The single most important event in the history of country music.' That was how Johnny Cash characterized the first Carter Family session in Bristol, Tennessee in 1927. That epochal first session is here, together with all of the recordings made by the original Carter Family between 1927 and 1941. Here are the Anglo-Celtic ballads, mountain songs, blues, and popular songs that formed the bedrock of country music, rendered as plaintively and hauntingly as only the Carter Family could render them.
Country people have always been sacred and sentimental people,' declared Carter Family patriarch, A. P. , and the 307 songs collected in this unique complete 12-CD edition reflect that judgement. This collection includes all of the Carters' recordings for Victor, ARC, Decca, APS, Columbia and Bluebird complete for the first time. Here are the original versions of country and folk classics like Wildwood Flower, Wabash Cannon Ball, The Storms Are On The Ocean and, of course, Will The Circle Be Unbroken.
Many of these recordings are appearing for the first time on CD, and the sound of these ageless classics has been digitally enhanced without damaging their integrity or purity. All known photographs of the original Carter Family have been included. Mother Maybelle's personal photo collection has been included as well as all the photos belonging to Janette Carter, some previously unpublished, and there is a full-length newly-researched Carter Family biography by preeminent country music historian Charles Wolfe. 'These recordings are archetypal and timeless,' writes Wolfe. 'They are as elemental as the wind or water, and have the simple beauty of the landscape of (the Carters' home in) Poor Valley. It is hard to underestimate the importance of the Carter Family to country music, and to American music in general'.
The set includes a taped interview by Ed Kahn and Mike Seeger with both Maybelle and Sara in 1963. It also includes a written introduction by Johnny Cash.
Track Listing
Disc 1:
- Bury Me Under The Weeping Willow
- Little Log Cabin By Sea
- The Poor Orphan Child
- The Storms Are On The Ocean
- Single Girl, Married Girl
- The Wandering Boy
- Meet Me By The Moonlight, Alone
- Little Darling, Pal Of Mine
- Keep On The Sunny Side
- Anchored In Love
- John Hardy Was A Desperate Man
- I Ain't Goin' To Work Tomorrow
- Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone'
- River Of Jordan
- Chewing Gum
- Wildwood Flower
- I Have No One To Love Me
- Forsaken Love
- Sweet Fern
- My Clinch Mountain Home
- God Gave Noah The Rainbow Sign
- I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes
- Little Moses
- Lulu Wall
- The Grave On The Green Hillside
Disc 2:
- Don't Forget This Song
- The Foggy Mountain Top
- Bring Back My Blue-Eyed Boy To Me
- Diamonds In The Rough
- Engine One-Forty Three
- The Homestead On The Farm
- The Cyclone Of Rye Cove
- Motherless Children
- When The Roses Bloom In Dixieland
- No Telephone In Heaven
- Western Hobo
- Carter's Blues
- Wabash Cannonball
- A Distant Land To Roam
- Jimmie Brown The Newsboy
- Kitty Waltz
- Fond Affection
- The Cannon-Ball
- The Lovers' Farewell
- There's Someone Awaiting For Me
- The Little Log Hut In The Lane
- When The Springtime Comes Again
- When The World's On Fire
- I Have An Aged Mother
- The Dying Soldier
- Worried Man Blues
Disc 3:
- Lonesome Valley
- On The Rock Where Moses Stood
- Room In Heaven For Me
- Lonesome Pine Special
- No More The Moon Shines On Lorena
- On My Way To Canaan's Land
- Where Shall I Be'
- Sow 'em On The Mountain
- Darling Nellie Across The Sea
- The Birds Were Singing Of You
- Weary Prodigal Son
- My Old Cottage Home
- When I'm Gone
- Sunshine In The Shadows
- Let The Church Roll On
- Lonesome For You
- Can't Feel At Home
- Why There's A Tear In My Eye (& J. RODGERS)
- The Wonderful City (& JIMMY RODGERS)
- Jimmie Rodgers Visits The Carter Family
- The Carter Family And Jimmie Rodgers In Texas
- Mid The Green Fields Of Virginia
- Happiest Days Of All
- Picture On The Wall
- Amber Tresses
Disc 4:
- I Never Loved But One
- Tell Me That You Love Me
- Where We'll Never Grow Old
- We Will March Through The Streets Of The City
- Sweet As The Flowers In May Time
- Will The Roses Bloom In Heaven
- My Little Home In Tennessee
- The Sun Of The Soul
- If One Won't Another One Will
- The Broken Hearted Lover
- Two Sweethearts
- The Winding Stream
- I Wouldn't Mind Dying
- The Spirit Of Love Watches Over Me
- The Church In The Wildwood
- Give Me Roses While I Live
- I Never Will Marry
- On The Sea Of Galilee
- Home By The Sea
- When The Roses Come Again
- I Loved You Better Than You Knew
- This Is Like Heaven To Me
- See That My Grave Is Kept Green
- Over The Garden Wall
- Gold Watch And Chain
- School House On The Hill
Disc 5:
- Will My Mother Know Me There'
- Faded Flowers
- Poor Little Orphaned Boy
- On A Hill Lone And Gray
- Cowboy Jack
- I'll Be All Smiles Tonight
- Away Out On The Old Saint Sabbeth
