JOHN HARTFORD – Mark Twang – (Flying Fish) – 1976

what Frank is listening to #206 – JOHN HARTFORD – Mark Twang – (Flying Fish) – 1976

Those regular readers will know one of my joys is a new John Hartford album. And, I have quite a few that are awaiting discovery.

For background on Hartford see What Frank is Listening to #93 and #154.

There I called Hartford "Progressive" or "Weird" country. He is still that, but as I said then he is also much more.

I said:

He has also been referred to as literary folk music and "MOR romantic nostalgia told from the perspective of a homeless man remembering days of perfect love"…. I like that …. He has also been called Americana/Appalachian Folk/Country-Rock/Old-Timey/Progressive Bluegrass/Progressive Country/Progressive Folk/String Bands/Traditional Country … take you pick …but I like all those also.

I also said in relation to his "Aereo Plain" album in "What Frank is Listening to #154" : This album is his old timey album with bluegrass and Appalachian sounds thrown in. Hartford however is no mere traditionalist as themes are updated to suit the modern world. Its as if the music of times past was never marginalized but remained the dominant mainstream music and current concerns were incorporated into the sound, just like in rock music.

Hartford's style is both simple and perceptive, mainstream and left of centre, populist and eccentric. His songs sing of simple joys and at times it seems that even with his regrets he doesn't have many harsh words to say and seems to accept everyone with all their quirks. That's not to say he isn't critical – he can be – but it never comes from a mean spirited place.

Mixed in with his observations and wit there is also quite a bit of some seemingly wide eyed sentimentalism, acute romanticism and lots of humour.

These songs will never be heard on radio – not commercial radio anyway – unless commercial radio is hijacked by crazed hillbilly obscurists – not such a bad idea. This album though is pure Hartford and he plays all the instruments: the banjo, the fiddle and the percussion which is his feet tapping on particle board. There are some sound imperfections wisely left in and giving the record a "in your living room" or "on your veranda" feel.

The simplicity of the song structure and the (lack of) arrangements allows the listener to be drawn into the lyric and more importantly the mood of the album. But it's not "easy listening" – it is easy on the ears but Hartford is not content with playing it straight. Even the "straight songs" are a bit out there. Ultimately, this is a quirky and confronting album, especially for bluegrass fans.

If I could surmise the album in a few words I would call it experimental avant-garde bluegrass.

All the songs apart from the Monroe song are written by Hartford or as he says in the liner notes: "I made up every one of these songs ( as much as you can "make up" anything) …."

Tracks (best in italics)

Skippin' in the Mississippi Dew – a beautiful homage to the Mississippi. A toe tapper and a joy to listen to.
Long Hot Summer Days – Glorious and evocative.

            Last night we had pork for supper
            Today It'll be chicken consume`
            And a fruit jar full of iced tea
            On a long hot summer day
            For every day I work on the Illinois river
            Get a half a day off with pay
            All day long I'm makin' up barges
            On a long hot summer day

Let Him Go on, Mama – a well observed homage to a Mississippi river man.
Don't Leave Your Records in the Sun – a song about phonograph records! This is Ray Davies at his most theatrical and like Ray's concept album period it's not accessible. But it is witty and fun.
Tater Tate and Allen Mundy – a truly weird song where Hartford tries to name every bluegrass act in this song.
The Julia Belle Swain – a song about a riverboat (and a whole lot of other things)
Little Cabin Home on the Hill – the legendary bluegrass song by Bill Monroe and covered by everyone (especially Flatt & Scruggs, The Coal Porters, and Elvis Presley) . Perhaps because of it's legendary status Hartford sings it as a novelty song like a stoned baritone Elmer Fudd.
Austin Minor Sympathy – majestically melancholy. An instrumental tour de force. If Davy Crockett went to Europe, hung out and smoked opium with Beethoven I think something like this would have been created.
The Lowest Pair – a revamp of "Our Father" done as a stoned nonsense ditty. It even starts with a draw back on a … cigarette?

            Give us today hors d'œuvre's in bed
            As we forgive those who have dressed up against us
            And need us not enter inflation
            But our liver, onions, and potatoes.

Tryin' to Do Something to Get Your Attention – a great song about love and writing songs

            Maybe I should give you some of the royalties to this song,
            'cause you sure did inspire me to write it.
            Maybe I should put your name in the lyrics somewhere
            'cause you sure did cause me to write it.

            You know as much of a lift as love songs are,
            they sure are hard to write.
            Just trying to do something. . .
            to get your attention.

            Maybe I should put your picture on the front of this song
            'cause you sure did cause me to write it.
            I'd tell em' how I met you in the coda of the song
            'cause you sure did cause me to write it.

            You know as much of a lift as love songs are,
            they sure are hard to write.
            Just trying to do something. . .
            (stand here, and pull up my overcoat like this)
            to get your attention.

            I tried real hard to make this song not sound like some other song I've written before.
            If I did it's because my style and style is based on limitations.
            I tried real hard not to make this song sound like some other song some other singer-songwriter might

have written before.
And if I did, that's 'cause it's music, and music is based on repetition.

            Now, maybe if you learn the words to this, your very own song
            The song you caused to be written.
            Maybe you'll sing it for somebody else that you love because you sure did cause it to be written.

            You know as much of a lift as love songs are,
            they sure are hard to write.
            Just trying to do something. . .
            to get your attention.

And…

I'm keeping this.

Chart Action

US
Singles
Album

England
Singles

Album

Sounds

Skippin' in the Mississippi Dew

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50RbjjGWNHg

live

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onWArx6Ui1A&feature=related

Long Hot Summer Days