Last Sessions: Their Complete Victor Recordings (1934–1941)
Encyclopedia
Last Sessions: Their Complete Victor Recordings (1934–1941) is a compilation of recordings made by American
country music
group the Carter Family
, released in 1998. It is the final 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.
Following their final recordings for Victor, the Carter Family signed with Decca Records
. They recorded over 60 songs in the first two years of their new contract.
The tracks have all been digitally remastered and include liner notes by country music historian Charles K. Wolfe.
review, "These last sessions contain some of the family's most blues based work, with songs like "Something Got a Hold On Me," "Lonesome Homesick Blues," and "You're Gonna Be Sorry You Let Me Down." The last two show Maybelle Carter's growing confidence with a lyric, and point in the direction her career would take."
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 1998. It is the final 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.
Following their final recordings for Victor, the Carter Family signed with Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
. They recorded over 60 songs in the first two years of their new contract.
The tracks have all been digitally remastered and include liner notes by country music historian Charles K. Wolfe.
Reception
In his Allmusic review, music critic Tim Sheridan said the release "The material is terrific as usual, though some tracks sound a bit flat in the delivery... Not the best of the Carter Family recordings, but certainly great." Sheridan also mistakenly refers to Sara and Maybelle as "the daughters". Kels Koch stated "The Last Sessions disc showcases both the mature songwriting and interpretive talents of all three Carters." Roy Kasten stated 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, "These last sessions contain some of the family's most blues based work, with songs like "Something Got a Hold On Me," "Lonesome Homesick Blues," and "You're Gonna Be Sorry You Let Me Down." The last two show Maybelle Carter's growing confidence with a lyric, and point in the direction her career would take."
Track listing
All songs are credited to A. P. Carter unless otherwise noted.- "I'll Be Home Someday" – 2:30
- "Faded Coat of Blue" – 3:10
- "Sailor Boy" – 3:11
- "Why Do You Cry, Little Darling" – 3:09
- "You Tied a Love Knot in My Heart" – 2:48
- "Lonesome Homesick Blues" (Maybelle Carter) – 2:31
- "Dark and Stormy Weather" – 2:28
- "In the Valley of the Shenandoah" – 2:46
- "Girl on the Greenbrier Shore" – 2:58
- "Something Got a Hold of Me" – 2:47
- "Fifty Miles of Elbow Room" – 2:49
- "Keep on the Firing Line" – 3:04
- "Waves on the Sea" – 2:41
- "Rambling Boy" (A. P. Carter, Traditional) – 2:55
- "You're Gonna Be Sorry You Let Me Down" – 2:48
- "The Mountains of Tennessee" – 2:48
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