Customer Reviews

Will The Circle Be Unbroken - The Trilogy

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Trilogy" is a monument to American Bluegrass music. Within its seven hours of music is a living history of this American art form, from the 1930's until today. It brings together all three volumes of "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" and adds a DVD performance disc, and adds updated notes about the history of this three decade long project by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

No other collection of country music brings together "founders and originators" such as Mother Maybelle Carter, and the Carter Family, with their musical "children", Roy Acuff, Chet Atkins, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Earl Scruggs, Merle Travis, and Doc Watson, and the third generation...Rosanne Cash, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Allison Krauss, Tony Rice, Dwight Yoakum...some of the greatest talents of three generations and six decades of American music.

Each generation of singers and musicians remain faithful to the "roots" of this music, playing with acoustic guitars, banjos and fiddles. The mood is that of a group of talented friends, sitting in the living room, and singing and playing the songs they love the best. The feeling and heart in these performances can be felt, as well as heard.

The sound quality is exceptional. It is easy to forget these are recordings...it feels as if the musicians are sitting right next to you while they joke, chat, sing and play these songs.

This is too much music to digest in a single sitting. Instead, it is more enjoyable to select just one CD, savor it for a day or two, and then move on to another. I have no doubt that people will be listening to, and loving, this music a century from now. This will be one of the living treasures of American culture for generations to come.

It is amazing that a seven hour collection of some of the greatest music of our time is available for less than $50...less than $7 for each incredible hour of music. At this bargain price, even folks who own one or two of the previous sets included in "Trilogy" ought to buy this collection...and perhaps buy another for their children or a good friend.

The ultimate NGDB collection piece I've ever owned. The bonus DVD is spectacular and superb quality - the guest artists on it are incredible. I own all three Circle volumes and have them scattered between the car, home and office. This is the best piece to have all three together in one package. Next on my list of NGDB 'must-haves in a perfect world' would be a new studio album.
I remain in NGDB heaven with my new box set!

This is a dynmite collection of blue grass music. After 5CDs and you think it can't get any better there's a DVD that puts it all over the top. Can not say enough good things about this package....

I bought this boxed set after watching the DVD. previously I wasn't particularly a country fan, now I am converted. The recordings span 20 years, each one is excellent, the whole collection being superb. If you want to try "true" country, this is one of the best places to start. A lot of the artists are difficult to get hold of, but all together they make a CD set of many colours. Well worth the price, a thoroughly good collection; to be well recommended.

In 1972, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band released the landmark triple LP Will the Circle Be Unbroken. The young, shaggy haired band (best known, at the time, for their cover of "Mr. Bojangles") traveled from California to Nashville to create what they hoped would be a meshwork between two generations of musicians ensconced in the tradition of country and bluegrass music. What unfolded surpassed anyones wildest expectations.

The band was able to secure studio time with the giants of the genre, including: Roy Acuff, Earl Scruggs, Merle Travis, Doc Watson, and Maybelle Carter. In total, there are an incredible thirty-seven songs (thirty-eight if you count the dialogue track) - nearly all of which is indispensible material. In the years to come, the band released two subsequent volumes in the same grand tradition, sometimes even featuring younger artists such as Alison Krauss and Vince Gill. Although none quite reached the artistic heights achieved on the first volume, there are still outstanding highlights to be found on both.

In 2003, roughly a year after the release of the third volume, this complete trilogy set was released in a compact boxed set. It assembled the remastered version of the first volume (including four bonus tracks, though only one is a complete song), both successive volumes, and a DVD - comprising six discs in total. Two booklets are also included: one details the song credits and performers for each track, and the other contains an interesting essay concerning the formation of the entire project.

The DVD is perhaps the best reason to purchase this set, even if you own one or two of the albums already. It contains an outstanding hour-long concert, a brief documentary about the band, a music video for the track "The Lowlands", and three bonus concert performances not included in the final version.

One of the highlights of the concert is the performance of "Catfish John" featuring Alison Krauss. Others include a spirited rendition of the mad-cap instrumental "Earl's Breakdown" and a very fun, nostalgic performance of "Fishin' Blues" featuring Taj Mahal.

I have always loved the Circle CD's but this trilogy set is totally awesome with the combination of the original players and Nitty's version all in 1 box, can't be beat.

Originally I was only looking for the 'original' album as a CD because my triple-vinyl was in a lousy condition as so many of my friends had borrowed it. But finding this new 6 CD + DVD-version was the best thing yet. It's simply a must for every bluegrass etc. music lover.

The Trilogy of Will the Circle Be Unbroken is wonderful value. It features the absolute best of Bluegrass artists from the USA. The relaxed and informal nature of the recordings is just perfect for Bluegrass music. You can just imagine everyone gathered around a single microphone, really enjoying playing and harmonising. If you want to hear Bluegrass music in all its acoustic glory, buy these cds. You certainly won't regret it.

If you like bluegrass music you can't go wrong with The trilogy. It is a great collection of great artist's and great music.It will have you tapping your toes.I really like it.

Just got the box set...what's the trick to remove the cd(s) from the plastic case...without using alot of force to pry the cd out? Several friends also found it difficult! I know the music is GREAT!