When the Roses Bloom in Dixieland: Their Complete Victor Recordings (1929–1930)
Encyclopedia
When the Roses Bloom in Dixieland: Their Complete Victor Recordings (1929–1930) is a compilation of recordings made by American
country music
group the Carter Family
, released in 1995. It is the third 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.
L-5 f-hole guitar in of place the smaller Stella
she previously used, allowing her guitar more prominence. Her innovative guitar technique is today widely known as the "Carter scratch" or "Carter style" of picking (see Carter Family picking
).
In the early 1930s, A. P. Carter befriended Lesley "Esley" Riddle
, a black guitar player from Kingsport, Tennessee
. Esley accompanied A.P. on his song-collecting trips. Many songs, such as "Motherless Children" and "Wabash Cannonball
" found here, were traditional folk songs that were copyrighted by A. P.
The tracks have all been digitally remastered and include liner notes by country music historian Charles K. Wolfe.
) notes or the recordings "The uninitiated should not expect the polished sound of most of today's music, although technicians did a great job removing the hiss and scratchiness of the original recordings."
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 1995. It is the third 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
Maybelle Carter began using a GibsonGibson Guitar Corporation
The Gibson Guitar Corporation, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently of Nashville, Tennessee, manufactures guitars and other instruments which sell under a variety of brand names...
L-5 f-hole guitar in of place the smaller Stella
Stella (guitar)
Stella was a brand of guitars. The Stella brand was owned by the Oscar Schmidt Company and was founded around 1899. Stella produced low-mid level stringed instruments. Stella guitars were played by several notable artists including Leadbelly and Charlie Patton. Doc Watson began playing on a Stella...
she previously used, allowing her guitar more prominence. Her innovative guitar technique is today widely known as the "Carter scratch" or "Carter style" of picking (see Carter Family picking
Carter Family picking
Carter Family picking, also known as "'thumb brush' technique or the 'Carter lick,' and also the 'church lick' and the 'Carter scratch'", is a style of fingerstyle guitar named for Maybelle Carter of the Carter Family's distinctive style of rhythm guitar in which the melody is played on the bass...
).
In the early 1930s, A. P. Carter befriended Lesley "Esley" Riddle
Lesley Riddle
Lesley "Esley" Riddle was an African-American musician whose influence on the Carter Family helped to shape country music....
, a black guitar player from Kingsport, Tennessee
Kingsport, Tennessee
Kingsport is a city located mainly in Sullivan County with some western portions in Hawkins County in the US state of Tennessee. The majority of the city lies in Sullivan County...
. Esley accompanied A.P. on his song-collecting trips. Many songs, such as "Motherless Children" and "Wabash Cannonball
Wabash Cannonball
"The Wabash Cannonball" is an American folk song about a fictional train, thought to have originated in the late nineteenth century. Its first documented appearance was on sheet music published in 1882, titled "" and credited to J. A. Roff...
" found here, were traditional folk songs that were copyrighted by A. P.
The tracks have all been digitally remastered and include liner notes by country music historian Charles K. Wolfe.
Reception
In his No Depression review, critic Kels Koch stated, "What counts 65 years later is that these recordings — as crucial a patch in American music’s tapestry as any — are back in print to entertain and console yet another generation: ours." Larry Stephens (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...
) notes or the recordings "The uninitiated should not expect the polished sound of most of today's music, although technicians did a great job removing the hiss and scratchiness of the original recordings."
Track listing
All songs are credited to A. P. Carter.- "Motherless Children" – 3:35
- "When the Roses Bloom in Dixieland" – 3:27
- "No Telephone in Heaven" – 3:15
- "The Western Hobo" – 2:54
- "Carter's Blues" – 2:56
- "Wabash CannonballWabash Cannonball"The Wabash Cannonball" is an American folk song about a fictional train, thought to have originated in the late nineteenth century. Its first documented appearance was on sheet music published in 1882, titled "" and credited to J. A. Roff...
" – 2:55 - "A Distant Land to Roam" – 2:57
- "Jimmie Brown, the Newsboy" – 2:33
- "Kitty Waltz" – 3:04
- "Fond Affection" – 3:22
- "The Cannonball" – 2:57
- "Lover's Farewell" – 3:01
- "There's Someone Awaiting for Me" – 3:07
- "Little Log Hut in the Lane" – 2:50
- "When the Springtime Comes Again" – 2:44
- "When the World's on Fire" – 3:08
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, photography
- Charles K. Wolfe – liner notes