Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Glory to the Lamb
2. Behind Those Stone Walls
3. Sinking in the Lonesome Sea
4. He Took a White Rose from Her Hair
5. Can the Circle Be Unbroken (Bye and Bye)
6. Let's Be Lovers Again
7. Your Mother Still Prays (For You, Jack)
8. Kissing Is a Crime
9. Don't Forget Me Little Darling
10. Sad and Lonesome Day
11. By the Touch of Her Hand
12. East Virginia Blues No. 2
13. My Old Virginia Home
14. My Virginia Rose Is Blooming
15. My Texas Girl
16. No Other's Bride I'll Be
17. Gathering Flowers from the Hillside
18. Gospel Ship
19. Little Black Train
20. Keep on the Sunny Side
21. River of Jordan
22. Lonesome Valley
23. God Gave Noah the Rainbow Sign
24. Single Girl, Married Girl
25. Fate of Dewey Lee
26. Wildwood Flower

Disc 2:

1. Sea of Galilee
2. Don't Forget This Song
3. My Clinch Mountain Home
4. Storms Are on the Ocean
5. Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone?
6. Broken Hearted Lover
7. Little Darlin' Pal of Mine
8. Homestead on the Farm
9. Cannon Ball Blues
10. Meet Me by the Moonlight Alone
11. On the Rock Where Moses Stood
12. Lulu Walls
13. I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes
14. Worried Man Blues
15. My Dixie Darling
16. Give Me Your Love and I'll Give You Mine
17. Are You Lonesome Tonight?
18. Last Move for Me
19. Wayworn Traveller
20. Just Another Broken Heart
21. When Silver Threads Are Gold Again
22. There's No One Like Mother to Me
23. In a Little Village Churchyard
24. Jealous Hearted Me

Disc 3:

1. My Native Home
2. Sweet Heaven in My View
3. No Depression in Heaven
4. Bonnie Blue Eyes
5. My Honey Lou
6. In the Shadow of the Eyes
7. Answer to Weeping Willow
8. You've Been a Friend to Me
9. Where the Silvery Colorado Wends Its Way
10. Lay My Head Beneath the Rose
11. Broken Down Tramp
12. Lover's Lane
13. Hold Fast to the Right
14. Lord, I'm in Your Care
15. Funny When You Feel That Way
16. In the Shadow of Clinch Mountain
17. Hello Stranger
18. Never Let the Devil Get the Upper Hand of You
19. When This Evening Sun Goes Down
20. Jim Blake's Message
21. Honey in the Rock
22. Look How This World Has Made a Change
23. Little Girl That Played on My Knee
24. You Better Let That Liar Alone
25. Farewell Nellie
26. Only Girl (I Ever Cared About)

Disc 4:

1. Goodbye to the Plains
2. My Home's Across the Blue Ridge Mountains
3. Dark Haired True Lover
4. He Never Came Back
5. Happy in the Prison
6. Walking in the King's Highway
7. St. Regious Girl
8. Just a Few More Days
9. Bring Back My Boy
10. It Is Better Farther On
11. Charlie and Nellie
12. Cuban Soldier
13. Heart That Was Broken for Me
14. You're Nothing More to Me
15. Stern Old Bachelor
16. Little Joe
17. Reckless Motorman
18. You Denied Your Love
19. Oh, Take Me Back
20. You Are My Flower
21. Who's That Knocking at My Window
22. They Call Her Mother
23. Coal Miner's Blues
24. Young Freda Bolt
25. Little Poplar Log House on the Hill
26. Dying Mother
27. Buddies in the Saddle

Disc 5:

1. Heaven's Radio
2. Beautiful Home
3. There'll Be No Distinction There
4. Give Him One More as He Goes
5. Lonesome for You Darling
6. Blackie's Gunman
7. You've Got to Righten That Wrong
8. Meeting in the Air
9. My Home Among the Hills
10. Black Jack David
11. Look Away from the Cross
12. We Shall Rise
13. I Found You Among the Roses
14. Bear Creek Blues
15. I'll Never Forsake You
16. Beautiful Isle O'er the Sea
17. It's a Long Long Road to Travel Alone
18. Why Do You Cry, Little Darling
19. Lonesome Homesick Blues
20. Dark and Stormy Weather
21. In the Valley of the Shenandoah
22. Girl on the Greenbrier Shore
23. Something Got a Hold of Me
24. Fifty Miles of Elbow Room
25. Keep on the Firing Line
26. Wave on the Sea
27. Rambling Boy

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15890 in Music
• Released on: 2003-04-08
• Number of discs: 5
• Format: Box set

Customer Reviews

A Veritable Gold Mine, Dirt Cheap!
As a Christmas present to myself, I purchased the two JSP boxed sets, The Carter Family, 1927-1934 and The Carter Family, Volume 2, 1935-1941. I have been playing them non-stop for the past four days, and I am absolutely thrilled with both of them.

