Appalachian Angel: Her Recordings 1950 - 1975 & 1996 [Box set, Import]

I was familiar with Anita Carter for years as part of the Carter Sisters group which use to tour with the Jonnny Cash Show but it wasnt until Bear Family released the single cd a few years ago that i had heard her solo recordings and the cd just blew me away! I was so glad when they released this box set of Anita's complete recordings. I just cant say enough about this woman's voice, she is without a doubt the greatest Female vocalist of all time, even though she never got the recognition or radio air play she deserved, all her fans know that what i say is true. She really was the best of the girl singers in country music and any other kind of music as well. I hope later on Bear Family releases a dvd of her live performances like the ones they have done of artist that were on Town Hall Party. I'm sure there are performances from the johnny cash concerts and the opry out there that were filmed years ago that could be put onto a dvd. Lets cross our fingers that a dvd is released.

This 7 CD Set with an oversized fully illustrated hard cover 80 page book is well worth the high price. There is quite a variety of music styles here. You can hear how Anita matured as a singer as the years went by. Anita sang what she liked to sing, not what some handlers thought would be most commercial. What a shame so many have never heard her recordings. I'm thankful this was released as her singing is wonderful. Her last recorded song in 1996 which she also wrote is "God Is" It's a wonderful song that expresses love for a loving God, and no doubt is the way she lived her life too. The CD's come in a big box. The book is a gem too. Wonderful pictures that tell the story of her professional + personal life. Also much information including the thoughts of many of the people closest to Anita. If you haven't got my drift yet, I highly recommend this.

Like the booklet says "Anita Carter never got the fame she deserved." This isn't just talk. This is the definite truth. My guess for why she didn't achieve the fame is because she wasn't urban enough for the folk scene. Anita not only matched her contemporaries, I'm sure she would have send most of them running.
Bear Family has done a service putting these recordings together. The box comes with a hard bound book, full of pictures, a few of which come from her Carter Family days. One thing comes through she was one beauty and as the booklet describes a modest person.
There are seven discs here. The first and second deal with her early years and include her Hank Snow duets. Her voice is maturing here but it's pretty cute. I especially enjoy the numbers Don Juan and Blue Doll. The other discs show off the country and folk side she would truly excel at. Generally the best of these show up on the Ring of Fire compilation. Anita's 70's recordings sound a bit different than these but they are still brilliant. Her Waylon Jennings duets are here as well as her last 1996 recordings.
The seventh disc is of her 'Nita Rita and Ruby period. Apparently these were done by Ruby Wright (Kitty Wells' daughter), Rita Robbins, and Anita just for fun. But it comes through pretty well, something reminiscent of the 50's Chordettes sound.