- Darling Little Joe
- Happy Or Lonesome
- On Little World
- Darling Daisies
- The East Virginia Blues
- Lovers Return
- It'll Aggravate Your Soul
- Hello, Central! Give Me Heaven
- I'm Working On Building
- You're Been Fooling Me, Baby
- Longing For Old Virginia
- March Winds Goin' To Blow My Blues All Away
- There'll Be Joy, Joy, Joy
- Home In Tennessee
- Are You Tired Of Me, My Darling
- I Cannot Be Your Sweetheart
- My Heart's Tonight In Texas
- There's No Hiding Place Down Here
- Cowboy's Wild Song To His Herd
Disc 6:
- The Evening Bells Are Ringing
- The Mountains Of Tennessee
- I'll Be Home Some Day
- Faded Coat Of Blue
- Sailor Boy
- Glory To The Lamb
- Behind Those Stone Walls
- Sinking In The Lonesome Sea
- He Took A White Rose From Her Hair
- Can The Circle Be Unbroken (Bye And Bye)
- Let's Be Lovers Again
- Your Mother Still Prays (For You, Jack)
- Kissing Is A Crime
- Don't Forget Me Little Darling
- Sad And Lonesome Day
- By The Touch Of Her Hand
- East Virginia Blues No. 2
- My Old Virginia Home
- My Virginia Rose Is Blooming
- My Texas Girl
- No Others's Bride I'll Be
- Gathering Flowers From The Hillside
- Gospel Ship
- The Little Black Train
Disc 7:
- The Fate Of Dewey Lee
- Sea Of Galilee
- Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone
- Broken Hearted Lover
- Little Darling Pal Of Mine
- Cannon Ball Blues
- Meet Me By The Moonlight Alone
- Lulu Walls
- My Dixie Darling
- Give Me Your Love And I'll Give You Mine
- Are You Lonesome Tonight'
- The Last Move For Me
- The Wayworn Traveler
- Just Another Broken Heart
- When Silver Threads Are Gold Again
Disc 8:
- There's No One Like Mother To Me
- In A Little Village Churchyard
- Jealous Hearted Me
- My Native Home
- Sweet Heaven In My View
- No Depression
- Bonnie Blue Eyes
- My Honey Lou
- In The Shadow Of The Pines
- Answer To Weeping Willow
- You've Been A Friend To Me
- Where The Silvery Colorado Wends Its Way
- Lay My Head Beneath The Rose
- No Depression In Heaven
- I'm Working On A Building
- East Virginia Blues
- Dixie Darling
- Kissin'Is A Crime
- Cannonball Blues
Disc 9:
- Are You Lonesome Tonight
- The Broken Down Tramp
- Lover's Lane
- Hold Fast To The Right
- Lord I'm In Your Care
- Funny When You Feel That Way
- In The Shadow Of Clinch Mountain
- Hello Stranger
- Never Let The Devil Get The Upper Hand Of You
- When This Evening Sun Goes Down
- Jim Blake's Message
- Honey In The Rock
- Look How This World Has Made A Change
- The Little Girl That Played On My Knee
- You Better Let That Liar Alone
- Farewell Nellie
- The Only Girl (I Ever Cared About)
- Goodbye To The Plains
- My Home's Across The Blue Ridge Mountains
- Dark Haired True Lover
- He Never Came Back
- Happy In The Prison
- Walking In The King's Highway
- St.Regious Girl
- Just A Few More Days
Disc 10:
- Bring Back My Boy
- It Is Better Farther On
- Charlie And Nellie
- Cuban Soldier
- The Heart That Was Broken For Me
- You're Nothing More To Me
- Stern Old Bachelor
- Little Joe
- Reckless Motorman
- You Denied Your Love
- Oh, Take Me Back
- You Are My Flower
- Who's That Knockin' On My Window
- They Call Her Mother
- Coal Miner's Blues
- Young Freda Bolt
- Little Poplar Log House On The Hill
- The Dying Mother
- Buddies In The Saddle
- Heaven's Radio
- Beautiful Home
- There'll Be No Distinction There
- Give Him One More As He Goes
- Lonesome For You Darling
- Blackie's Gunman
- You've Got To Righten That Wrong
- Meeting In The Air
- My Home Among The Hills
Disc 11:
- Black Jack David
- Look Away From The Cross
- We Shall Rise
- I Found You Among The Roses
- Bear Creek Blues
- I'll Never Forsake You
- Beautiful Isle O'er The Sea
- It's A Long Long Road To Travel Alone
- Why Do You Cry, Little Darling
- You Tied A Love Knot In My Heart
- Lonesome Homesick Blues
- Dark And Stormy Weather
- In The Valley Of The Shenandoah
- Girl On The Greenbrier Shore
- Something Got A Hold Or Me
- Fifty Miles Of Elbow Room
- Keep On The Firing Line
- The Wave On The Sea
- The Rambling Boy
- You're Gonna Be Sorry You Let Me Down
- Why There's A Tear In... (& J. RODGERS)(alt)
- Jimmie Rodgers visits The Carter Family (alt)
- Sinking In The Lonesome Sea (alt)
- Lonesome Valley (alt)
- Cannon Ball Blues (alt)
- Worried Man Blues (alt)
- Single Girl, Married Girl (alt)
Disc 12:
- Sara & Maybelle Carter Interview, 1963
- The Ship That Never Returned
- Jesse James
- I Was Born 4000 Years Ago
- I'm Leaving You
- Re-Autoharp/Fingerpicking/Allie Lee Intro
- Her Favorite Guitar Pickers
- The First Grand Ole Opry Appearance
- How The Maybelle Style Developed
- Thank You's From Musicians
- Do You Still Have Your Original Guitar'
- An Autoharp Discussion
- The Wildwood Flower Discussion
- The Floyd Cramer Reference
- The Kids Dig That Style/The College Audience
- How Many Songs Did You Record In Your Career'
- The Early Recording And Radio Background
- Early Record Sales
- Discussion about A.P. And Sara Carter
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