Ernest V Stoneman - The Unsung Father Of Country Music (1925- 1934)

The time capsule you wish you owned

Pioneering songwriter, unfiltered vocalist, rural multiinstrumentalist and early country music star, Stoneman defined the maxim of “three chords and the truth” with his debut epic The Titanic in 1925. Sadly, however, it was his one and only hit. He recorded prolifically for a variety of labels with his wife and other family members, while also playing on dates with other unsung fathers of country music such as Uncle Dave Macon and Charlie Poole.

This nicely packaged and period photo-packed release, produced and annotated by Christopher C King and Henry “Hank” Sapoznik, features 45 superbly remastered selections (20 previously unissued) of Stoneman and his wide circle of friends and kin. In addition to disaster efforts such as Titanic and The Wreck Of Old ’97 there are also inspired examples of hillbilly vaudeville, send-up ballads, religious material, bedrock fiddledriven instrumentals, homespun parlor numbers, dance tunes and popular songs of the era such as The Old Hickory Cane and Mountaineer’s Courtship. Also included are covers of an ancient Child Ballad (The Raging Sea, How It Roars), the old-time string band satirical folk hymn The Religious Critic, a bluegrass oriented folk protest song (Nine Pound Hammer) and the hilarious, whiskey-saturated jam session Old Time Corn Shuckin’. An eye-opening project.

4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

5-String | 001 (2-CD)

Reviewed by Gary von Tersch
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