Tracks
- Grand Ole Opry Song
- Keep on the Sunny Side
- Nashville Blues
- You Are My Flower
- The Precious Jewel
- Dark as a Dungeon
- Tennessee Stud
- Black Mountain Rag
- Wreck on the Highway
- The End of the World
- I Saw the Light
- Sunny Side of the Mountain
- Nine Pound Hammer
- Losin' You (Might Be the Best Thing Yet)
- Honky Tonkin'
- You Don't Know My Mind
- My Walkin' Shoes
- Lonesome Fiddle Blues
- Cannonball Rag
- Avalanche
- Flint Hill Special
- Togary Mountain
- Earl's Breakdown
- Orange Blossom Special
- Wabash Cannonball
- Lost Highway
- Doc Watson & Merle Travis First Meeting (Dialogue)
- Way Downtown
- Down Yonder
- Pins and Needles (In My Heart)
- Honky Tonk Blues
- Sailin' on to Hawaii
- I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes
- I am a Pilgrim
- Wildwood Flower
- Soldier's Joy
- Will the Circle Be Unbroken
- Both Sides Now
Will the Circle Be Unbroken is a fascinating album. The music is country. It's a more traditional form of country which is different from the "Nashville sound" and "Bakersfield sound" that starts to appear in the country music world in the 1960s. It's entirely possible that this music is not too far off from the hillbilly music that was played in Appalachia in the 19th Century and earlier, as suggested by the Civil War portrait on the cover.
It's not a coincidence that this album does a good job replicating hillbilly music. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, who hail from California and have no direct connection with Appalachia, are accompanied on this recording by some of the legends of country and bluegrass music.
I love this album. I love the sound of banjos and fiddles. They always sound happy and upbeat. I love listening to the smart and witty songs and I've always been a sucker for religious songs. I certainly think this is an album worth listening to. I think serious music collectors should consider adding this album to their collection. This album does deserve to be on the 1001 Albums, since it's nearly an historical document of a dead or dying form of traditional music.
All the songs are outstanding and for three albums worth of music that's no easy feat. What's even better is listening to the musicians talk in between songs.
★★★★★★★★★★
No comments:
Post a Comment