Will the Circle Be Unbroken (album)

The album was considered a breakthrough in bridging generational and musical differences between the old guard of Nashville, Tennessee and the younger country rock movement. Will the Circle Be Unbroken reached number 4 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart, and was eventually certified platinum for selling over one million copies. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band released two follow-up albums in 1989 and 2002.

History

The album's title comes from a song by Ada R. Habershon (re-arranged by A. P. Carter) and reflects how the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was trying to tie together two generations of musicians. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was a young country-rock band with a hippie look, described by Acuff as "a bunch of long-haired West Coast boys." The other players were much older and more famous from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, primarily as old-time country and bluegrass players. Many had become known to their generation through the Grand Ole Opry. However, with the rise of rock-and-roll, the emergence of the commercial country's slick "Nashville sound", and changing tastes in music, their popularity had waned somewhat from their glory years.

Acuff was initially contemptuous of the project, but later relented and participated. The record includes the first meeting of Doc Watson and Merle Travis, after whom Watson's son, Merle, was named. Bill Monroe, sixty years old at the time, refused to participate in the recordings.

The album was recorded at Woodland Sound Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. Every track on the album was recorded on the first or second take straight to two-track masters, so the takes are raw and unprocessed. Additionally, another tape ran continuously throughout the entire week-long recording session and captured the dialog between the players. On the final album, many of the tracks—including the first track—begin with the musicians discussing how to perform the song or who should come in where in any given portion of a song.

The album cover features an image of Union Admiral David Dixon Porter. Originally appearing in 1972 as a three LP album and three-cassette tape offering, Will the Circle Be Unbroken was remastered and re-released in 2002 as a two compact disc set. The original album was certified platinum by the RIAA on November 6, 1997, indicating shipments of 500,000 copies. It has sold 301,600 copies as of October 2019.

Much later, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band recorded two subsequent albums, Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two and Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Volume III, in an attempt to repeat the process with other historically significant musicians. Volume Two won the Country Music Association's 1989 Album of the Year as well as three Grammys. In 1990, the album was celebrated on the PBS music television program Austin City Limits, which featured a performance by the full ensemble of guests on the Carter Family song, "Will the Circle Be Unbroken", from the original 1972 album.

