Search - Carter Family :: Country Music Hall of Fame

A Must

bill runyon | Indiana | 05/11/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is limited to their Decca recording days in 1938, but
the Carter Family never sounded better. Their earliest recordings are very significant, but the primitive recording
techniques can be noticed in the music recorded in the 1927-28
era.
In this CD, however, the fabulous sound is amazing, considering
the date of origin, and the group harmonizes perfectly, and their singing is much more polished than in their beginning
days. The sound in this CD is so good you can hear Sara's voice as never before, and the details of Maybelle's picking
are also evident. The sound is so good, we can hope the sound
engineers were given a proper "pat on the back" for their inspired efforts in getting this music onto the CD format.
It's hard to believe the originals were this good.
Yes, a couple more songs would have made it getter, but the selectons are good, considering being limited to the Decca recordings, and we have to appreciate this unique offering.
The Carter Family singing is so good here, in some songs many
listeners will have difficulty keeping dry eyes when they concentrate on the music.
This belongs in every country music collection."

Great Polished Carter Family

bill runyon | 12/04/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album shows us yet another example of how the Carter Family grew from their original Bristol sessions into a polished, professional act. Having been introduced to the Carter Family at a very young age, I found this album to be moving and very clean. I still weep upon hearing "Just A Few More Days." I have thoroughly enjoyed this album and have become an even bigger fan because of its content. "Answer To Weeping Willow" shows me how that the group was versatile in their response to fans'enthusiasm. How many acts today follow up with a song as good as the one that inspired it? Maybelle's playing is flawless, as usual. I think this album is a must for any and all Carter Family fans."

Decca Days

Philip Westwood | Lichfield, Staffordshire United Kingdom | 08/08/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Sixteen tracks, taken from the Family's two year sojourn with Decca (June 1936 - June 1938). There are no repeats from their Victor years, unlike the 1935 recordings for ARC. Some familiar items are included. 'Coal Miner's Blues' is here, along with 'My Dixie Darling', 'Hello Stranger', and 'You Are My Flower'. Personally, I was disappointed because of the recordings that weren't included. 'Never Let The Devil Get The Upper Hand Of You', 'You've Been A Friend To Me', the bluesy 'Jealous Hearted Me' and the humourous 'Stern Old Bachelor' are fine tracks that would have been worthy of inclusion, and would have made the album a little more varied in its content. But the ones that have made it on to the CD are fine. This is the period that many fans regard as the Carters at their peak, performing with the polish of a group with many years experience of singing and playing together. The sound they produced is much smoother and easier on the ear than their earlier Victor recordings. And, at this price, there can be few complaints."