first generation country music: the first of several primers brought to you by blaine and meredith
(if you’re not already inclined toward country/bluegrass/gospel— which i realize about 90% of y’all probably are not— this is almost definitely not for you, but i didn’t want to just skip an era)
part 1: the carter family (because someone has a very clear bias)
can the circle be unbroken (the original “will the circle be unbroken”) | bonus: upsetting live cover by johnny, june, and john carter cash / another upsetting cover by the cast of the grand ole opry a little bit ago
my home’s across the blue ridge mountains
bury me under the weeping willow
arkansas traveler - henry gilliland and eck robertson (fiddle piece)
in the jailhouse now - jimmie rodgers
the little old log cabin in the lane - fiddlin’ john carson
wreck of the old ‘97 - vernon dalhart
cindy in the meadow - samantha bumgarner and eva davis (these ladies were the first in country)
echoes of the chimes - al hopkins/the hillbillies
take a drink on me - charlie poole & the north carolina ramblers
ernest v. stoneman - the eastbound train
frankie and johnnie - jimmie rodgers
o bury me not on the lone prairie - carl t. sprague
rock all our babies to sleep - riley puckett
it ain’t gonna rain no mo - wendell hall
rovin’ gambler - kelly harrell
yodel 1 (t for texas) - jimmie rodgers
there’s a new star in heaven tonight - vernon dalhart (this was originally sung by rudolph valentino— this was a tribute to him after his death— but i could not find a recording of the original)
my blue ridge mountain home - vernon dalhart and carson robinson
waiting for a train - jimmie rodgers
note: this era (apart from a couple aspects of it) is not my area of expertise so this might not be the best, but i did what i could! if there’s anything you want to add, please go ahead (‘: