Carter Girl is the tenth studio album by American country music singer Carlene Carter. It is her first release since 2008's Stronger, as well as her first album for Rounder Records. All twelve tracks on the album were written or co-written by a member of the Carter Family, with the majority being composed by Carlene's granduncle A.P. Carter.
Reception
Carter Girl received positive critical acclaim, with Robin Denselow from UK publication The Guardian giving the album 4 out of 5 stars and saying "[Carter] has done her justice to her history", highlighting how the songs of the Carter Family have been revived with "intensity and emotion", specifically on the track "Long Black Train" which Carter has given "new maturity". Denselow also praises producer Don Was who has "captured the energy [Carter] showed in the late 1970s when she recorded in London". Similarly, Rolling Stone Country reported that "the two original tracks on the record alone are worth the price of admission", calling Me And The Wildwood Rose a "sweetly moving tribute to Carter's grandparents, Maybelle and Ezra, told through childhood memories" Actually, it's a song about her younger sister, the Wildwood Rose, who died unexpectedly. Metacritic also chose Me And The Wildwood Rose as the top track from the album, which was rated 81 based on 10 reviews, indicating universal acclaim. Mojo called Carter Girl "unashamedly traditional, committed, personal and really quite perfect".This is unashamedly traditional: committed, personal and really quite perfect. [May 2014, p.91] The Boston Globe suggesting that "this may be the best album the Carter Girl has ever made". Similarly, AllMusic explained that "Carlene Carter has confronted the mightly legacy of the Carter Family songbook and allowed it to strengthen her music rather than buckling under its weight, and this ranks with her finest recorded work to date". Regarding the Carter Family, PopMatters state that Carter Girl is responsible for maintaining and extending their legacy "without falsehood or artifice of any kind". Blurt Magazine awarded the album 4 out of 5 stars, explaining that Carlene "long ago proved herself worthy of the family legacy", adding that "Carter Girl would be a highlight of her substantial discography regardless of a familial stamp".
Track listing
Personnel Credits adapted from AllMusic.
Jim Bessman – liner notes Paul Blakemore – mastering Joe Breen – background vocals Sam Bush – mandolin Carlene Carter – lead vocals, background vocals, acoustic guitar, piano, photography Marina Chavez – photography Bob Clearmountain – mixing Jack Clement – acoustic guitar Larissa Collins – art direction Elizabeth Cook – harmony vocals (track 4), background vocals (tracks 1, 5, 6 and 10) Greg Gartenbaum – engineering Vince Gill – harmony vocals (track 8) Rami Jaffee – keyboard, organ, piano Jim Keltner – drums, percussion Kris Kristofferson – duet vocals (track 11) Greg Leisz – steel guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar Tiffany Anastasia Lowe – personal assistant Val McCallum – electric guitar Blake Mills – acoustic guitar, electric guitar Willie Nelson – duet vocals, guitar (track 7) Mickey Raphael – harmonica Matt Rausch – engineering Sergio Ruelas Jr – mixing Wesley Seidman – engineering Ivy Skoff – production co-ordination Donna Tracy – photography Don Was – production, bass Clinton Welander – engineering Gerald Wenner – photography Chris Wilkinson – engineering Howard Willing – engineering
The Carter Family – duet and harmony vocals (track 10) Anita Carter Helen Carter June Carter Cash Lorrie Carter Bennett Johnny Cash
References