Track listing

Disc one

"Grand Ole Opry Song" (Hylo Brown) – 2:59
- Jimmy Martin-Lead vocal and guitar, John McEuen-Banjo, Vassar Clements-Fiddle, Les Thompson-Mandolin, Roy "Junior" Huskey-Bass; Jeff Hanna, Gary Scruggs, Jim Ibbotson, Thompson, Ray Martin-Background vocals
"Keep on the Sunny Side" (A.P. Carter, Gary Garett) – 3:35
- Mother Maybelle Carter-Lead vocal and guitar, Doc Watson-Guitar, Pete "Oswald" Kirby-Dobro, Huskey-Bass, Earl Scruggs-Banjo, Randy Scruggs-Autoharp, McEuen-Mandolin; Hanna, Thompson, Merle Travis, Ibbotson, Watson, Gary Scruggs-Background vocals.
"Nashville Blues" (Earl Scruggs) – 3:10
- Earl Scruggs-Lead banjo, McEuen-Banjo, Hanna-Washboard, Jimmie Fadden-Harmonica, Clements-Fiddle, Randy Scruggs-Guitar, Norman Blake-Dobro, Huskey-Bass
"You Are My Flower" (A.P. Carter) – 3:35
- McEuen-Banjo, Earl Scruggs-Guitar, Blake-Dobro, Fadden-Autoharp, Ibbotson-Snare, Huskey-Bass, Randy Scruggs-Guitar; Hanna, Thompson, Randy Scruggs-Background vocals
"The Precious Jewel" (Roy Acuff) – 3:30
- Roy Acuff-Lead Vocal, McEuen-Banjo, Fadden-Harmonica, Thompson-Mandolin, Earl Scruggs-Guitar, Randy Scruggs-Autoharp, Clements-Fiddle, Huskey-Bass, Kirby-Dobro
"Dark as a Dungeon" (Merle Travis) – 2:45
- Travis-Lead vocal and guitar, McEuen-Mandolin, Fadden-Harmonica, Huskey-Bass; Hanna, Thompson, Ibbotson-Background vocals
"Tennessee Stud" (Jimmie Driftwood) – 4:22
- Watson-Lead vocal and guitar, McEuen-Banjo, Fadden-Harmonica, Ibbotson-Guitar, Huskey-Bass, Clements-Fiddle, Hanna-Background vocal
"Black Mountain Rag" (traditional; credited to Thomas Magness on the album) – 2:10
- Watson-Lead guitar, McEuen-Banjo, Ibbotson-guitar, Thompson-Mandolin, Fadden-Harmonica Clements-Fiddle, Huskey-Bass
"Wreck on the Highway" (Dorsey Dixon) – 3:24
- Acuff-Lead Vocal, Fadden-Harmonica, Thompson-Mandolin, Kirby-Dobro, Earl Scruggs-Guitar, Clements-Fiddle, Huskey-Bass
"The End of the World" (Fred Rose) – 3:53
- Oswald-Dobro, Watson-Guitar, Earl Scruggs-Guitar, Huskey-Bass
"I Saw the Light" (Hank Williams) – 3:45
- Acuff-Lead Vocal, Earl Scruggs-Banjo, Fadden-Harmonica, McEuen-Mandolin, Watson-Guitar, Kirby-Dobro, Clements-Fiddle, Randy Scruggs-Autoharp, Huskey-Bass; Hanna, Thompson, Ibbotson, Martin-Background Vocals
"Sunny Side of the Mountain" (Byron Gregory, Harry McAuliffe) – 2:14
- Martin-Lead Vocal and Guitar, McEuen-Banjo, Thompson-Mandolin, Fadden-Harmonica, Ibottson-Snare, Clements-Fiddle, Huskey-Bass; Hanna, Thompson, Gary Scruggs, Ray Martin-Background Vocals
"Nine-Pound Hammer" (Merle Travis) – 2:14
- Travis-Lead Vocal and Guitar, McEuen-Banjo, Fadden-Harmonica, Ibbotson-Snare, Huskey-Bass; Hanna, Ibbotson, Thompson-Background Vocals
"Losin' You (Might Be the Best Thing Yet)" (Edria A. Humphrey, Jimmy Martin) – 2:44
- Martin-Lead Vocal and Guitar, McEuen-Banjo, Fadden-Harmonica, Thompson-Mandolin, Ibbotson-Snare, Clements-Fiddle, Huskey-Bass
"Honky Tonkin'" (Hank Williams) – 2:19
- Fadden-Lead Vocal, Hanna-Guitar, Blake-Dobro, Clements-Lead Guitar and Fiddle, Thompson-Mandolin, Huskey-Bass, Ibbotson-Drums
"You Don't Know My Mind" (Jimmie Skinner) – 2:45
- Martin-Lead Vocal and Guitar, McEuen-Banjo, Thompson-Mandolin, Fadden-Harmonica, Ibbotson-Drums, Huskey-Bass, Clements-Fiddle; Hanna, Thompson, Gary Scruggs, Ray Martin-Background Vocals
"My Walkin' Shoes" (Jimmy Martin, Paul Williams) – 2:02
- Martin-Lead Vocal and Guitar, McEuen-Banjo, Thompson-Mandolin, Fadden-Harmonica, Ibottson-Snare, Clements-Fiddle, Huskey-Bass; Hanna, Thompson, Gary Scruggs, Ray Martin-Background Vocals

