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Uniquely Vital Contribution to
American Musical History
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[30th Anniversary Edition]
Will the Circle Be Unbroken
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, et al.
{Including Mother Maybelle Carter, Doc Watson, Merle Travis, Junior Huskey, etc.}
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| {Go to my original review,
posted 2/14/2000} |
Partaking
equally of the qualities of musicological
field recordings and of classic Nashville
studio expertise, this is a recording that
belongs in the CD library of EVERYONE who is
actually interested in music -- whether you
even normally like country music or not.
The added material, of course, is welcome, and
the re-mastering of this edition can only be a
plus, though, since the original was mixed
live directly to two-track master, i assume
that they have not altered the mix, simply
improved the sound quality, which was pretty
good, anyway.
As a document of an era of American music that
was already beginning to pass away even as it
was being produced, this is an essential album
for anyone who cares at all about the
evolution of that music. (As does, in a
negative way, 1989's "Will the Circle Be
Unbroken 2", which shows what a wrong
direction Nashville country music went down in
the fifteen or so years intervening between
the two albums.)
Even if you already own this album in every
possible format, including cassette and
8-track, you need to buy a new copy of this
remastered, 30th anniversary edition. |
Another
Voice in the Chorus
| |
[30th Anniversary Edition]
Will the Circle Be Unbroken
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band,
et al.
{Including Mother Maybelle Carter, Doc Watson, Merle Travis, Junior Huskey, etc.}
|
|
| {Return to top} |
The
chorus of praise for this incredible set, that
is.
I notice a couple of the reviews that were
already posted here [on Amazon.com] have
said what i've said on a more or less regular
basis since i bought the original edition of
this album -- this album belongs in EVERY
music-lover's library, no matter what sort of
music you THINK you like.
Listening to this album has always been a
revelation for me -- what is revealed varies
from time to time, but every spin shows me
something to think about.
(Lately, listens to this set mostly engender
dark ruminations on the parlous state of
country music in the year 2000...)
(...and even more, in 2013.)
Recorded live in the studio -- no overdubs, no
"sweetening" -- mixed directly to a
two-track master to catch the spontaneity,
this is the True Country Tradition made
accessible and available.
A couple of minor gripes --
The track timings listed on the inlay card are
correct for the songs, but many of the tracks
include a fair amount of studio chatter, and
actually run long.
One of the inner sleeves of the original 3-LP
version featured a reprinted article from the
Nashville paper and (i believe) a "Rolling
Stone" piece on the project; it would be nice
to see those items here with the CD version...
An Interesting Note:
Dean O.Torrence, credited with the cover
graphics on this set, is none other than half
of the Sixties surf-music vocal duo, Jan &
Dean.
You Need This Recording. |
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