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22 May 00 - 07:53 PM (#232211) Subject: The first song of the Carter Family From: GUEST,Peter Gossett I have always thought the first song of the Carter Family was "Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow." However, today I read in a book "Anchored In Love: The Carter Family Story" that the first song was "Weeping Willow," which the lyrics read something like "I'll hang my harp in the weeping willow." I did a search for "Weeping Willow" here and I found that a song had this line in it and that song was called "There is a Tavern in the Town." I also read that when A.P. Carter first heard his record in the general music store in Bristol, the record was Weeping Willow/Single Girl, Married Girl. I have what I thought was the first record of the Carter Family, which is Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow/Little Log Cabin by the Sea, both of which were recorded on August 1, 1927. In the book Anchored in Love, it does not state the song Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow. So, my question is this: What is the Carter Family's first song? Is it Weeping Willow (There's a Tavern in the Town) or Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow?
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22 May 00 - 08:36 PM (#232242) Subject: RE: Help: The first song of the Carter Family From: Stewie According to Alex Davidson's discography [in 'The Carter Family' Old Time Music Booklet No 1], you are spot on. The first 2 recordings by the Family were 2 takes of 'Bury Me Beneath the Willow' on 1 August 1927 [the Bristol Sessions]. The first was unissued and the second was issued as Victor Vi-21074. Then followed 2 takes of 'Little Log Cabin By the Sea'. The first was unissued and the second was issued also on Victor Vi-21074. They next recorded 'Poor Orphan Child' and then 'Storms Are on the Ocean' (2 recordings of each) and then Sara recorded 'Single Girl'. --Stewie. |
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22 May 00 - 08:38 PM (#232243) Subject: RE: Help: The first song of the Carter Family From: Banjer In the liner notes of my CD, "Anchored In Love", the first of the rounder series "The Carter Family, Their Complete Victor Recordings" (Rounder CD1046)it says.... That night they assembled on the platform. Since Sara had to paly her autoharp flat, they all sat around the microphone, and launched into "Bury Me Under The Weeping Willow", a song which both Sara and Maybelle had known since childhood; like many mountain songs, it was actually an old nineteenth century parlor song that had gone into folk tradition. It goes on to say that they recorded six sides, and the titles named are as follows: Bury Me Under The Weeping Willow Little Old Log Cabin By The Sea Poor Orphan Child The Storms Are On The Ocean Wandering Boy Single Girl Hope this helps some!! |
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22 May 00 - 08:40 PM (#232245) Subject: RE: Help: The first song of the Carter Family From: Stewie My apologies, Sara's 'Single Girl, Married Girl' was recorded on the next day: Tuesday 2 August 1927. Thus, there were only 4 songs recorded on that first day. --Stewie. |
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22 May 00 - 08:49 PM (#232248) Subject: RE: Help: The first song of the Carter Family From: Stewie Hi Banjer, I think you may have misread Wolfe's note to the Rounder. He confirms that only the first 4 in your list were recorded on 1 August. 'Single Girl' and 'Wandering Boy' were solos recorded next morning by Sara, accompanied by Maybelle. A.P. was absent and that was noted on the official Victor session sheets. Cheers, Stewie. |
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23 May 00 - 07:53 PM (#232771) Subject: RE: Help: The first song of the Carter Family From: Banjer Hi Stewie, No I understood that they only recorded four on the first day, but a total of six for that first 'session' even though it spanned two days. (Am I correct in assuming that or is my thinking totally warped? ;-)) Just think how it must have seemed to them at the time, probably thinking that this rube wanted to record them and they might make a dollar or two. Could hey have had any inkling that what they were doing would set standards in the world of what we now know as old time music and in the country field as well? How will some of the things WE do today affect future generations? |
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23 May 00 - 11:13 PM (#232865) Subject: RE: Help: The first song of the Carter Family From: Stewie Hi Banjer, sorry for misunderstanding you. As for the money, it has been said that all the artists in Peer's auditions received $50 per song. However, the Carters had no recollection of getting $300 for their 6-song effort. John Atkins has told the story that Sara and Maybelle were embarrassed by the fancy clothes of people in town for the auditions as they themselves had only simple country clothes. They overcame their embarrassment by entering Peer's studio by the fire escape! Evidently, it was Sara's voice that impressed Peer most. He has been quoted as saying 'As soon as I heard her voice, why, I began to build around it and all the first recordings were on that basis'. --Stewie. |
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23 May 00 - 11:41 PM (#232867) Subject: RE: Help: The first song of the Carter Family From: Banjer Hey, no problem Stewie, half the time I don't understand me too! I think the adage you refer to about Sara and Maybelle's embarassment about their clothes is why their music has lasted so long and will continue long after we are gone. They were simple folk and their music came from the heart. That, I believe is what attracts so many to them, they can be identified with as equals. |
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24 May 00 - 12:33 AM (#232893) Subject: RE: Help: The first song of the Carter Family From: Rick Fielding I gotta tell you, driving into Bristol for the first time two years ago sent shivers up my back. I tried to explain to Heather the significance and she was polite, but boy I felt like a six year old. 'course you know I'm a huge fan (so is Sandy) of the Rev. Alfred Karnes, and I could picture everyone wanting to try his big Gibson harp-guitar. Man, what I would have given to be a fly on the wall that day. Rick |