Disc two

"Lonesome Fiddle Blues" (Vassar Clements) – 2:41
- Clements-Fiddle, McEuen-Banjo, Ibbotson-Guitar, Fadden-Harmonica, Hanna-Washboard, Thompson-Mandolin, Randy Scruggs-Guitar, Ellis Padget-Bass
"Cannonball Rag" (Merle Travis) – 1:15
- Travis-Guitar, Huskey-Bass
"Avalanche" (Millie Clements) – 2:50
- Clements-Fiddle, McEuen-Banjo, Ibbotson-Guitar, Hanna-Washboard, Thompson-Mandolin, Fadden-Harmonica, Huskey-Bass
"Flint Hill Special" (Earl Scruggs) – 2:12
- Earl Scruggs-Banjo, Fadden-Harmonica, Thompson-Mandolin, Gary Scruggs-Guitar, Blake-Dobro, Clements-Fiddle, Ibbotson-Snare, Huskey-Bass
"Togary Mountain" (Walter McEuen) – 2:25
- McEuen-Banjo, Ibbotson-Guitar, Thompson-Mandolin, Blake-Dobro, Clements-Fiddle, Huskey-Bass
"Earl's Breakdown" (Earl Scruggs) – 2:34
- Earl Scruggs-Banjo, Randy Scruggs-Guitar, Clements-Fiddle, Thompson-Mandolin, Ibbotson-Snare, Huskey-Bass
"Orange Blossom Special" (Ervin T. Rouse) – 2:14
- Clements-Fiddle, McEuen-Banjo, Thompson-Mandolin, Martin-Guitar, Ibbotson-Snare, Randy Scruggs-Guitar, Padgett-Bass
"Wabash Cannonball" (A.P. Carter) – 2:00
- Kirby-Dobro, Fadden-Harmonica, Watson-Guitar, Huskey-Bass, Earl Scruggs-Guitar
"Lost Highway" (Leon Payne) – 3:37
- Ibbotson-Lead Vocal and Guitar, Thompson-Mandolin, Hanna-Drums, Clements-Fiddle, Blake-Dobro, Huskey-Bass, McEuen-Banjo
Doc Watson & Merle Travis First Meeting (Dialogue) – 1:52
"Way Downtown" (traditional, Doc Watson) – 3:30
- Watson-Lead Vocal and Guitar, McEuen-Banjo, Thompson-Mandolin, Ibbotson-Guitar, Fadden-Harmonica, Clements-Fiddle, Huskey-Bass, Hanna-Background Vocal
"Down Yonder" (arr. Doc Watson) – 1:48
- Watson-Guitar, McEuen-Banjo, Ibbotson-Guitar, Fadden-Harmonica, Thompson-Mandolin, Hanna-Washboard, Clements-Fiddle, Huskey-Bass
"Pins and Needles (In My Heart)" (Floyd Jenkins) – 2:53
- Acuff-Lead Vocal, Kirby-Dobro, Fadden-Harmonica, Thompson-Mandolin, McEuen-Banjo, Earl Scruggs-Guitar, Clements-FIddle, Ibbotson-Snare, Huskey-Bass
"Honky Tonk Blues" (Hank Williams) – 2:22
- Hanna-Lead Vocal, Bill McEuen-Guitar, Ibbotson-Drums, Blake-Dobro, Clements-Fiddle, Huskey-Bass
"Sailin' on to Hawaii" (Beecher Kirby) – 2:00
- Kirby-Dobro, Watson-Guitar, Scruggs-Guitar, Huskey-Bass
"I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes" (A.P. Carter) – 4:25
- Carter-Lead Vocal and Guitar, Earl Scruggs-Banjo, McEuen-Mandolin, Travis, Guitar, Kirby-Dobro, Clements-Fiddle, Huskey-Bass; Hanna, Thompson, Ibbotson, Randy Scruggs-Background Vocals
"I am a Pilgrim" (traditional) – 2:55
- Travis-Lead Vocal and Guitar, Fadden-Harmonica, Ibbotson-Snare, Huskey-Bass
"Wildwood Flower" (A.P. Carter) – 3:34
- Carter-Lead Vocal and Autoharp, Earl Scruggs-Guitar, Ibbotson-Guitar, Thompson-Mandolin, Huskey-Bass
"Soldier's Joy" (John McEuen, Earl Scruggs) – 2:05
- Earl Scruggs-Banjo, McEuen-Uncle Dave Macon's Banjo
"Will the Circle Be Unbroken" (A.P. Carter) – 4:50
- Carter-Lead Vocal (first and fourth verses) and Autoharp, Earl Scruggs-Banjo, Watson-Guitar, Fadden-Harmonica, Travis-Guitar, McEuen-Mandolin, Martin-Lead Vocal (second verse) Guitar, Kirby-Dobro, Clements-Fiddle, Huskey-Bass, Acuff-Lead Vocal (third verse); Watson, Hanna, Ibbotson, Thompson, Gary Scruggs, Ray Martin, Timmy Martin, Randy Scruggs, Betty Travis, Fred Cross, Gloria Belle, Louise Scruggs, Steve Scruggs, Chet Flippo, Martha Flippo, Larry Murray, Mike Carr, Alice McEuen-Background Vocals
"Both Sides Now" (Joni Mitchell) – 2:19
- Randy Scruggs-Guitar
- 2002 Reissue bonus tracks
"Foggy Mountain Breakdown" (Earl Scruggs) – 2:39
Warming Up for "The Opry" – 2:43
Sunny Side – 4:06
"Remember Me" (Scotty Wiseman) – 1:32

