The Bristol Sessions, Vol. 1

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Right there on the cover, Johnny Cash calls these sessions "the single most important event in the history of country music," and it's hard to argue with him. Sure, there'd been "Southern" music recordings before these, and of course the music itself had existed for decades. But when Victor executive Ralph Peer went to Bristol, Tennessee, for two weeks in the summer of 1927, he not only jump-started the hillbilly music market, he basically defined the parameters of what would come to be called country music. Peer ran what amounted to an open-mike recording session, inviting any and all rural musicians to record their renditions of hillbilly music: gospels and blues, fiddle and banjo tunes, old-time mountain ballads. He recorded 19 acts (all of whom are represented in this collection), among them Ernest Stoneman and the Johnson Brothers, who were both established recording artists at the time. He also unearthed the two most significant country stars of the day--Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family--as well as the protest singer Blind Alfred Reed. What's most amazing is that even the lesser-known musicians offer performances as engaging as those legendary figures do: the commanding gospel of Kentucky preacher Alfred Karnes, accompanied by his own distinctive harp-guitar; the modal blues of banjo player B.F Shelor; the harmonica showcase of Henry Whitter; the rich a cappella harmonies of the Alcoa Quartet; the spritely fiddle work of Charles McReynolds, grandfather of future bluegrass stars Jim and Jesse. --Marc Greilsamer

The Bristol Sessions, Vol. 1,Various Artists,Country Music Found.,20's,30's,Appalachian Folk,British Folk,Country,Country & Western,Country Traditional Collections,Folksongs,Old-Timey,Pop,Singer/Songwriter,String Bands,Traditional Country,Traditional Folk

Average customer rating: The Bristol Sessions

RCA Country Legends: The Bristol Sessions, Vol.1 Various Artists Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music General | Compilations | Country | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Bristol Sessions: Historic Recordings from Bristol, Tennessee ASIN: B00006JYB6 Release Date: 2002-10-08

Tracks:

1. Big Bend Gal - Shelor Family
2. Pretty Polly - B.F. Shelton
3. What Will I Do, For My Money's All Gone - Uncle Eck Dunford and Hattie Stoneman
4. At the River - Tennessee Mountaineers
5. Miss Liza, Poor Gal - Tenneva Ramblers
6. The Soldier's Sweetheart - Jimmie Rodgers
7. Single Girl, Married Girl - The Carter Family
8. Called to the Foreign Field - Alfred G. Karnes
9. Just a Message From Carolina - Johnson Brothers
10. Sweeping Through the Gates - Ernest V. Stoneman & His Dixie Mountaineers
11. The Storms Are on the Ocean - The Carter Family
12. Narrow Gauge Blues - El Watson
13. Dying Girl's Farewell - Ernest Stoneman, Kahle Brewer & Walter Mooney
14. Train on the Island - J.P. Nestor
15. You Must Unload - Blind Alfred Reed
16. Your Blue Eyes Run Me Crazy - West Virginia Coon Hunters
17. Remember Me O Mighty One - Alcoa Quartet
18. Sleep, Baby, Sleep - Jimmie Rodgers

Customer Reviews:

The Bristol Sessions.......2007-06-18

This is a hard collection of music to find. I was lucky to come across it. It gives you an introduction to the very start of the real old good country music. It is an excellent collection of the great artists that started this music. I would recommend it to everyone. It shows the different many styles of older and great country music. It should for sure be in everyones collections.

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