Description of boxed set from the Bear Family and track list from Amazon.com:

5-CD boxed set (LP-size) with 120-page hardcover book. 124 tracks; playing time approx. 6 hrs 25 mns.

'The single most important event in the history of country music.' (JOHNNY CASH, on the 1927 Bristol sessions). This is the foundation of country music! An unsurpassed storehouse of traditional American music, featuring the first recordings by the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers. The legendary sessions issued complete for the first and only time, including the ultra-rare follow-up sessions from 1928!

The recording trip made by Victor Records to Bristol, Tennessee in July-August 1927 was a defining moment in country music. Producer Ralph Peer found two acts that acquired national and international fame: Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family. But more than a hundred other recordings were made at the Bristol sessions of 1927 and '28. There were ballad singers, street evangelists, string bands, gospel quartets, harmonica virtuosos, Holiness preachers, blues guitarists and rural storytellers. A snapshot of rural American music was caught in an era of rapid change: pictures of a past almost beyond recall, but preserved for ever in these magnificent recordings.

The five CDs in this set gather every surviving recording from these sessions, including alternative takes. The accompanying 120-page, LP-sized hardcover book contains newly researched essays on the background to the sessions and on the individual artists, with many rare and unpublished photographs. Also included are complete song lyrics and a detailed discography, illustrated with reproductions of the original recording sheets.

