The Unbroken Circle: The Musical Heritage of the Carter Family
An elaborate cover showing the neck of a guitar and listing the music artist on a purple background
Compilation album by
various artists
ReleasedAugust 24, 2004 (2004-08-24)
Recorded2003–2004
Studio
  • Cash Cabin Studio, Hendersonville, Tennessee, United States
  • Avatar Studios in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States ("No Depression in Heaven")
  • Virginia, United States ("Little Moses" and "Hold Fast to the Right")
  • Pedernales Studio, Spicewood, Texas, United States ("You Are My Flower")
GenreCountry music
Length51:58
LanguageEnglish
LabelDualtone
Producer

The Unbroken Circle: The Musical Heritage of the Carter Family is a 2004 compilation album featuring various artists performing the work of country music pioneers The Carter Family.

Recording and release

The album was assembled and produced by John Carter Cash, shortly after the 2003 deaths of June Carter Cash and Johnny Cash. The compilation includes a track from the former's sessions for Wildwood Flower, as well as Johnny Cash's final recording.[1]

Reception

The editorial staff at AllMusic Guide gave the compilation three out of five stars, with reviewer Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., writing that the first several tracks are low points, but that several subsequent recordings are high quality, particularly Marty Stuart's cover of "Never Let the Devil Get the Upper Hand of You" and the version of "Little Moses" on this album that "sounds more old-time than the Carter Family".[2] PopMatters noted that this is "as good as a tribute album can be", commenting on the quality of John Carter Cash's musical direction, the album packaging, and sums up the assessment as "a reverent, well-executed, at times excellent, at times flawed, but always enjoyable, tribute album".[3]

Track listing

All songs written by A. P. Carter

  1. "Worried Man Blues" by George Jones – 3:12
  2. "No Depression in Heaven" by Sheryl Crow – 3:21
  3. "On the Sea of Galilee" by Emmylou Harris featuring The Peasall Sisters – 3:17
  4. "Engine One-Forty-Three" by Johnny Cash – 3:39
  5. "Never Let the Devil Get the Upper Hand of You" by Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives – 4:51
  6. "Little Moses" by Janette Carter and Joe Carter – 2:19
  7. "Black Jack David" by Norman Blake and Nancy Blake featuring Tim O’Brien – 2:56
  8. "Bear Creek Blues" by John Prine – 4:24
  9. "You Are My Flower" by Willie Nelson – 2:39
  10. "Single Girl, Married Girl" by Shawn Colvin featuring Earl Scruggs and Randy Scruggs – 2:20
  11. "Will My Mother Know Me There?" by The Whites featuring Ricky Skaggs – 3:04
  12. "The Winding Stream" by Rosanne Cash – 4:31
  13. "Rambling Boy" by The Del McCoury Band – 4:24
  14. "Hold Fast to the Right" by June Carter Cash – 2:55
  15. "Gold Watch and Chain" by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band featuring Kris Kristofferson – 4:06

Personnel

Technical personnel

"Worried Man Blues"

"No Depression in Heaven"

"On the Sea of Galilee"

"Engine One-Forty-Three"

"Never Let the Devil Get the Upper Hand of You"

"Little Moses"

"Black Jack David"

"Bear Creek Blues"

"You Are My Flower"

"Single Girl, Married Girl"

"Will My Mother Know Me There?"

"The Winding Stream"

"Rambling Boy"

"Hold Fast to the Right"

"Gold Watch and Chain"

See also

References

  1. ^ Hilburn, Robert (2013). Johnny Cash: The Life. New York City, New York, United States: Little, Brown & Co. p. 624.
  2. ^ Lankford Jr., Ronnie D. "Various Artists – The Unbroken Circle: The Musical Heritage of the Carter Family". AllMusic Guide. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  3. ^ "Various Artists: The Unbroken Circle: The Musical Heritage of the Carter Family". PopMatters. August 24, 2004. Retrieved November 6, 2022.