Customer Reviews

Edison Recordings 1928

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While listening to Ernest Stoneman's old-timey music, one can easily imagine the year is 1828 instead of a century later. Stoneman's performances are a door into the American past, and the voices of his ancestors resonate powerfully within him.

His material includes an instrumental ("Watchman Ring That Bell") and four gospel tunes. Other tracks have rather bleak subject matter. "The Prisoner's Lament" is obvious. "The Unlucky Road To Washington" deals with the assassination of President William McKinley. In "It's Sinful To Flirt" a woman laments a self-drowned suitor, while "Down On The Banks Of The Ohio" may be the darkest example here. The singer stabs the woman he loves and then watches her drown, all because she spurns him.

These one-of-a-kind EDISON test pressings are in remarkably superb condition; sound clarity is excellent, while their value as historic aural documents of the past is immeasureable. Album includes notes on both Stoneman and the individual songs.

TOTAL RUNNING TIME -- 74:22

If all of you whom read this have never read the book by Ivan M. Tribe, "The Stonemans", I suggest you do. It tells of the family, the hardships, and how Ernest V. "Pop" Stoneman recorded the first million selling country music song "The Sinking of the Titanic." Though some argue Vernon Dalhart was the first to record a million selling song for country music, with his "Prisoner's Song", the Stonemans are the real deal. They recorded and still record only "old timey" or "mountain music" as it was early known.

What is not argued is the fact that Pop lead off the Bristol Recordings session. He was instrumental in getting the Carters to be at the session also.

He and his family are what country music is supposed to be---and how it should be. They have been for 350 years, no typo that is 350. Unlike some black hatted fool, and his whining street beat imitation quasi EmmOnThem sound alike tramp whom could not carry any of the Stonemans' instruments to the stage for them or a tune for that matter.

If you are reading this you probably don't listen to her or him either, so run out and order this recording from Amazon.com. You will never tire from hearing what real music is supposed to be, and why it is essential to keep real country or "Old Timey" music playing. BUY IT!!!!!!!

When I purchased this CD it did not reall y know much about the artist or his work.

In a nutshell it is out standing.

This is geat music very well played that still holds up well today and will be enjoyed by all serious music fans.

The quality of the recordings is good and its is to be hoped that more Ernest Stoneman recoordings will become available on CD.

Very good and not to be missed.

a superb cd mix of secular and sacred music. These rare Edison recordings that influenced not only country, gospel, bluegrass but early rock and roll-----the Big Bopper did a heartfelt tribute to Stoneman with his version of the Old Maid and the Burgler during his brief recording career. Minnie Pearl used a song that Stoneman introduced on this collection Careless Love, as her theme song on the Opry for many yrs. Stoneman made definative recordings of Sally Goodwin, a fiddle tune that Hank Williams used as a test of a fiddler for the Drifting Cowboys as well as a theme song on his health and happiness shows <closing theme that is> as well as a song describing the last days of the McKinley presidency which influence the patriotic songs that Johnny Cash recorded in his career. A must for diehard country music fans who appreciates the history

Considering these recordings were made 70 years ago, the quality is perfect. As a follower of OldTime Country Music I found these songs to be really excellent material; hopefully someone will release more of 'Pop' Stoneman's early material.

Great pre-Depression string-band country music, from one of the pioneers. Mix of gospel and old-time, recorded at the peak of his powers. Let it rip baby, it's the real thing-ding.