The sessions held in 1927 in Bristol, TN have been described as the ''Big Bang of Country Music''. No other description will suffice. A&R man Ralph Peer had already made field recordings throughout the South, but even he must have been amazed at the riches he encountered in Bristol. The Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers' contributions to the sessions are already available on JSP box sets (JSP7701 and JSP7704) but there's plenty left to entertain and enlighten. Apart from Rodgers and the Carters, few of the other artists involved had enduring recording careers, which makes this collection even more fascinating - it's a glimpse at a long-vanished America.
Key to the 1927 sessions was Ernest V. Stoneman who helped Peer with organizing the sessions, and also performed on many of the tracks. He was one of the few who would continue to record for some years to come, in contrast to The Johnson Brothers, on record from 1927-30; Alfred G. Karnes - 1927/28 (the Bristol dates being his only venture in to the recording studios), and Blind Alfred Reed - 1927/29. Others such as Mr. And Mrs. J.W. Baker, Nester and Edmonds and the Tennessee Mountaineers paid just the one visit to the studios. As well as changing tastes, many of these artists fell victim to the Depression - record sales would slump and would not reach 1929 levels until World War 2.
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The sessions held in 1927 in Bristol, TN have been described as the ''Big Bang of Country Music''. No other description will suffice. A&R man Ralph Peer had already made field recordings throughout the South, but even he must have been amazed at the riches he encountered in Bristol. The Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers' contributions to the sessions are already available on JSP box sets (JSP7701 and JSP7704) but there's plenty left to entertain and enlighten. Apart from Rodgers and the Carters, few of the other artists involved had enduring recording careers, which makes this collection even more fascinating - it's a glimpse at a long-vanished America.
Key to the 1927 sessions was Ernest V. Stoneman who helped Peer with organizing the sessions, and also performed on many of the tracks. He was one of the few who would continue to record for some years to come, in contrast to The Johnson Brothers, on record from 1927-30; Alfred G. Karnes - 1927/28 (the Bristol dates being his only venture in to the recording studios), and Blind Alfred Reed - 1927/29. Others such as Mr. And Mrs. J.W. Baker, Nester and Edmonds and the Tennessee Mountaineers paid just the one visit to the studios. As well as changing tastes, many of these artists fell victim to the Depression - record sales would slump and would not reach 1929 levels until World War 2.
This 4 CD set is similar to other JSP box sets. Each disc is crammed with music, the sound overall is pretty good/good (especially for recordings from this era), and the discography of this music is well researched. Each disc is in a jewel case, and everything slips inside the usual flimsy cardboard slipcase. The four booklets are informative as far as they go, and contain some interesting and informative insights into the music and the era. And as I said above, the session details are well done-so important with music like this. But I must mention the Bear Family 5 CD set of the Bristol Sessions-complete with hardcover book, all in an LP-sized box. It's very nice-but you'll pay much more for that exhaustive look at these sessions.
As the outside of the box says, this is the "Big Bang" in Country Music. On these four discs is some of the best music of the genre, recorded in 1927-1928 by Ralph Peer. Musicians include-Ernest Phipps, the Blue Ridge Shuckers, Blind Alfred Reed, Ernest Stoneman, the Alcoa Quartet, Tenneva Ramblers, Shortbuckle Roark & Family, and a number of others. If you're looking for Jimmie Rodgers or the Carter Family, their recordings from these sessions are found on other JSP releases.
- Rob Smiley
I just started listening to this today and am blow away by how great the sound is for twenties recording. I listen to a lot of scratchy old time music and I believe this stacks up with Bear Family and Dust-to-Digital reissues. And, of course, the music is amazing and essential. Lot's of stuff I hadn't heard before but really enjoying it all. Very good value.
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-Rob Peterson