The Carter Family Album: “My Clinch Mountain Home: Their Complete Victor Recordings (1928-1929)”

This album features material from the Carters' second, third, and fourth Victor sessions, held in 1928 and 1929. It is somewhat unpolished by comparison with later Carter sessions - particularly their Decca period of 1936 through 1938 - but it does contain some classic performances. The title song is well known, as is 'Foggy Mountain Top', but also noteworthy are the railroad disaster ballad 'Engine 143', with its 30 second lead in by Maybelle, and 'Forsaken Love', a duet by Sara and A.P. that was originally issued as the 'A' side to the now legendary 'Wildwood Flower'. Though the Carters tended to adapt and rearrange traditional songs and old Victorian parlor ballads, this album contains at least one item that is a definite A.P. Carter original. 'The Cyclone of Ryecove' centers on a tornado that struck the tiny settlement of Ryecove, in Scott County, Virginia, - just a few miles from A.P. and Sara's home in Maces Springs - on May 2 1929. All in all, an interesting album that showcases the emergence of a legendary Country group. The performances are quite raw, but they exhibit an almost innocent charm, whilst giving an insight into the attitudes towards love, religion and homelife of an age long gone. A must for any dedicated Carter Family collector, and worthy of serious consideration by any sincere student of the Country genre.

Listening to The Carter Family on this album was like a trip back in time to an era when country music came from the country. No fancy electric instruments here; no fancy backing tracks and synthesizers. Just plain, pure, down-to-earth country. The Carter Family sing about down home things, like lost loves and lonliness, families and tragedies. A P Carter's homely voice (a little out of tune) blends with the sweet sounds of his wife and sister-in-law in a combination that can only be described as "rustic". Be warned, this is hard-core country - light years away from what's called "country" today. But if you want to hear where Country came from - if you are interested in the beginings of country music, and you want to travel back to a time where living was simple, you'll do well to have a listen to this album - and you'll love it.

Excellent songs. Best-known are "Foggy Mountain Top", the title masterpiece and everybody's perenniel, "I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes", but what I wrote under the "Longing For Old Virginia" collection applies even more so here; several of the other pieces are just as tuneful and imaginative and worth re-doing. Wish I could play a guitar, or at least carry a tune; I can't, so all I can do is be an appreciative listener and hope that somebody else who can will check these out and revision them into their own. (Paging Dolly Parton or the Cox Family...)