Anchored in Love: Their Complete Victor Recordings (1927–1928)
Encyclopedia
Anchored in Love: Their Complete Victor Recordings (1927–1928) is a compilation of recordings made by American
country music
group the Carter Family
, released in 1993. It is the first of nine compilations released by Rounder Records
of the group's Victor
recordings.
, and his sister-in-law Maybelle Addington Carter
. All three were born and raised in southwestern Virginia
, where they were immersed in the tight harmonies of mountain gospel music
and shape note
singing. A.P. traveled around the southwestern Virginia area in search of new songs, resulting in many traditional songs being copyrighted in his name.
In August 1927, the trio made the journey from Maces Spring, Virginia
to Bristol, Tennessee
to audition for record producer Ralph Peer
who was seeking new talent for the relatively new recording industry. They received $50 for each song they recorded. Peer later had the group travel to Camden, New Jersey
, where they recorded many of what would become their signature songs.
Although A. P. could play guitar and fiddle, and did so on their radio shows, he never played on their recordings.
The tracks have all been digitally remastered and include liner notes by country music historian Charles K. Wolfe.
stated, "The Carter Family's sessions are seminal country music, raw and wonderfully unsophisticated with an emotional directness and honesty that makes a mockery of the slick, overproduced rock/folk now being marketed as country." Music critic Alana Nash stated, "When Sara lets loose with her straightforward, heavily accented soprano ("cwar" for choir), surely the angels in heaven take note."
Production notes:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
group the Carter Family
Carter Family
The Carter Family was a traditional American folk music group that recorded between 1927 and 1956. Their music had a profound impact on bluegrass, country, Southern Gospel, pop and rock musicians as well as on the U.S. folk revival of the 1960s. They were the first vocal group to become country...
, released in 1993. It is the first of nine compilations released by Rounder Records
Rounder Records
Rounder Records, originally of Cambridge, Massachusetts, but now based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is a record label founded in 1970 by Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin and Marian Leighton-Levy, while all three were still university students...
of the group's Victor
Victor Talking Machine Company
The Victor Talking Machine Company was an American corporation, the leading American producer of phonographs and phonograph records and one of the leading phonograph companies in the world at the time. It was headquartered in Camden, New Jersey....
recordings.
History
The original Carter Family group consisted of Alvin Pleasant "A.P." Delaney Carter, his wife Sara Dougherty CarterSara Carter
Sara Carter was an American Country music musician. Known for her deep and distinctive singing voice, she was the lead singer on most of the recordings of the historic Carter Family act in the 1920s and 1930s....
, and his sister-in-law Maybelle Addington Carter
Maybelle Carter
"Mother" Maybelle Carter was an American country musician. She is best known as a member of the historic Carter Family act in the 1920s and 1930s and also as a member of Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters.-Biography:...
. All three were born and raised in southwestern Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, where they were immersed in the tight harmonies of mountain gospel music
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
and shape note
Shape note
Shape notes are a music notation designed to facilitate congregational and community singing. The notation, introduced in 1801, became a popular teaching device in American singing schools...
singing. A.P. traveled around the southwestern Virginia area in search of new songs, resulting in many traditional songs being copyrighted in his name.
In August 1927, the trio made the journey from Maces Spring, Virginia
Maces Spring, Virginia
Maces Spring is a small unincorporated community in Scott County, Virginia, United States, along State Route 614. The settlement consists of a small number of houses. There are now no stores in Maces Spring and its main claim to fame is its association with the country music group, the Carter...
to Bristol, Tennessee
Bristol, Tennessee
Bristol is a city in Sullivan County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 26,702 at the 2010 census. It is the twin city of Bristol, Virginia, which lies directly across the state line between Tennessee and Virginia. The boundaries of both cities run parallel to each other along State...
to audition for record producer Ralph Peer
Ralph Peer
Ralph Sylvester Peer was an American talent scout, recording engineer and record producer in the field of music in the 1920s and 1930s...
who was seeking new talent for the relatively new recording industry. They received $50 for each song they recorded. Peer later had the group travel to Camden, New Jersey
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
, where they recorded many of what would become their signature songs.
