Thanks Q and Guest JFO,

There's several sections in the Carters biography "Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone" that detail A.P.'s song collecting and arranging. There is also information about specific songs. The book doesn't dfetail info about the songs as we have done here.

Since there are muliple versions of many of the Carters songs by different recording artists of the 1920s and 30s legally performing and recording the Carters songs isn't a problem and long as you don't take their exact version (arrangement). You can use their arrangement if it's closely alligned to earlier arrangements (this is especially true if the lyrics are teh same as sheet music from say the 1880s).

Some of their songs where their arrangements are unique or no earlier versions can be found should not be used without giving them credit.

The issue is: they don't own the songs just their arrangements and only when the arrangements are unique.

Richie