/autoharp/vocals)
Producer: Chris Strachwitz, Liner Notes: Ed Kahn, Artwork: Beth Weil, Designer: Wayne Pope and Craig Millman
[Notes]
In 1938 and 1939, the first family of American country music, the Carter Family, recorded transcriptions for radio broadcast on Mexican border radio stations. The recordings featured A.P. Carter, his wife Sara, sister-in-law Maybelle, A.P. and Sara's daughter Janette (listed as Jeanette in the liner notes), and Maybelle’s three children, Helen, June, and Anita. In 1963, 17 transcription discs were discovered at station XET in Monterrey, Mexico. In 1995, Arhoolie Records released three CDs containing material from the 17 discs. In Volume 2, the Carters sing a mix of country, western, and gospel songs and perform several instrumentals, including a guitar duet between Sara and Maybelle on "Shortning Bread."

The Carter Family On Border Radio 1939 Vol. 1

Arhoolie Records - 411

Format: CD, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 1995
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Country
[Tracklist]
01 XET Station Break, Introduction, Theme Song / The Wandering Boy (2:44)
02 I Wonder How The Old Folks Are At Home / In The Highways (3:17)
03 Room For You And Me (1:36)
04 Cumberland Gap / Lonesome Valley (2:33)
05 Just Another Broken Heart (1:05)
06 Darling We Are Growing Older / The Old Texas Trail (3:35)
07 Cowboy's Wild Song To His Herd / Maple On The Hill (3:14)
08 New River Train / Lover's Lane (2:51)
09 My Sweetheart Is A Poor Working Girl / Waves Of The Sea (2:58)
10 On The Sea Of Galilee (1:32)
11 The Curtains Of Night (1:38)
12 Just A Few More Days Of Sorrow (2:28)
13 Theme Out & XET Station Break (1:22)
14 Intro & Theme / When Our Lord Shall Come Again (2:36)
15 The Happiest Days Of All (1:27)
16 By And Bye / We Shall Rise (3:22)
17 Engine 143 / Jealous Hearted Me (3:22)
18 Untitled / What Would You Give In Exchange For Your Soul? (2:54)
19 Beautiful Brown Eyes & Sweet Fern (2:40)
20 I Have No Loving Mother Now (2:06)
21 Western Hobo (1:51)
22 Single Girl (2:04)
23 I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes (1:33)
24 The Sun's Gonna Shine In My Back Door Someday / Give Me The Roses While I Live (2:53)
25 You Denied Your Love (2:15)
26 No Telephone In Heaven (2:29)
27 Theme Out & XET Station Break (1:11)
[Credits]
Sara Carter (guitar/autoharp/vocals) Maybelle Carter (guitar/vocals) A.P. Carter (guitar/vocals) Janette Carter, Helen Carter, June Carter, and Anita Carter (guitar/autoharp/vocals)
Producer: Chris Strachwitz, Liner Notes: Ed Kahn, Artwork: Beth Weil, Designer: Wayne Pope and Craig Millman
[Notes]
In 1938 and 1939, the first family of American country music, the Carter Family, recorded transcriptions for radio broadcast on Mexican border radio stations. The recordings featured A.P. Carter, his wife Sara, sister-in-law Maybelle, A.P. and Sara’s daughter Janette (listed as Jeanette in the liner notes), and Maybelle’s three children, Helen, June, and Anita. In 1963, 17 transcription discs were discovered at station XET in Monterrey, Mexico. In 1995, Arhoolie Records released three CDs containing material from the 17 discs. In Volume 1, the Carters perform their signature theme, “Keep on the Sunny Side,” to open their broadcasts and sing a mix of country, western, and gospel songs including “Single Girl, Married Girl,” a song they first recorded in 1927.