Search - The Carter Family :: Country By the Carter Family

Not particularly well put together

08/28/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a grab bag of Carter material, consisting of same late-era recordings by the original trio; a 1960s reunion of Sara and Maybelle; and 1960s and early 1970s recordings by the reconstituted Carter Family (Maybelle, June, Helen and Anita, sometimes d/b/a the Carter Sisters). The songs are mixed together, with no regard for sequencing or thematic organization. There's also no rhyme or reason for Rosanne Cash's picture appearing on the cover -- she's not a Carter, and she doesn't appear on the record. Somewhat surprisingly, what makes this one worth the price of admission are seven the late-era Carter Family/Sisters cuts. There are plenty of CD featuring the legendary recordings of the original Carters. But, the latter-day group, featuring Anita's wonderful lead vocals and Helen's adept harmonies, is otherwise unrepresented on U.S.-issued CD product."

The Original and Modern Carter Family Together

H. F. Corbin | ATLANTA, GA USA | 01/25/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is a combination of songs sung by the Original Carter Family and Maybelle Carter and his daughters, the group that sang after the breakup of the original after Sarah divorced A. P. Carter moved to California and married someone else. Because of this juxtaposition, the CD sounds a little weird although some of us are grateful for anything the Carter Family did that is released on CD's. The first song, the classic "Wildwood Flower" is worth the price of this CD for Maybelle's guitar introduction with her unique picking style. The six numbers sung by the originals are all written or collected by A. P. The CD closes with their rendition of "Can The Circle Be Unbroken."



Johnny Cash joins Maybelle and her daughters on two cuts: "The World Needs A Melody" and "A Song To Mama," which, if I remember correctly, was the last major hit that this group had back in the early 70's. It is pure sarrharin-- "Mama, you mean a lot to me"-- and goes right to the bloodstream. And I love it. The inclusion of "I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes" with "Ring Of Fire" is interesting since both numbers have to do with a Carter woman's relationship with men who were not their husbands. Sarah Carter, in a radio program, dedicated the first number to her lover in California who heard her singing and came to her. June Carter allegedly wrote the county classic "Ring of Fire" about her obsession with Johnny Cash when at least one of them as I recall was married to someone else. The new Carters' version of "He Thinks I Still Care," as the youngsters say now, rocks. Only George Jones may have done it better with his great tenor voice.



While this CD could be better, at least we have some of Maybelle and her daughters' recordings here. There must be a market for more releases on CD of the many records that these four women did over the years.



Warning: Not everyone whose photo appears on the front of this CD sings on it. Rosanne Cash is nowhere to be found."