Status
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Call number
Publication
Revell (1975), Edition: 1st Edition, 192 pages
Local notes
0000-0801-3297
User reviews
LibraryThing member waltzmn
This was a book whose time had come. Problem is, it was a case of the man and the hour not having met.
There are artists who have sold more records than the Carter Family. There are artists who have been more famous. There are probably artists who have lasted longer. But no country performers have
It wasn't an easy task to undertake. The records aren't there. A. P. and Sara, in particular, left few reminiscences. So there aren't many records of the Carter Family. Most of what we know, we have to learn by talking to family and friends.
But this book mentions only one source, a Carter relative, and even in that case, doesn't describe what was her reminiscences and what came from someone else. Given that there are some very dubious statements in this book, this is quite worrisome. I don't know the true Carter story. But I know, e.g. more about the divorce of A. P. and Sara than is given here. Either author Orgill didn't know them, or he hid them. It doesn't really matter which.
Also, the book might have done better without the rather regular harping on religious and other Pop Country themes. The Carters were deeply religious, and of course modern country appeals to a certain set of people with a certain set of beliefs. But The Carter Family music is better remembered and maintained by a different group of people -- fans of "old time" country, who these days tend to prefer "folk" to (Nashville) country. So the readers of this book are likely to not share Orgill's views on religious matters and the like.
In the end, we're still left wishing for a real history of the Carter Family.
There are artists who have sold more records than the Carter Family. There are artists who have been more famous. There are probably artists who have lasted longer. But no country performers have
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had more influence than the Original Carter Family, A. P. Carter, Sara Dougherty Carter Bayes, and Maybelle Addington Carter. They did much to bring Appalachian music to the masses, and their style -- particularly Maybelle's guitar work -- deeply influenced the performances of those who came after them. Hence the need for a history.It wasn't an easy task to undertake. The records aren't there. A. P. and Sara, in particular, left few reminiscences. So there aren't many records of the Carter Family. Most of what we know, we have to learn by talking to family and friends.
But this book mentions only one source, a Carter relative, and even in that case, doesn't describe what was her reminiscences and what came from someone else. Given that there are some very dubious statements in this book, this is quite worrisome. I don't know the true Carter story. But I know, e.g. more about the divorce of A. P. and Sara than is given here. Either author Orgill didn't know them, or he hid them. It doesn't really matter which.
Also, the book might have done better without the rather regular harping on religious and other Pop Country themes. The Carters were deeply religious, and of course modern country appeals to a certain set of people with a certain set of beliefs. But The Carter Family music is better remembered and maintained by a different group of people -- fans of "old time" country, who these days tend to prefer "folk" to (Nashville) country. So the readers of this book are likely to not share Orgill's views on religious matters and the like.
In the end, we're still left wishing for a real history of the Carter Family.
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Language
Original publication date
1975
ISBN
0800707354 / 9780800707354