JSP’s CARTER FAMILY BOX SET….Speaking of old-tyme mountain sounds, I’m trying to get a bead on this JSP Records box set of the CARTER FAMILY (“Carter Family 1927-1934”). I invested several years in the early/mid 90s and a collective dollar amount in the low three figures trying to pick up all volumes of the amazing Rounder series of Carter Family recordings, all of which are now out of print and really tough to find in stores. Looks like the recent JSP set, which is five discs packed with 70 minutes of music (and which retails for only $22!), has almost all of the same tracks available on that Rounder series, give or take a few. The downside appears to be the lack of liner notes, and, if you’re bothered by that sort of thing, the missing tracks. You completist tosser, you. (kidding aside, we’re only talking about an absolute hallmark act in musical history, the single best “group” of their era and the originators of country music – you want everything you can get your hands on). When I posted a question about JSP’s CHARLEY PATTON box set a while back, I got all kinds of frothing responses. Anyone out there have this one, along with an opinion?

posted by Jay H. at 9:30 AM