Will the Circle Be Unbroken?
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band made the original Will The Circle Be Unbroken collaborative album in 1972. The album included an all-star performance of the song "Will The Circle Be Unbroken." This you already have listed.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band made another such album in 1989, called Will The Circle Be Unbroken Volume 2. This edition also included a cast of dozens performing the song "Will The Circle Be Unbroken." This one you also already have listed.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band went back to the well in 2002 and made Will The Circle Be Unbroken Volume 3. Once again, the album featured a recording of the song "Will The Circle Be Unbroken." This one I did not see listed.
I see enormous potential for confusion between the three versions. Thus I humbly submit this transcription of the credits from the liner notes of Circle 2 (as it is known), the 1989 album. (I couldn't get hold of Circle 1 or 3 today.)
[track #] 19. WILL THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN
(A. P. Carter / Additional lyrics last verse: Jimmy Ibbotson)
Lead vocal (1st verse): Johnny Cash
Lead vocal (2nd verse): Roy Acuff
Lead vocal (3rd verse): Ricky Skaggs
Lead vocal (4th verse): Levon Helm w/Emmylou Harris
Lead vocal (5th verse): Jimmy Ibbotson, Jeff Hanna, & Bob Carpenter
Harmony vocals (1st chorus): The Carter Family (June, Helen, & Anita)
Guitar: Jeff Hanna
Piano: Bob Carpenter
Drums: Jimmie Fadden
Banjo: Earl Scruggs
Lead Guitar: Randy Scruggs
Fiddle: Mark O'Connor
Dobro: Jerry Douglas
Upright Bass: Roy Huskey, Jr.
Background vocals: Roy Acuff, Cynthia Biederman, Sam Bush, Paulette Carlson, Bob Carpenter, Gretchen Carpenter, June Carter Cash, Johnny Cash, Cindy Cash, John Cowan, Steve Dahl, John Denver, Jimmie Fadden, Bela Fleck, Pat Flynn, Radney Foster, Vince Gill, Jeff Hanna, Melody Hanna, John Hiatt, Chris Hillman, Bruce Hornsby, Jimmy Ibbotson, Helen Carter Jones, David Jones, Pete "Oswald" Kirby, Bill Lloyd, Jimmy Martin, Michael Martin Murphey, Roger McGuinn, Tracy Nelson, Robert Oermann, Brad Parker, Don Schlitz, Earl Scruggs, Randy Scruggs, Steve Scruggs, Lynn Shults, Marty Stuart, Wendy Waldman, Steve Wariner, Buck White, Cheryl White, Sharon White, Bobbie White