Disc: 1
1. ERNEST V. STONEMAN - E. KAHLE BREWER - WALTER MOONEY: The Dying Girl's Farewell
2. ERNEST V. STONEMAN - E. KAHLE BREWER - WALTER MOONEY: Tell Mother I Will Meet Her
3. ERNEST V. STONEMAN - MISS IRMA FROST - UNCLE ECK DUNFORD: The Mountaineer's Courtship
4. ERNEST V. STONEMAN - MISS IRMA FROST: Midnight On The Stormy Deep
5. ERNEST V. STONEMAN & HIS DIXIE MOUNTAINEERS: Sweeping Through The Gates
6. ERNEST V. STONEMAN & HIS DIXIE MOUNTAINEERS: I Know My Name Is There
7. ERNEST V. STONEMAN & HIS DIXIE MOUNTAINEERS: Are You Washed In The Blood?
8. ERNEST V. STONEMAN & HIS DIXIE MOUNTAINEERS: No More Good-Byes
9. ERNEST V. STONEMAN & HIS DIXIE MOUNTAINEERS: The Resurrection (take 1)
10. ERNEST V. STONEMAN & HIS DIXIE MOUNTAINEERS: The Resurrection (take 2)
11. ERNEST V. STONEMAN & HIS DIXIE MOUNTAINEERS: I Am Resolved (take 1)
12. ERNEST V. STONEMAN & HIS DIXIE MOUNTAINEERS: I Am Resolved (take 2)
13. ERNEST PHIPPS AND HIS HOLINESS QUARTET: I Want To Go Where Jesus Is
14. ERNEST PHIPPS AND HIS HOLINESS QUARTET: Do, Lord, Remember Me
15. ERNEST PHIPPS AND HIS HOLINESS QUARTET: Old Ship Of Zion
16. ERNEST PHIPPS AND HIS HOLINESS QUARTET: Jesus Getting Us Ready For That Great Day
17. ERNEST PHIPPS AND HIS HOLINESS QUARTET: Happy In Prison
18. ERNEST PHIPPS AND HIS HOLINESS QUARTET: Don't Grieve After Me
19. UNCLE ECK DUNFORD - HATTIE STONEMAN: What Will I Do, For My Money's All Gone
20. UNCLE ECK DUNFORD: The Whip-poor-will's Song
21. UNCLE ECK DUNFORD: Skip To Ma Lou, My Darling
22. UNCLE ECK DUNFORD - ERNEST STONEMAN: Barney McCoy
23. BLUE RIDGE CORN SHUCKERS: Old Time Corn Shuckin', Part 1
24. BLUE RIDGE CORN SHUCKERS: Old Time Corn Shuckin', Part 2
Disc: 2
1. JOHNSON BROTHERS: The Jealous Sweetheart (take 1)
2. JOHNSON BROTHERS: The Jealous Sweetheart (take 2)
3. JOHNSON BROTHERS: A Passing Policeman
4. JOHNSON BROTHERS: Just A Message From Carolina
5. BLIND ALFRED REED: The Wreck Of The Virginian (take 1)
6. BLIND ALFRED REED: The Wreck Of The Virginian (take 2)
7. BLIND ALFRED REED: I Mean To Live For Jesus
8. BLIND ALFRED REED: You Must Unload
9. BLIND ALFRED REED: Walking In The Way With Jesus (take 1)
10. BLIND ALFRED REED: Walking In The Way With Jesus (take 2)
11. JOHNSON BROTHERS WITH TENNESSEE WILDCATS: Two Brothers Are We
12. JOHNSON BROTHERS WITH TENNESSEE WILDCATS: The Soldier's Poor Little Boy13/ JOHNSON BROTHERS: I Want To See My Mother (Ten Thousand Miles Away)
13. EL WATSON: Pot Licker Blues
14. EL WATSON: Narrow Gauge Blues
15. B.F. SHELTON: Cold Penitentiary Blues
16. B.F. SHELTON: Oh Molly Dear
17. B.F. SHELTON: Pretty Polly
18. B.F. SHELTON: Darling Cora
19. ALFRED G. KARNES: Called To The Foreign Field
20. ALFRED G. KARNES: I Am Bound For The Promised Land
21. ALFRED G. KARNES: Where We'll Never Grow Old
22. ALFRED G. KARNES: When They Ring The Golden Bells
23. ALFRED G. KARNES: To The Work
24. J.P. NESTER: Train On The Island
25. J.P. NESTER: Black-Eyed Susie
26. BULL MOUNTAIN MOONSHINERS: Johnny Goodwin
Disc: 3
1. THE CARTER FAMILY: Bury Me Under The Weeping Willow
2. THE CARTER FAMILY: Little Log Cabin By The Sea
3. THE CARTER FAMILY: The Poor Orphan Child
4. THE CARTER FAMILY: The Storms Are On The Ocean
5. THE CARTER FAMILY: Single Girl, Married Girl
6. THE CARTER FAMILY: The Wandering Boy
7. ALCOA QUARTET: Remember Me, O Mighty One
8. ALCOA QUARTET: I'm Redeemed
9. HENRY WHITTER: Henry Whitter's Fox Chase
10. HENRY WHITTER: Rain Crow Bill
11. THE SHELOR FAMILY: Big Bend Gal
12. THE SHELOR FAMILY: Suzanna Gal
13. THE SHELOR FAMILY: Sandy River Belle (take 1)
14. THE SHELOR FAMILY: Sandy River Belle (take 2)
15. THE SHELOR FAMILY: Billy Grimes, The Rover
16. MR. & MRS. J.W. BAKER: The Newmarket Wreck
17. MR. & MRS. J.W. BAKER: On The Banks Of The Sunny Tennessee
18. JIMMIE RODGERS: The Soldier's Sweetheart
19. JIMMIE RODGERS: Sleep Baby Sleep
20. TENNEVA RAMBLERS: The Longest Train I Ever Saw
21. TENNEVA RAMBLERS: Sweet Heaven When I Die
22. TENNEVA RAMBLERS: Miss 'Liza, Poor Gal
23. WEST VIRGINIA COON HUNTERS: Greasy String
24. WEST VIRGINIA COON HUNTERS: Your Blue Eyes Run Me Crazy
25. TENNESSEE MOUNTAINEERS: Standing On The Promises
26. TENNESSEE MOUNTAINEERS: At The River
Disc: 4
1. SMYTH COUNTY RAMBLERS: My Name Is Ticklish Reuben
2. SMYTH COUNTY RAMBLERS: Way Down In Alabama
3. ALFRED G. KARNES: Do Not Wait 'Till I'm Laid 'Neath The Clay
4. ALFRED G. KARNES: The Days Of My Childhood Plays
5. ALFRED G. KARNES: We Shall All Be Reunited
6. ERNEST PHIPPS AND HIS HOLINESS SINGERS: If The Light Has Gone Out In Your Soul
7. ERNEST PHIPPS AND HIS HOLINESS SINGERS: Went Up In The Clouds Of Heaven
8. ERNEST PHIPPS AND HIS HOLINESS SINGERS: I Know That Jesus Set Me Free
9. ERNEST PHIPPS AND HIS HOLINESS SINGERS: Shine On Me
10. ERNEST PHIPPS AND HIS HOLINESS SINGERS: Bright Tomorrow
11. ERNEST PHIPPS AND HIS HOLINESS SINGERS: A Little Talk With Jesus
12. HOWARD - PEAK (THE BLIND MUSICIANS): I Cannot Be Your Sweetheart
13. HOWARD - PEAK (THE BLIND MUSICIANS): Three Black Sheep
14. CLARENCE GREENE: Good-night Darling
15. CLARENCE GREENE: Little Bunch Of Roses
16. THE STONEMAN FAMILY: The Broken-Hearted Lover
17. UNCLE ECK DUNFORD: Angeline, The Baker
18. UNCLE ECK DUNFORD: Old Shoes And Leggin's
19. THE STONEMAN FAMILY: We Parted By The Riverside
20. ERNEST STONEMAN'S DIXIE MOUNTAINEERS: Down To Jordan And Be Saved
21. ERNEST STONEMAN'S DIXIE MOUNTAINEERS: There's A Light Lit Up In Galilee
22. THE STONEMAN FAMILY: Going Up The Mountain After Liquor, Part 1
23. THE STONEMAN FAMILY: Going Up The Mountain After Liquor, Part 2
24. THE STONEMAN FAMILY: The Spanish Merchant's Daughter
25. THE STONEMAN FAMILY: Too Late
Disc: 5
1. STAMPS QUARTET: I'll Be Happy
2. STAMPS QUARTET: Like The Rainbow
3. STAMPS QUARTET: Because I Love Him
4. STAMPS QUARTET: Come To The Savior
5. STAMPS QUARTET: Do Your Best, Then Wear A Smile
6. STAMPS QUARTET: We Shall Reach Home
7. SMITH BROTHERS: My Mother Is Waiting For Me In Heaven Above
8. SMITH BROTHERS: She Has Climbed The Golden Stair
9. PALMER SISTERS: We'll Sing On That Shore
10. PALMER SISTERS: Singing The Story Of Grace
11. PALMER SISTERS: Help Me To Find The Way
12. PALMER SISTERS: He'll Be With Me
13. TARTER & GAY: Brownie Blues
14. TARTER & GAY: Unknown Blues
15. CAROLINA TWINS: Where Is My Mamma?
16. CAROLINA TWINS: When You Go A'Courtin'
17. CAROLINA TWINS: I Sat Upon The River Bank
18. CAROLINA TWINS: New Orleans Is The Town I Like Best
19. CAROLINA TWINS: She Tells Me That I Am Sweet
20. CAROLINA TWINS: Mr. Brown, Here I Come
21. SHORTBUCKLE ROARK & FAMILY: I Truly Understand, You Love Another Man
22. SHORTBUCKLE ROARK & FAMILY: My Mother's Hands