ANITA CARTER - Songbird

By the time the Carter Sisters took over the Carter Family name following the 1960 death of A.P. Carter, Mother Maybelle's youngest daughter had already taken her first steps as a solo artist 10 years earlier. Always reluctant to flee the nest, Anita didn't pursue a career outside of her family with the enthusiasm that her talent would have allowed her. This collection shows her moving from strength to strength in a stellar set of songs drawn mostly from the late '60s that makes this the best release by a long shot on the already-great country rarities label Omni. The bass-playing singer possessed a pure and soaring voice of remarkable beauty that made her a favourite duet partner of Hank Snow, Waylon Jennings (their classic "I Got You" is included), and Johnny Cash (she co-wrote "Ring Of Fire" with sister June, incidentally). Comparisons to Lynn Anderson are justified, although her pedigree gives her country pop a deeper authenticity. Throw in a few key Carter Family songs, and this is an unbeatable collection that will hopefully correct her underrated status in country music.