Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Carlene Carter & Paul Carrack: Oh How Happy

Today’s selection is not really a traditional song or arrangement, but one of the vocalists, Carlene Carter, has traditional roots that extend three generations. Her grandmother, Mother Maybelle Carter, was one of the original Carter Family members that included her brother-in-law A.P. Carter and his wife Sara Carter. Sara and Maybelle were also first cousins. In the 50s and 60s, Maybelle and her daughters toured as Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters. One the daughters, June Carter Cash, was Carlene’s mother.



Today’s song originally appeared on Carlene’s 1981 “Blue Nun” album and featured, as it does in this live recording, the vocals and keys of Paul Carrack. “Oh How Happy” was hit for the Shades of Blue in 1966. The song was penned by Edwin Starr. Starr would have a #1 record in 1970 with “War.”

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