Will the Circle Be Unbroken

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Customer reviews

review by: Pete the music fan date: 2005-06-09 rating:
An unexpected but well-deserved success
When the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band embarked on this project, they invited Bill Monroe to take part but he declined. He regretted that decision once he heard the album, which took him and everybody else by surprise. While Bill was absent, other top country and bluegrass singers and musicians participated. These included Mother Maybelle Carter, Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, Roy Acuff, Merle Travis and Jimmy Martin. Nobody intended that a triple LP would be released but all the participants had so much fun recording together that they recorded a lot more material than they originally intended. It did not please the record label management, who were doubtful that an album of bluegrass and old-time country music could sell at all. Nevertheless, they agreed to release the album as a triple LP and it eventually sold over three million copies in America, possibly because it was so different from anything else around at the time.pMany of the songs and instrumentals are covers, especially of songs already associated with one or other of the participants. The Carter Family songbook is represented by Keep on the sunny side, You are my flower, Wabash Cannonball, I'm thinking tonight of my blue eyes, Wildwood flower and the title track. Merle Travis contributed Dark as a dungeon, Nine pound hammer, Cannonball rag, and I am a pilgrim. Earl Scruggs contributed Nashville blues, Flint Hill special and Earl's breakdown. Roy Acuff revived some of his own hits including The precious jewel, Pins and needles and Wreck on the highway. Fans of Hank Williams will recognize I saw the light, Honky tonking, I saw the light and Honky tonk blues. Another famous song is Orange blossom special, but my favorites here are Grand Old Opry song (which may be an original song) and Tennessee stud, a cover of a Jimmy Driftwood song.pIt is clear that everybody had a lot of fun making this album, which remains the greatest triumph in the long career of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. If you enjoy this album, remember that the group recorded two further Circle albums, each with their own distinctive character.

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review by: date: 2003-11-12 rating:
A Bluegrass work of art!
In 1971, the boys of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band got together with some of the all-time greats of Country music (including Earl Scruggs, Mother Maybelle Carter, Merle Travis, Roy Acuff and others), and produced a three record album that was one of the greatest Bluegrass Country music albums ever made. Some thirty years later, this album has been re-released on two CDs, with four bonus tracks (three are dialogue and the other is the Bluegrass classic, Foggy Mountain Breakdown).pThis is a great CD collection. The music is absolutely wonderful to listen to, a real work of art, sure to be enjoyed by any Bluegrass fan. Though the title might suggest that this is a collection of religious songs, in fact only a few are overtly religious, while most are simply Bluegrass tunes played by real experts. I loved listening to this album, and highly recommend it to you!

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review by: date: 2003-03-20 rating:
REAL country music!....
....not the insipid, crossover hybrids which unfortunately pass for country nowadays. if you purchase only two country records ever, make this one of them (the other MUST be by hank williams!). the musicianship is magnificent, the songs breathe authenticity, the performances are hot first takes in the studio (august 1971), and there are fascinating snippets of conversation from participating artists between performances. the remastered sound is excellent, and there are interesting session pictures. look out especially for merle travis's superb acoustic picking, and the marvellous mother maybelle carter's vocal contributions. a truly classic record - don't miss it!


review by: date: 2003-01-17 rating:
A classic
In the early 70s the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band got together a group of old time country music performers to record this now classic album.pThe music was, as is the case in most periods - terminally unhip.brThis album brought it to the attention of the rock fan and it has been been a link back to the good old stuff for successive generations since.pWhat Ry Cooder did for Cuban music with Buena Vista Social Club - this record did for old time country.pFor anyone with even the slightest interest in bluegrass, old time, country or alt-country - this is still an essential purchase.pYou may come across "Circle" volume 2 or 3 as well. These were attempted remakes with new generations of players.pVolume 3, recently out, works very well.pVolume 2 is to be avoided though.

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