Sunshine in the Shadows: Their Complete Victor Recordings (1931–1932)
Encyclopedia
Sunshine in the Shadows: Their Complete Victor Recordings (1931–1932) is a compilation of recordings made by American
country music
group the Carter Family
, released in 1996. It is the fifth 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.
, the Carters were paired with country singer Jimmie Rodgers
in order to boost record sales. The two duets with Sara and the spoken word sketches featuring Rodgers were recorded in Louisville, Kentucky
.
The tracks have all been digitally remastered and include liner notes by country music historian Charles K. Wolfe.
stated the reissue "...displays the Carters' usual unadorned consistency, moving harmonies, and accomplished picking..." Kels Koch, in his review for No Depression saying the recordings "... served to comfort the shivering and hungry masses.." also concludes that "Six decades later, the stilted dialogue and Rodgers’ tendency to punctuate every sentence with his trademark yodel make for recordings that are at once ridiculous and endearing, not to mention historically invaluable."
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 1996. It is the fifth 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
Recorded during the Great 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...
, the Carters were paired with country singer Jimmie Rodgers
Jimmie Rodgers (country singer)
James Charles Rodgers , known as Jimmie Rodgers, was an American country singer in the early 20th century known most widely for his rhythmic yodeling...
in order to boost record sales. The two duets with Sara and the spoken word sketches featuring Rodgers were recorded in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
.
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 Richie UnterbergerRichie Unterberger
Richie Unterberger is a US author and journalist whose focus is popular music and travel writing.-Life and writing:Having worked as a DJ at WXPN in Philadelphia, he started reviewing records for Op magazine in 1983...
stated the reissue "...displays the Carters' usual unadorned consistency, moving harmonies, and accomplished picking..." Kels Koch, in his review for No Depression saying the recordings "... served to comfort the shivering and hungry masses.." also concludes that "Six decades later, the stilted dialogue and Rodgers’ tendency to punctuate every sentence with his trademark yodel make for recordings that are at once ridiculous and endearing, not to mention historically invaluable."
Track listing
All songs are credited to A. P. Carter unless otherwise noted.- "Sunshine in the Shadows" (A. P. Carter, Traditional) – 2:46
- "Let the Church Roll On" – 2:41
- "Lonesome for You" – 2:46
- "Can't Feel at Home" (Carter, Traditional) – 2:53
- "Why There's a Tear in My Eye" – 3:08
- "The Wonderful City" (Jimmie RodgersJimmie Rodgers (country singer)James Charles Rodgers , known as Jimmie Rodgers, was an American country singer in the early 20th century known most widely for his rhythmic yodeling...
, Elsie McWilliams) – 2:55 - "Jimmie Rodgers Visits the Carter Family" – 3:16
- "The Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers in Texas" (Rodgers) – 3:16
- "'Mid the Green Fields of Virginia" (Carter, Charles K. HarrisCharles K. HarrisCharles Kassel Harris was a well regarded American songwriter of popular music. During his long career, he advanced the relatively new genre, publishing more than 300 songs, often deemed by admirers as the "king of the tear jerkers"...
) – 2:46 - "The Happiest Days of All" (Carter, Will L. ThompsonWill Lamartine ThompsonWilliam Lamartine Thompson was a noted American composer, best known for his hymns, born on November 7, 1847 in East Liverpool, Ohio, died New York City on September 20, 1909.-Well-known works:...
) – 3:14 - "Picture on the Wall" (Bud Landress, Charles E. MoodyCharles E. MoodyCharles Ernest Moody was a gospel songwriter from Gordon County, Georgia, United States. He was a member of the string band The Georgia Yellow Hammers from Calhoun, Georgia which included members Bill Chitwood, Bud Landress, and Phill Reeves...
) – 3:17 - "Amber Tresses" – 2:46
- "I Never Loved But One" – 2:53
- "Tell Me That You Love Me" (Carter, Will S. HaysWilliam Shakespeare HaysWilliam Shakespeare Hays , was an American poet and lyricist. He wrote some 350 songs over his career and sold as many as 20 million copies of his works. These pieces varied in tone from low comedy to sentimental and pious; his material was sometimes confused with that of Stephen Foster as a result...
) – 3:02 - "Where We'll Never Grow Old" (Carter, James ClevelandJames ClevelandThe Reverend Dr. James Cleveland was a gospel singer, arranger, composer and, most significantly, the driving force behind the creation of the modern gospel sound, bringing the stylistic daring of hard gospel and jazz and pop music influences to arrangements for mass choirs...
) – 3:01 - "We Will March Through the Streets of the City" – 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 - Jimmie RodgersJimmie Rodgers (country singer)James Charles Rodgers , known as Jimmie Rodgers, was an American country singer in the early 20th century known most widely for his rhythmic yodeling...
– vocals
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, photography