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07 Sep 01 - 11:34 PM (#544944) Subject: Lyr Add: THE WANDERING BOY (Carter Family) From: wysiwyg THE WANDERING BOY As recorded by the Carter Family, 1927 (Victor 20877, Montgomery Ward 7446) Out in the cold world and far away from home, Somebody's boy is wand'ring alone, No one to guide him and keep his footsteps right. Somebody's boy is homeless tonight. Out in the hallway, there stands a vacant chair. Yonder the jewels my darling used to wear. Give me the cradle, the one that's loved so well. How I miss him there's none can tell. CHORUS: Bring back my boy, my wandering boy, Far, far away, wherever he may be Tell him his mother with faded cheeks and hair, At their old home is waiting him there. Oh, could I see him and fold him to my breast, That way I'd close my eyes and be at rest. There is no other that's left to give me joy. Bring back my boy, my wandering boy. Well I remember the parting words he said: "We'll meet again where no sad tears are shed. There'll be no goodbyes in that bright land so fair. When done with life I'll meet you up there." CHORUS |
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07 Sep 01 - 11:54 PM (#544968) Subject: RE: Help: The first song of the Carter Family From: wysiwyg See THIS DISCUSSION also. ~Susan |
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08 Sep 01 - 02:27 AM (#545015) Subject: RE: Help: The first song of the Carter Family From: murray@mpce.mq.edu.au According to my documentation: "The Carter Family in the shadow of Clinch Mountain" which is the book that comes with the Bear Family Carter Family collection, there were four songs recorded on Aug 1 1927 in Bristol Tennessee: Murray |
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08 Sep 01 - 03:30 AM (#545031) Subject: RE: Help: The first song of the Carter Family From: GUEST,.gargoyle Not a direct answer to your question but----
From: Something To Sing About! - The Personal Choices of America's Folk Singers Collected and arranged by Milton Okun
":Wildwood Flower", "Can the Circle Be Unbroken,::Worried Man Blues," "Keep on the Sunny Side" are but a few of the wongs associated with the Carter Family, who may well be America's first family of folk song…..Among their chief innovations was the addition of autoharp and guitar to traditinal ballds that had alwys been unaccompanied. The famous and distinctive guitar plaing of Mother Maybelle was another innovation, a variatin of the "church lick" that came to be called "Carter Family style."….Whatever the gulf that stands between the folk-festival world of Newport and the country music world of Nashvill is bridged by the work of Mother Maybelle.
For the collection within this anthology of musician's personal favorites, the Carters selected: Mollie Darling, Johnny I Hardly Knew You, Come All Ye Fair and Tender Ladies, and my own personal favorite, Wildwood Flower. Sincerely, Gargoyle
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08 Sep 01 - 03:33 AM (#545032) Subject: RE: Help: The first song of the Carter Family From: GUEST,.gargoyle Just curious....what is your personal concern?
Does the FIRST really make any sort of difference? |
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05 Apr 05 - 02:14 PM (#1452840) Subject: Bury me under the weeping willow From: GUEST,Natalie Merchant |
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05 Apr 05 - 09:13 PM (#1453193) Subject: RE: The first song of the Carter Family From: Brían Well, Natilie appears speechless at the moment. I must add that while the songs mentioned in this thread smacked me right where it hurts the first time I heard them and continue to to this day, I don't think the introduction of guitar, autoharp and other stringed instruments has impoved folk music. I find myself increasingly impressed with the unacompanied voice. Brían |
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06 Apr 05 - 09:39 AM (#1453564) Subject: RE: The first song of the Carter Family From: Louie Roy Here is a true story on the Carter family.I'm not positive of the date but it was either 1931 or 1932 the Carter family was traveling all over the USA in their rickety bus and playing in movie theaters and they came to a little town in Idaho called Orofino and it cost 50 cents for adult and 25 cents for children to go to the show.I had a seat about half way back and on the aisle side.The show had been going about 15 minutes and a man came in and offered me 50 cents for my seat.50 cents to a kid at that time was a fortune so I gave him my seat planning on going up to the front row and sitting down,but all at once I found out the theather was packed and there was no place to sit so I came back to my original seat and sat on that man's lap and watched the show,however I never gave him back his 50 cents |
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06 Apr 05 - 09:46 AM (#1453569) Subject: RE: The first song of the Carter Family From: Brían That's a wonderful story, Louie. Brían |
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06 Apr 05 - 06:55 PM (#1453918) Subject: RE: The first song of the Carter Family From: Brían What a curmudgeon I am becoming. After that last post I popped a CD by Jodie Stecher that completely defied my opinion of guitar accompaniment. Of course guitar tastefully played, like Maybelle played has its place. It's just when spruce, mahogany and bronze are beaten mercilessly that I don't care for it. What impresses me the most about the Carter Family is that their simple dress and straightforward style of playing reveals a strong faith and appeal to social justice. They are not laughing up their sleeves when they are singing those songs. Brían |
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29 May 15 - 02:29 PM (#3712864) Subject: RE: The first song of the Carter Family From: GUEST Yonder's the SHOES my darling used to wear... |
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29 May 15 - 02:34 PM (#3712868) Subject: RE: The first song of the Carter Family From: GUEST GLADLY I'd close my eyes & be at rest.. RE:WANDERING BOY |
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29 May 15 - 02:52 PM (#3712873) Subject: RE: The first song of the Carter Family From: Joe Offer Wikipedia has a nice article on the Bristol Sessions. Their list of the recordings at Bristol:
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