Country music reviews, In an attempt to bring you the very best in Country Music reviews, Rikks Revues has gathered the best Independent and signed, or Major and smaller label country acts and has gathered them in one place for your viewing and listening pleasure. So take your time, and when you get done with one review, go back (click the arrow after the review) to the main Country reviews page, and check and see what other star, or star in the making you might have missed. If a single artist has more than one review, they will all be listed on the artists main page, newest reviews always nearer the top. Enjoy The Unbroken Circle, The Musical Heritage of the Carter Family, then head back to the main country music page and check out any other artists you may have missed, or would like to read about. If you are interested in purchasing any of the CDs In Rikks Revues, links to purchase will always follow the review if available.

Click on CD cover or label to go the Dualtone website. 

       the Unbroken Circle         the Musical Heritage of the 
          Carter Family

The Unbroken Circle - Musical Heritage of the Carter Family

If you look back through the history of Country Music I believe there is not much dispute that in one way or another, The Carter Family have influenced (directly and indirectly) more country artists and songwriters than any other group. The way A.P. Carter could take complex, or simple issues of life, it's loves and tragedies and put them into song. The unique harmonies and the beautiful, almost mystical music accompaniment have been mimicked over the years, but none could come close to what the originals offered us from the beginning. When Dualtone Music Group decided they were going to put together this tribute, well monument really, who better to produce this project than Johhny & June's boy John Carter Cash.

With such an extensive catalog to choose from, the music wasn't hard to come by, choosing just the right tracks was the easy part. Now, who do we get to perform these classic tracks by the legendary Carter Family, well simply put, a who's who of Country Music, and artists from other genres jumped at the chance to put together this amazing collection. Of course any tribute to The Carte Family would not be complete without a few family members like Janette and Joe Carter on "Little Moses", the late June Carter Cash on "Hold Fast To The Right" with Johhny Cash harmonizing, another lost treasure is Johnny Cash himself doing the haunting "Eighty One-Forty-Three" and his daughter Roseanne Cash lending her take on "The Winding Stream".

I got to thinking that the injustice that would have been done would have been if the younger generation today were deprived of this wonderful music and this collection should help keep the Musical Heritage Of The Carter Family going strong. With the short list of 15 songs here, I am hoping that maybe Dualtone will be thinking of a volume 2 as this is a truly inspired collection of works by the cream of the crop, you can be brought to tears, lifted in faith, and simply have some Joy added to your day with The Unbroken Circle. This is a captivating disk that deserves to go to the top of the charts. If this doesn't move you, and you are a fan of any music, then I suggest you listen again a bit closer, simply astonishing.

Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives paint the picture that was meant to be seen fantastically on the dark "Never Let The Devil Get The Upper Hand On You". The entire CD is amazing, but I still have to mention  a few of the shining numbers that deserve attention. Willie Nelson and his amazing guitar styling is perfect for "You Are My Flower", John Prine's unmistakable vocals on "Bear Creek Blues" are wonderful, and the voice of George Jones may be a bit worn but sounds as good as ever on "Worried Man Blues". The two that are absolute treats,, and maybe the biggest surprises are Sheryl Crow performing the stellar rendition of "No Depression in Heaven" and Shawn Colvin w/ Earl and Randy Scruggs on the melodic and laid back "Single Girl, Married Girl". There is no getting past this one folks, this is simply a must have, for all generations! Stellar.......

  ( 6 Stars out of 6 )

Complete Track Listing

1. Worried Man Blues - George Jones

2. No Depression In Heaven - Sheryl Crow

3. On The Sea Of Galilee - Emmylou Harris w/ the Peasall Sisters

4. Engine One-Forty-Three - Johnny Cash

5. Never Let the Devil Get The Upper Hand On You - Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives

6. Little Moses - Janette and Joe Carter

7. Black Jack David - Norman and Nancy Blake w/ Tim O'brien

8. Bear Creek Blues - John Prine

9. You are my Flower - Willie Nelson

10. Single Girl, Married Girl - Shawn Colvin w/ Earl and Randy Scruggs

11. Will My Mother Know Me There - Ricky Skaggs and The Whites

12. The Winding Stream - Roseanne Cash

13. Rambling Boy - The Del McRoury Band 

14. Hold Fast to the Right - June Carter Cash

15. Gold Watch and Chain - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Kris Kristofferson