Will the Circle Be Unbroken | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | November 1972 | |||
Recorded | August 1971 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 109:02 120:02 (2002 reissue) | |||
Label | United Artists | |||
Producer | William McEuen | |||
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Christgau's Record Guide | A− [2] |
Will the Circle Be Unbroken is the seventh studio album by American country music group The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, with collaboration from many famous bluegrass and country-and-western players, including Roy Acuff, "Mother" Maybelle Carter, Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, Randy Scruggs, Merle Travis, Pete "Oswald" Kirby, Norman Blake, Jimmy Martin, and others. It also introduced fiddler Vassar Clements to a wider audience. The album was released in November 1972, through United Artists Records.
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. Acuff described them 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. [3]
The album cover features an image of Union Admiral David Dixon Porter. [4] 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 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. [5]
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. [6] It has sold 301,600 copies as of October 2019. [7]
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. [8]
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (NGDB) is an American country rock band formed in 1966. The group has existed in various forms since its founding in Long Beach, California. Between 1976 and 1981, the band performed and recorded as the Dirt Band.
Red Hot + Country was the follow-up to No Alternative in the Red Hot Benefit series of compilation albums, a series produced to raise awareness and money to fight AIDS/HIV as well as other related health and social issues. This compilation featured music from the classic country and classic rock genres performed by an assortment of seasoned old and new country music artists.
Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy is the fourth studio album from The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, released in 1970, including the hit song "Mr. Bojangles". The album reached No. 66 on US charts. Three singles charted: "Mr. Bojangles" reached No. 9, "House at Pooh Corner" reached No. 53, and "Some Of Shelly's Blues" reached No. 64. In Canada, the singles reached No. 2, No. 30, and No. 56.
Symphonion Dream is the ninth album by American country music band The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. They were joined by guest musicians Leon Russell and Linda Ronstadt, along with actor Gary Busey, who was credited as "Teddy Jack Eddy", and played various percussion instruments.
Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two is the nineteenth studio album by American country folk group Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, released on May 1, 1989. The album follows the same concept as the band's 1972 album, Will the Circle Be Unbroken, which featured guest performances from many notable country music stars.
Dirt, Silver and Gold is a 1976 compilation album by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band that contains some of the band's greatest material to that point. It also includes 12 songs not previously available. It was originally released as a three LP album, and was released in 2003 as a two compact disc set by BGO Records.
Further Down the Old Plank Road is a 2003 album by The Chieftains. It is a collaboration between the Irish band and many top country music musicians including Rosanne Cash, Chet Atkins, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Ricky Skaggs, and Patty Loveless.
Plain Dirt Fashion is the fifteenth studio album by American country folk group Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, released in 1984 by the record label Warner Bros. Records. This album went to #8 on the US Country charts. The three singles from this album all charted in the top 3. "Long Hard Road " went to 1, "I Love Only You" went to 3, and "High Horse" went to 2. The album is noteworthy for covers of both Meat Loaf's 1978 hit "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad" and Bruce Springsteen's 1981 single "Cadillac Ranch".
Speed of Life is the 23rd studio album from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, released by NGDB Records on September 22, 2009. It reached number 59 on the U.S. Country charts.
Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Volume III is the 2002 album from The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. This album reached 18 on the US Country chart. Earlier albums in the series include Will the Circle Be Unbroken and Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume II.
The Rest of the Dream is the 1990 album from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
Workin' Band is the eighteenth studio album by American country folk group Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, released in 1988. The album peaked at No. 33 on the US country albums chart. "Workin' Man " and "I've Been Lookin'" were released as singles, each reaching the top ten of the Billboard country singles chart. This was their first album to feature Bernie Leadon, who replaced founding member John McEuen, because he left for a solo career.
Partners, Brothers and Friends is the sixteenth studio album by American country folk group Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. The album reached #9 on the US Country charts. The three singles from this album were top 10 on the US Country charts. "Modern Day Romance" went to #1, "Home Again in My Heart" went to 3, and "Partners, Brothers and Friends" went to 6.
Alive is the 1969 album from The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Liberty Records released this album after the original version of the band broke up and before the next version of the band re-signed with them. John McEuen would later recall that "we did [the album] at the Troubador and there were mountains of equipment on stage because Poco were on the same bill with us." Given McEuen's comment, the documented performance most likely occurred on either December 6 or 7, 1968. The band would break up within weeks of this show.
All the Good Times is the fifth studio album from The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, released in January 1972.
An American Dream is an album by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, released in 1979. The title track was written by Rodney Crowell. The band supported the album with a North American tour.
Let's Go is the fourteenth studio album by American country folk group Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. This album marks the return of Nitty Gritty to the band name and Jim Ibbotson to the band. This album reached 26 on the US Country charts. Two singles from this album also charted. "Shot Full of Love" reached 19 on the US Country charts. "Dance Little Jean" reached 9 on the US Country charts.
The Christmas Album is the 1997 album from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. This album reached 93 on the US Country charts.
The Unbroken Circle: The Musical Heritage of the Carter Family is a 2004 compilation album featuring various artists performing the work of country music pioneers The Carter Family.