Watson Family

Doc Watson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 14, 1993)
• Original Release Date: 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Smithsonian Folkways
• ASIN: B000001DGI
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #196,411 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

The depth and beauty of this extended family's musical skills is legendary among followers of traditional American music. Featured here are Watson family standards, including 11 previously unreleased performances. A Folkways classic. "This is gorgeous music, one of the best collections of old time music ever captured." — Victory Review. Compiled by Ralph Rinzler and Jeff Place.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute gem of the raw and pure beauty of pre-bluegrass, November 7, 1998

By 

[e-mail] or Dustin Ogdin (Murfreesboro(Nashville), TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Watson Family (Audio CD)

Anyone remotely interested in Doc Watson, bluegrass, or early folk/mountain music do not hesitate to buy this album. This cd is as soulful and compelling as any I've ever heard in the genre of mountain music. One can still hear the echo of Celtic/European roots but with the unmistakable earthiness of American Appalaccia. The influence of African blues forms on traditional European folk songs could never be more evident than in this collection. This is Leadbelly meets Bill Monroe meets fourteenth century villages in both Ireland and Africa. Cannot recommend this album enough!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You will think you have died and gone to heaven, August 6, 1998

By 

Paul Galioni (Susanville/Nevada City, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Watson Family (Audio CD)

This CD is old-time country (some call it "mountain" or "traditional") music originally recorded in 1963 (Folkways)and contains all 15 songs from the original release along with 11 new ones. Of all the Doc Watson albums I had, this was the first one I rebought on CD. It brings tears of sorrow and of joy. The music is unrefined, but powerful and clean.

Ground Hog, Bonaparte's Retreat, House Carpenter, I'm troubled, Your Long Journey, When I die, That train the carried my girl from town, down the road, the lone pilgrim, etc. Also has ccukoo bird, shady grove, and southbound -- among other new cuts.

If you think you know country, you might find yourself quite suprised . . .

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Collection Of Traditional Music But Missing Liner Notes, February 7, 2008

By 

Chris Luallen (Nashville, Tennessee) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Watson Family (Audio CD)

As a fan of Doc Watson I enjoyed this historical recording of Doc playing with family members prior to his becoming a professional musician. The CD features 26 songs - 15 from the original 1963 Folkways record plus 11 additional tunes. So it is good value for the money. But while the back cover promises extensive liner notes that "provide important background on the recordings" none are included, at least in the product which I purchased new. I wanted to learn more about Doc's family. But only their names were given and nothing about who actually sang and/or played an instrument on each song. A couple of the songs clearly featured Doc. While others had either lead or accompanying female vocals by Doc's wife Rosa Lee. There was also a distinctly older female voice on "The Triplett Tragedy", perhaps Doc's mother or even grandmother. The rest it is only possible to guess at.

In addition to his fine singing and guitar playing, I have always appreciated Doc's selection of material, mostly traditional folk songs of high quality. There are many good songs on here as well. They include instrumentals such as "Bonaparte's Retreat" and funny songs such as "Ground Hog". Some, like "The House Carpenter", have a long lineage that can be traced back to the British Isles. But one of my favorites was a rare Doc Watson original, "Your Long Journey", which he co-wrote with wife Rosa Lee. This song shows what a fine writer Doc actually was, though he most often played traditional songs written by others.

The music I consider 5 stars. But I must remove 1 star because my version of this product lacked the promised liner notes which would have been of great interest to me. If other people received liner notes please let me know by leaving a comment. I do recommend this album. But those new to Doc might want to start elsewhere. My personal favorite is "The Best Of Doc Watson (1964 -1968)". But there are many other excellent albums to chose from as well.