Search - Carter Family :: Acme Sessions 1952/56

The "Lost" Acme Sessions

Uncle Walter | Oakland, MS, USA | 04/23/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For years I have heard of the "Acme Sessions" done as a reunion after the break-up of the original Carter Family in 1941. Very few knew that these sessions existed and have just recently been offered by a British distributor. They span an interrupted period between 1952 and 1956. The dust cover describes these as 'expertly remastered from the originals.' I beg to differ. This is a two CD box set and quite a few on the second disc are 'muffled.' One has some distracting 'hissing.' Some of the recordings were made at the same location as the 'Bristol Sessions,' which was hardly a sound studio.



On just about all tracks Sarah sings a strong lead of many Carter Family standards, but there is lots of 'new' material not heard on any other Carter Family albums I've heard. AP 'bases in' from time to time and is quite good on a few tracks and has a solo or two within the track. Janette mainly harmonizes as Maybelle used to do, and Joe plays the guitar in a good rendition of the 'Carter scratch.' He also can be heard singing from time to time. It would have been great for Mother Maybelle to have been in on this session, but she was firmly established with the Carter Sisters at the time.



The singing is a five star rating, but overall this gets a four star rating simply because several songs are not 'expertly remastered', and there is some duplication of songs. But the good outweighs the bad, and I would highly recommend this album if you are hungry for 'new' Carter material. As far as I know, this is the only time I've heard "No More Goodbyes" with Sarah and A. P. Sarah, Maybelle, and Joe did a classic version of it in their reunion album of 1966.



This album is a necessity for the serious collector of Carter Family music."

Uncovering a lost era for the Carters

J. Klausmeyer | Ann Arbor, MI, Earth | 08/13/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I've been hoping for years that this material would someday be released--and now here it is! I think any big fan of the Carter Family will enjoy this... it fills in a missing chapter in the Carters' saga of what Sara and AP did in their 1950s "retirement" while Maybelle was out recording and touring with her daughters as the revamped new Carter Family.



If you're new to the Carters or just getting into them, I would try a collection of their better-known material. The sonic quality here isn't great, especially considering that it was recorded in the 1950s--the quality of the sound sometimes isn't even up to the standards of their first recordings done in the late 1920s. (I wish they could have gotten into a real studio--Carter tunes preserved using reasonably modern equipment would really have been great). Ironically, these tracks were recorded in the same building as their first sessions... perhaps this whole project was more of a way for old AP to relive his early successes and gather his family around him to make some music. An odd feature of the collection is that sometimes AP introduces a tune as if he's on their popular radio show from the late 30s-early 40s. And at one point the widow of Jimmy Rodgers joins them, I suppose as a reminder that Rodgers and the Carters were both discovered at the same time and place all those years ago.



The later of these sessions were recorded in 1956, just four years before AP's death... he sounds a bit feeble on some tracks. Sara sounds great as always. Sara and APs daughter and son also play and sing along, filling in the spots that Maybelle would have done back in their heyday.



And there are a few good new songs not recorded by them previously... most notably Sara's song "The Great Divide." It would have been one of the original Carters' classic numbers. Most of the tunes are ones they recorded previously as the original trio, and I'd have to say none of these newer versions beat the old ones.



All in all, the set has a little bit of a sad feel to it... the final fading chapter in AP Carter's musical life. Fortunately, Sara and Maybelle worked together again in the 60s and 70s, both recording and playing a few live shows. Maybelle has a great solo album out of her performance at the Newport Folk festival from 1963; Sara and Maybelle's "An Historic Reunion" record of 1966 has the two surviving members of the original Carters performing a mix of new and old songs... and in well-recorded stereo! I would recommend both of these sets over this one for Carter fans who want to begin exploring their later years.



But don't get me wrong, I really like the Carters, this collection fills in a big gap in their musical history, and I'm very happy to finally have it for myself. If you can get past the mediocre-to-bad recording quality on these songs, many of the performances are good.



Now, if they'd just release Sara's home recordings from the 1960s..."

A must have for any Carter Family Fan

M. narkiewicz | Portland, Oregon | 08/05/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"These recordings have some great material.. I find myself being obsessed with "Railroading on the Great Divide" and "Longing for Home".. as well as "Live on Down the Line".. The first album seems to be more satisfying than the second, as of this time in my listening.



With such a great singer as Sara Carter singing these songs, any lost or rare recordings are fabulous to hear. A.P. gives warm, emotional and poignant performances- wonderful to listen to. I love hearing Janette's harmonizing and solos. And Joe contributes so much to the tone of the recordings..



The Carter Family- True musical treasures- so highly regarded, and rightfully so.



I give it four stars, only because of the sound quality on some songs. But thank goodness we have these recordings."