Give Me the Roses While I Live: Their Complete Victor Recordings (1932–1933)
Encyclopedia
Give Me the Roses While I Live: Their Complete Victor Recordings (1932–1933) is a compilation of recordings made by American
country music
group the Carter Family
, released in 1997. It is the sixth of nine compilations released by Rounder Records
of the group's Victor
recordings. The original Carter Family group consisting of Alvin Pleasant "A.P." Delaney Carter, his wife Sara Dougherty Carter
, and his sister-in-law Maybelle Addington Carter
recorded many of what would become their signature songs for Victor Records.
, their records and concerts still provided income, but after six years of recording and performing professionally, personal issues began to affect the group in the shape of A. P. and Sara's separation. Although the group continued professionally, their marriage was over and Sara would eventually remarry.
The recordings were done in Camden, New Jersey
in two separate sessions. Slightly more than half of these were released and the original version of "Can the Circle Be Unbroken (By and By)
" recorded in one of the sessions was never released by Victor.
The tracks have all been digitally remastered and include liner notes by country music historian Charles K. Wolfe.
review, critic Roy Kasten called Sara's singing "... dazzlingly emotive, the heart of the trio." and wrote "The songs tell of faded or betrayed love, and often spiritual wonder and sustenance ("Will the Roses Bloom in Heaven" and "The Sun of the Soul"). .. despite the turmoil of their private lives, the trio's harmonies never sounded better."
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 1997. It is the sixth 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. The original Carter Family group consisting of Alvin Pleasant "A.P." Delaney Carter, his wife Sara Dougherty Carter
Sara 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:...
recorded many of what would become their signature songs for Victor Records.
History
By the time of the recording sessions that produced the songs for this collection, the Carter Family was one of the top entertainment acts in the United States. Despite the DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, their records and concerts still provided income, but after six years of recording and performing professionally, personal issues began to affect the group in the shape of A. P. and Sara's separation. Although the group continued professionally, their marriage was over and Sara would eventually remarry.
The recordings were done in 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...
in two separate sessions. Slightly more than half of these were released and the original version of "Can the Circle Be Unbroken (By and By)
Can the Circle Be Unbroken (By and By)
"Can the Circle Be Unbroken " is the title of a country/folk song reworked by A. P. Carter from the hymn "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" by Ada R. Habershon and Charles H. Gabriel. The song's lyrics concern the death, funeral, and mourning of the narrator's mother.The song first gained attention due...
" recorded in one of the sessions was never released by Victor.
The tracks have all been digitally remastered and include liner notes by country music historian Charles K. Wolfe.
Reception
Music critic Kels Koch stated "... this is as definitive a collection of Carter recordings as one could wish for." David Nestlerode wrote for The Folk and Acoustic Music Exchange: "...the Carter Family's recordings are historic. This trio from Clinch Mountain changed the orientation of hillbilly music from instrumental to vocal, introduced a new style of guitar playing (created by Maybelle Carter), and brought it to mainstream audiences in the United States. The Carter Family's accomplishments allowed artists like Jimmie Rodgers to come along and help invent country and western music." In his Country Standard TimeCountry Standard Time
Country Standard Time is a website dedicated to country music and related genres such as Bluegrass and Rockabilly. It provides news and musical reviews pertaining to the genre. It was established in 1992 by Jeffrey B. Remz as a print magazine, which was first published only in New England but went...
review, critic Roy Kasten called Sara's singing "... dazzlingly emotive, the heart of the trio." and wrote "The songs tell of faded or betrayed love, and often spiritual wonder and sustenance ("Will the Roses Bloom in Heaven" and "The Sun of the Soul"). .. despite the turmoil of their private lives, the trio's harmonies never sounded better."
Track listing
All songs are credited to A. P. Carter unless otherwise noted.- "Sweet as the Flowers in May Time" – 2:44
- "Will the Roses Bloom in Heaven" – 3:18
- "My Little Home in Tennessee" – 2:56
- "The Sun of the Soul" – 3:17
- "If One Won't Another One Will" – 3:08
- "The Broken Hearted Lover" – 2:51
- "Two Sweethearts" – 2:49
- "The Winding Stream" – 3:05
- "I Wouldn't Mind Dying" – 2:54
- "The Spirit of Love Watches Over Me" – 2:46
- "The Church in the Wildwood" – 3:11
- "Give Me Roses While I Live" (Cornelius) – 3:03
- "I Never Will Marry" (Traditional) – 2:37
- "On the Sea of Galilee" – 3:09
- "Home by the Sea" (Traditional) – 3:28
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 - David Glasser – mastering
- Scott Billington – design
- Charles K. Wolfe – liner notes