References

^ "Dylan, Cash, and the Nashville Cats: A New Music City - Part 4: Artists That Followed". Country Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
Oermann, Robert K. (23 May 2018). "Nashville Recording Pioneer Glenn Snoddy Passes". Music Row. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
Allmusic review
Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: N". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 8, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
Allmusic review
^ Burns, Ken (2019). Country Music (Television documentary). USA: PBS.
Jack Hurst, "Bill Monroe: From Refined Oil to Slick Music," in The Bill Monroe Reader (ed. Tom Ewing, University of Illinois, 2000), 102.
"Union Cartes-de-Visite: Robert Brown Potter, Andrew Porter, Benjamin Mayberry Prentiss, William D. Porter, Fitz John Porter, David Dixon Porter, John Pope". Heritage Auctions. Archived from the original on April 15, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
"American album certifications – Nitty Gritty Band – Will the Circle Be Unbroken". Recording Industry Association of America.
Bjorke, Matt (October 9, 2019). "Top Country Catalog Album Sales: October 9, 2019". RoughStock. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
Will The Circle Be Unbroken” with The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John Denver and Friends, Austin City Limits, 1990

v t e Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Jeff Hanna Ross Holmes Jim Photoglo Jackson Browne Chris Darrow Jimmy Ibbotson Bernie Leadon John McEuen
Studio albums	The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Ricochet Rare Junk Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy All the Good Times Stars & Stripes Forever Symphonion Dream The Dirt Band An American Dream Make a Little Magic Jealousy Let's Go Plain Dirt Fashion Partners, Brothers and Friends Hold On Workin' Band The Rest of the Dream Not Fade Away Acoustic The Christmas Album Bang, Bang, Bang Welcome to Woody Creek Speed of Life
Collaboration albums	Will the Circle Be Unbroken Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Volume III
Live albums	Alive Live Two Five
Compilation albums	Dirt, Silver and Gold Twenty Years of Dirt More Great Dirt
Singles	"Mr. Bojangles" "House at Pooh Corner" "I Saw the Light" "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" "The Battle of New Orleans" "All I Have to Do Is Dream" "An American Dream" "Dance Little Jean" "Long Hard Road (The Sharecropper's Dream)" "I Love Only You" "High Horse" "Modern Day Romance" "Home Again in My Heart" "Partners, Brothers and Friends" "Fire in the Sky" "Baby's Got a Hold on Me" "Fishin' in the Dark" "Oh What a Love" "Workin' Man (Nowhere to Go)" "I've Been Lookin'" "Down That Road Tonight" "Turn of the Century" "And So It Goes" "When It's Gone" "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)" "I Fought the Law"
Other songs	"King Tut" "Joe Knows How to Live" "Bless the Broken Road"
Related articles	Discography Members

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