Church in the Wildwood (Dualtone, 2005)

June Carter Cash tapped heavily into her grandfather A.P. Carter�s vast song catalog for the final recorded sessions (circa 1998-2003) captured by Dualtone. The result is an affecting gasp of true warts �n� all old time country music with a back porch feel.

There are notable song duplications on the �Best of� and �Church in the Wildwood� sets, which were released at the same time (�Keep on the Sunny Side,� ��Hold Fast to the Right� and �Will the Circle Be Unbroken�). Yet the aforementioned selections play best in the context of simple Carter Family gospel. Such staples as �Church in the Wildwood/Lonesome Valley� and �Diamonds in the Rough� are gentle, atmospheric reminders of backwoods faith. The wisecracking �Meeting in the Air� still rings with tent revival fervor. Mother Maybelle Carter�s classic tear-jerker �Kneeling Drunkard�s Plea,� is a vivid example of gushing mother love that was once vital to country music.

Johnny Cash�s distinctive background baritone can be heard on both discs but is especially effective on the gospel chorus of �The Far Side Banks of Jordan� and �Hold Fast to the Right.� Janette Carter, Joe Carter, and Dale Jett combine with June for a solid example of rustic family harmony on the vibrant spiritual �Anchored in Love.� Carter Cash herself takes an impressive turn with her own paean of sacred searching, �Wings of Angels.