Joe Mullins has come up with a clever idea to help introduce his latest album with The Radio Ramblers, Sacred Memories, due from Rebel Records on April 15.
When recording this new project, Joe arranged for cameras to capture the proceedings when The Isaacs were on hand to lay down vocals for a retro, a capella version of the classic, Will The Circle Be Unbroken. But not just another cover of the old standby. Mullins wanted to sing the song in the manner that it had existed before it was “collected” by A.P. Carter in the early days of country music.
And Joe has a story about how he found it, as you knew he would.
“I was working at a Cincinnati, Ohio gospel radio station in 1990, doing a bluegrass gospel hour daily. The program director introduced me to the Spencers, an Ohio family group with Kentucky roots. They had recorded an a cappella album in the 80’s with Will the Circle Be Unbroken and I loved it! This was the old, original lyrics and melody, not the popular Carter Family version. AP Carter’s song from 1935 was actually titled Can the Circle Be Unbroken and featured totally different verses and a slightly different chorus.
I have a collection of hymnals and found the original lyrics from 1907. It really needed a quartet with two male voices and two female voices. The Isaacs have been lifetime friends, beginning their music ministry in Ohio in the same county where I grew up. We have always loved singing and performing together and this old time tune was perfect. I love them dearly and I certainly hope we can sing together as often as possible.”
So armed with the finished recording and video from the sessions, Joe thought up a nimble plan to encourage people to spread the video around online. From now through Fathers Day, they are running a Share The Link, Share The Love Campaign on YouTube. For every share the video receives, Mullins will make a donation to World Vision to help relieve child poverty around the world.
Just visit the YouTube page and use the Share function to post the video on your Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter pages, or to Reddit, Tumbler or several other popular platforms. After Father’s Day, Joe will tally up the shares and announce a donation amount to World Vision.
You can share some great music with your friends, knowing that you’re also helping send needed assistance to children living in the sort of poverty we never encounter in our world.
Share the Link, Share the Love.
Preorders for Sacred Memories are enabled online.
