Will The Circle Be Unbroken - The Trilogy
The originalWill the Circle Be Unbrokenis undoubtedly a landmark country-music recording. A peace offering between rock-reared longhairs and rock-ribbed Nashville patriarchs (and one matriarch,Mother Maybelle Carter), it exposed generations of upstart pickers and singers to old-time country music and its impact is felt to this day. The organizers of the 1971 sessions that led to the initial three-LP set, theNitty Gritty Dirt Band, have produced two sequels, thefirstin 1989 and themost recentin 2002. This six-disc collection (including an all-star concert DVD) pulls together all threeCirclesessions and, naturally, captures dozens of essential performances, plus a fair number of inessentials. Anyone with an interest in country music will want the original. Its mission is clear, the performances are inspired, and its significance is undeniable. The secondCirclestrays far afield from the original concept, bringing in the rather lightweight likes ofJohn DenverandMichael Martin Murphyto mix with volume one holdoversJimmy MartinandEarl Scruggs. The final volume is also more diffuse than one would like, though eminent guest stars such asDel McCoury,June Carter Cash, andJohnny Cashhelp it capture the spirit of the original more frequently than does its immediate predecessor. Completists will relish having all three collections in one box, while those who think three times around the circle is two too many are advised to stick with the 30th anniversary reissue of the initial album.--Steven Stolder