Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

The legendary Carter family are a country music dynasty whose music has stretched across the middle years of this century. These songs were originally recorded in 1939 and, as with previous volumes, have been rescued from the acetates of the original sessions that were broadcast on Mexican radio. These ancient recordings were discovered in 1963, cleaned up and now, thirty years later, compiled and released on CD. Audio quality is limited, but it is the rarity factor which makes these so fascinating. They give a glimpse into the family recording and playing together, including the youthful musical exploits of June Carter and sixteen year old Jeanette Carter. Complete with radio announcements, this album shows a completely different repertoire and approach to their music than fans found in their later commercial recordings. Mixed in with straightforward country tunes, like "Oh Susannah" and "Don't Bury Me In The Lone Prairie", there are the occasional country spiritual which reflects the Christian faith of the family. Definitely one for country music completists only, but these recordings make fascinating listening.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.