On Border Radio, Vol. 1

Performer: Carter Family
Producer: Chris Strachwitz (Compilation)
Distributor: E1 Distribution (USA)

Notes: The Carter Family: Sara Carter, Jeanette Carter, June Carter, Anita Carter, Helen Carter (vocals, guitar, autoharp); A.P. Carter, Maybelle Carter (vocals, guitar). Additional personnel: Brother Bill Guild, Benny Medina (spoken vocals). Recorded at Don and Dode Baxter's studio, San Antonio, Texas in 1939 for broadcast on radio station XET, Monterrey, Mexico. Includes liner notes by Ed Kahn. ON BORDER RADIO is a collection of transcriptions the Carter Family, including the Carter children, made for Mexican radio station XET. Recorded for a Mexico-based radio station owned by a quack doctor named John Brinkley, these tracks provide a rare glimpse of the Carter Family (complete with a somewhat squeaky sounding 10-year old June) in a setting that, while not exactly informal, differs significantly from their usual recording situation. Family patriarch A.P. Carter lends full-throated support to longtime partners Sara and Maybelle in a selection of songs that cover sentimental Victorian ballads and religious songs like "Just a Few More Days of Sorrow," and more contemporary material such as "Cowboy's Wild Song to His Herd." These transmissions proved particularly useful as they meant the Family was able to reach a wide audience without having to make multiple personal appearances, or travel great distances. These transcriptions also feature a few amusing station ID breaks and commercials; however the emphasis here is very much on the Family's trademark blend of homespun harmonies and simple arrangements, in a more casual setting than they're usually heard.

Sing Out! (5-6-7/96, p.162) - "...culled from very rare acetate transcriptions....These acetates...were intended to sound like live broadcasts and are looser in feel than the carefully crafted Victor sides..."

Most music historians trace country's two main strands to its first superstars: blue yodeler Jimmie Rodgers, and balladeers the Carter Family. Their classic repertoire, haunting vocal harmonies, and Maybelle's distinctive guitar style have kept their old-time music relevant and moving to the modern day. The original group broke up in 1943, and the name was adapted by one member (Mother Maybelle) and her three daughters (June Carter Cash among them), and various combination of Carters performed and recorded in the '50s and '60s.

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