Various

In the early 20th century, Mother Maybelle Carter picked up a guitar and developed her own unique playing style that artists still emulate today. Carter joined up with songsmith and wandering story collector Alvin Pleasant Carter and his wife Sara to create some of the country standards that are still reworked and covered today more than 60 years later. On this attractive and star-packed tribute from Dualtone, many of country music’s current bearers of the Carter legacy nod their collective musical hats to this talented family. Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris and Ricky Skaggs are just a few of the more than a dozen artists that offer their interpretations of the Carters’ legacy. The musical highlights are too numerous to list, but a few gems are Crow’s take on "No Depression in Heaven,” John Prine’s version of "Bear Creek Blues,” and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s duet with Kris Kristofferson on "Gold Watch and Chain.” After listening to this 15-song collection, it’s hard to disagree with John Carter Cash’s liner note assertion that, "The songs of the Carter Family are as relevant and as close to our lives today as they were when first recorded.” With the musical descendants singing the Carter’s compositions, these timeless classics are reborn for a new generation of listeners.