While the original Carter trio of A.P., Sara, and Mother Maybelle recorded together for the last time in 1941, two versions of the venerable country originals reformed in the ensuing years--Maybelle with her daughters and ex-spouses A.P. and Sara with their children Joe and Janette. This two-disc set from old-time stalwart label JSP features the latter line-up. Collecting 58 songs from two sessions recorded in 1952 and 1956 for Clifford Spurlock's Acme label, THE ACME SESSIONS finds Joe and Janette filling in for Maybelle admirably and recapturing much of the rustic canter that makes their original recordings so enduring. Remastered from the original tapes, the recording quality lacks clarity at times, but the harmonic thrum of Sara's droll melodies and A.P.'s characterful bass still penetrate. The quartet stays mostly to the many standards of the Carter catalog such as "Wildwood Flower" and "Keep On the Sunny Side" but offer some new songs as well such as "Railroading On the Great Divide."
