I can't believe that music this pretty was written by an American, it seems like something that some great eastern mystic would come up with. I love John Fahey, although he out does himself on this record, the perfect record for cold later winter / early spring nights. Its really beautiful.
This just might be Fahey’s friendliest album. In fact it’s pretty much a joy from beginning to end. From the dreamy “On the Sunny Side of the Ocean” to the ebullient “Brenda’s Blues,” the tunes are wide-open and inviting. Even “The Death of Clayton Peacock”—-the spookiest track here—-is more of a Halloween prank than a real memento mori. It may not have the mind-bending, soul-chilling depth Fahey’s known for, but it’s still one of the prettiest records around.
I have the 1980 Tacoma release of this album and have loved it since I bought it when it was a new release. This record was one of the test albums I took with me to audition speakers in 1981 when I bought my Klipschorns. If you like acoustic guitar playing that is original and dynamic download this record.
You can't say Revenant Records doesn't do right by its artists. Consider Exhibit A, the label's spectacular Grammy-winning box set, Screamin 'and Hollerin 'the Blues - The Worlds Of Charley Patton. There's a copy sitting on the corner of my desk right now - taking up more space than the Compact Oxford English Dictionary, I might add. The box's binder, the kind that used to hold the 78 rpm records that made up an "album,"… more »
"Yes, I'm gonna get me religion, I'm gonna join the Baptist Church/ You know I wanna be a Baptist preacher, just so I won't have to work" — Son House, "Preachin 'the Blues" Blues singers recorded dozens of superb gospel sides during the commercial recording heyday of the '20s and '30s, and later during the folk and blues revival of the late '50s and early '60s. Many blues singers had gospel songs in their repertoire, but… more »
Every year it's the same problem. I am in love with love gospel music, and also am in strong "like" with Christmas music. So you'd think I'd have a ton of records, or at least a bunch of songs, to write about this time of year, right? The problem is, the best Christmas songs tend to be the knockoff novelty numbers. The way our culture celebrates the holidays is all about commerce and kitsch, so… more »