Although A. P. could play guitar and fiddle, and did so on their radio shows, he never played on their recordings.
The tracks have all been digitally remastered and include liner notes by country music historian Charles K. Wolfe.
Reception
In his Allmusic review, critic Ron WynnRon Wynn
Ron Wynn is a music critic, author, and allmusic editor. Wynn was the editor of the first edition of The All Music Guide to Jazz , and from 1993 to 1994 served as the jazz and rap editor of the All Music Guide. Wynn is the former editor of New Memphis Star and the former chief jazz and pop music...
stated, "The Carter Family's sessions are seminal country music, raw and wonderfully unsophisticated with an emotional directness and honesty that makes a mockery of the slick, overproduced rock/folk now being marketed as country." Music critic Alana Nash stated, "When Sara lets loose with her straightforward, heavily accented soprano ("cwar" for choir), surely the angels in heaven take note."
Track listing
All songs are credited to A. P. Carter unless otherwise noted.- "Keep On the Sunny SideKeep On the Sunny SideKeep On the Sunny Side is a popular American song originally written in 1899 by Ada Blenkhorn with music by J. Howard Entwisle . The song was popularized in a 1928 recording by the Carter Family...
" (Ada Blenkhorn, J. Howard Entwisle, A. P. Carter) – 2:54 - "The Storms Are on the Ocean" – 2:50
- "Wildwood FlowerWildwood Flower"Wildwood Flower" is an American song, best known through performances and recordings by the Carter Family. However, the song predates them. The original title was "I'll Twine 'Mid the Ringlets"...
" (Maud Irving, Joseph Philbrick WebsterJoseph Philbrick WebsterJoseph Philbrick Webster, also known as J.P. Webster , was an American songwriter and composer most notable for his musical compositions during the Antebellum and American Civil War periods of United States history, and his post-war religious hymns.Amongst his most notable works are the ballad...
, A. P. Carter) – 3:09 - "Meet Me by the Moonlight Alone" (A. P. Carter, Sara Carter, Maybelle Carter) – 3:17
- "The Wandering Boy" – 3:23
- "River of Jordan" – 2:38
- "I Ain't Goin' to Work Tomorrow" – 2:44
- "Anchored in Love" – 3:24
- "Little Darlin' Pal of Mine" – 3:16
- "Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow" – 2:53
- "Single Girl, Married Girl" (A.P. Carter, Tim Hauser, Laurel Masst, Alan Paul, Janis Siegel) – 2:50
- "Little Log Cabin by the Sea" – 2:48
- "Chewing Gum" – 3:04
- "The Poor Orphan Child" – 3:24
- "John Hardy Was a Desperate Little Man" – 2:55
- "Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone?" – 3:15
Personnel
- A. P. CarterA. P. CarterAlvin Pleasant Delaney Carter , best known as A.P. Carter, was an American musician and founding member of The Carter Family, one of the most notable acts in the history of country music.-Life:...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Maybelle CarterMaybelle Carter"Mother" Maybelle Carter was an American country musician. She is best known as a member of the historic Carter Family act in the 1920s and 1930s and also as a member of Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters.-Biography:...
– vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, autoharpAutoharpThe autoharp is a musical string instrument having a series of chord bars attached to dampers, which, when depressed, mute all of the strings other than those that form the desired chord. Despite its name, the autoharp is not a harp at all, but a chorded zither. -History:There is debate over the... - Sara CarterSara CarterSara Carter was an American Country music musician. Known for her deep and distinctive singing voice, she was the lead singer on most of the recordings of the historic Carter Family act in the 1920s and 1930s....
– vocals, autoharp
Production notes:
- Ralph PeerRalph PeerRalph Sylvester Peer was an American talent scout, recording engineer and record producer in the field of music in the 1920s and 1930s...
– producer - Dr. Toby Mountain – mastering
- Scott Billington – design, photo imaging
- Charles K. Wolfe – liner notes, photography