The RCA Victor sides were issued "complete" a few years ago by Rounder records. The Rounder releases are supposed to be re-mastered, yet they don't sound any better than the tracks presented in the JSP collections. And the JSP collections include complete information on the original recording dates, which the Rounder releases do not. Finally, one reviewer here observed that the sleeve notes for the JSP Box sets are minimal; that's true, but when compared to the Rounder releases, I find that the JSP releases actually proffer a bit more biographical information, and better details on the records.

The first set (1927-1934) pretty much covers almost all of the original Victor sides; I have carefully compared the first set with the Rounder series (I have all nine titles in the Rounder releases) and I have only found two or three tracks that are missing from the JSP sets. This is The Carter Family, country music's first family, as they should be heard. Sara's singing is strong and clear; Maybelle's guitar playing is amazing, and A. P.'s harmonious accompaniment is wonderful. The early years are raw and unpolished, but that adds to their aesthetic artistry, and actually enhances their simple charm.

But Volume 2, (1935-1941) is truly exciting for the bulk of material that has not been available of CD before. This box contains the balance of the RCA Victor sides not included in the first set, but also includes dozens of later recordings originally issued on the ARC and Decca labels (Decca owned both). These recordings are completely glorious, and floored me when I heard them (and I've been a fan of "roots" music for many years). The sound is amazing, and the performances, both in terms of instrumental skill and vocal harmony, are far more polished than the early Victor sides. Aside from an MCA (Decca) issue in the "Country Music Hall of Fame" Series and an issue from Sony Special Products on the Country Label, these songs have been totally neglected as CD issues. Between the two JSP sets, the material covered represents about 90% of the original Carter Family records that I am aware of, although there may be many more that are lost forever. This is not likely to be corrected anytime soon. Decca Records is notorious for neglecting to reissue historic recordings, which is a real shame. I wish I had a dollar for every artist I have on a Decca vinyl that has not seen a CD release. Decca has released many historic Jazz recordings on the "Decca Jazz" label, but aside from the Country Music Hall of Fame series (a limited anthology series) it has not seen fit to issue much of the classic country music rotting in its vaults. And there are probably thousands of wonderful popular music recordings in Decca's vaults that may never see the light of day on CD, either. Concurrent with these recordings, the Carter Family also spent years performing live concerts on "border radio". Many transcripts of these fine performances were made, and a few have been made available on obscure labels. But the JSP sets contain most of their studio sessions.

For anyone who doesn't know, the original Carter Family practically invented country music. Sara and Maybelle, who were cousins, married the Carter brothers, A.P. and Ezra, and a musical family was born. They found their way to the 1927 "talent auditions" conducted by Ralph Peer, which also "discovered" Jimmie Rodgers, the Father of Country Music. I often say that if Jimmie Rodgers was the father, than the Carter Family were the mothers. The original group (Sara, Maybelle and Alvin Pleasant) split up in 1941, never to record together again (aside from the wonderful "Historic Reunion" album that Maybelle and Sara recorded in 1965). For many years, Maybelle continued to tour and record with her daughters, June Helen and Anita, under the name of the Carter Family. Of course, June later married Johnny Cash, who toured with June for years; this association helped keep interest in the Carter Family legacy alive for many years.

I have to honestly say that I can't remember when I last enjoyed a boxed set so thoroughly. The simple, pure singing of the original Carter Family is truly wonderful. Their harmony is amazing, their playing incredible. One is always conscious while listening to them that these are self-taught musicians, yet their professionalism is obvious. As I write these words, my stereo is pouring forth their 1935 version of Are You Lonesome Tonight, a song that became a multi-million seller for Elvis Presley 25 years later. I prefer the Carter Family version. You may too.

Better Than Vol 1?
This box set is a continuation of the Carter Family Saga, and shows this group at the peak of musical power for this trio. This is essential music for understanding what Country music was in the 1930s. The harmony vocals and driving rhythm of guitar and autoharp stand in sharp contrast with what is called Country music today. The sound quality is superb (at times, it sounds like a modern recording).

wonderful
anyone who loves the carter family will be extremely happy owning this 5 cd set! this is vol. 2, but that doesn't mean it's any less wonderful than vol. 1! my only complaint is that A.P. doesn't sing enough songs!