Kytrad and Janie,

I've been thinking about this topic a lot lately as Susette and I build our repertoire of Oldtime Country Music.

I'd like to know if the Carter Family, prior to recording, sounded closer to Traditional. In other words, when they recorded "I have no one to love me", their version of "The Sailor Boy" in 1928, did they change their vocal style to be more commercially acceptable? Is that when Traditional transitioned to Old Time Country? When recorded? When Ralph Peer had AP "work over old songs", as stated in Mike Seeger's "Thoughts on Old-Time Music", did he introduce change in the vocal styles as well as melodies and structure?

Kytrad, if you're reading this, when you sing a song associated with the Carter Family, do you rearrange it vocally to reflect your Traditional style?

Regards, Chance Shiver