Is John Hartford an acquired taste?
Maybe.
Though a lot of that "maybe" depends on where you start in his repertoire and what you know of music generally before hand.
For background on Hartford see What Frank is Listening to #93.
There, I called Hartford "Progressive" or "Weird" country. He is still that, but as I said then he is also much more.
I said back then, "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".
This album is his old timey album with bluegrass and Appalachian sounds thrown in. Hartford, however, is no mere traditionalist as themes are regularly updated to suit the modern world. It's as if the music of times past was never marginalised but remained the dominant mainstream music and current concerns were incorporated into the sound, just like in rock music.
Floating in the background is Hartford's personality which is definitely and defiantly left of centre. Take a look at him on the cover if you need any further proof.
Hartford's musicianship and smarts makes the music work for both lovers of "old timey" and "weird country" music. This is music that Hartford clearly loves and is smart enough to treat with some disrespect as only a person who is truly familiar with something can. It is not surprising that Hartford compiled and performed on some of the songs for the Coen Brothers "O Brother Where Art Thou" (James are you reading) soundtrack as well as playing in the spin-off "old timey" concert "Down From The Mountain". He also added music and narration to Ken Burns’ landmark "Civil War" series.
He is assisted by Nashville legends Norman Blake (guitar), Tut Taylor, (dobro), Vassar Clements (violin),Randy Scruggs (bass) and produced by the great solo and sessionman David Bromberg.
If you know where Hartford is coming from this is pretty much a near perfect album.
If you don't know then the loss is yours. You will have to wait until Bruce Springsteen, Ryan Adams, Nick Cave, Coldplay, Sonic Youth or Radiohead discover this music and make it hip again. So, put those nose rings in and get comfortable …
Tracks (best in italics)
- Turn Your Radio On – that old time religion … and if you aint a believer you may well be at the end. Either that or you will burn in hell. To me, it's so matter of fact, as if Hartford was sitting and plucking on my front porch, if I had one. Though I'm sure he would like my pergola.
- Steamboat Whistle Blues – Hartford here has written a authentic old time folk song (an ode to steamboats) with current themes (comsumerism and the disposable society – very Kinksian). The steamboat is a reoccurring theme in his music (he was even a steamboat captain for a while).
Well the city's growing up where it looks all square
Like a crossword puzzle on a landscape
It looks like an electric shaver now
where the court house used to be
The grass is all synthetic and we don't know for sure about the food
The only thing we know for sure is the,
Steamboat whistle Blues
I'd sit and watch my TV if I thought I could trust the news
About the only thing I trust these days
Is them steamboat whistle blues
- Back in the Goodle Days – the "goodle" is not a misprint – this song is a jokey ode to the good old days narrated from the future … think about it.
- Up on the Hill Where They Do the Boogie – lots of double meaning and sufficiently obscure to make Bob Dylan happy this song, on face value, is a gentle bouncy romp that will make you tap your foot and if you care to listen there is a message.
- Boogie – a hoot but totally insane … this could rival Blind Melon Chitlin but is Hartford joking? I suspect he is taking the piss out of all the sexually suggestive songs by blues based rock bands of the time … but who knows.
- First Girl I Loved – beautiful ode to lost love (and a reflection on future loves) and played really well. Apparently the first love referred to was Hartford's cousin hence the lyric in the second verse.
But the laws of nature said, ‘forget it, son’
‘least that’s what somebody told me
I worried about it a little bit, but that’s all
There is a genuine regret but not necessarily sadness in Hartford's voice as he reflects on future
loves and past loves. Wonderful.
I regret my life won’t be long enough
To make love to all the women that I’d like to
Or least of all, to live with the ones I’ve loved
And I’ve never regretted a love affair,
except one and that’s all over
I worried about it a little bit, but that’s all
- Presbyterian Guitar – an instrumental and quite beautiful … but Presbyterian?
- With a Vamp in the Middle – I have no idea what a "wiggle in the middle" is, but this is a joyful bounce.
- Symphony Hall Rag – a beautiful bouncy banjo instrumental.
- Because of You – short and to the point "Because of you I close my eyes each time I yodel"
- Steam Powered Aereo Plane – very evocative with Hartford straining his upper register – more like a glorified jam this still works on evoking a mood …
Sittin' in a 747 just watching them clouds roll by,
Can't tell if it's sunshine or if it's rain.
Rather be sittin' in a deck chair high above Kansas City,
On a genuine old fashioned steam powered aero plane.
- Holding – a drug song on an old timey bluegrass album!
- Tear Down the Grand Ole Opry – an excellent song about the Opry and it's prospective demolition which is also a statement on the then contemporary country music establishment and a affirmation of country music past.
- Leather Britches – another old timey instrumental.
- Station Break – dialogue.
- Turn Your Radio On – a reprise of the opening and a fitting way to close.
And …
A definite keeper.
Sounds
Turn Your Radio On
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjhZGG_U9Hk
Steamboat Whistle Blues
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp1VlWpNDt0
and attached
Back in the Goodle Days
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hfmr-Zn_nRI
Up on the Hill Where They Do the Boogie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aXZmbbPLaM
Boogie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9GgvHDVq_I
live ! – how the hell do you do this song live?
Here's the answer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uZ4_5dgfs0
First Girl I Loved
attached
Presbyterian Guitar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3p6kCLedJ9A
Steam Powered Aereo Plane
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdgLtzWJhbU&feature=related
Holding
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUQXVnfRCNE&feature=related
Others:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chTOWT78etY&feature=related
hello
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd5okmSRCa8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43TtbOEaABE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCVQ3w3sKxA
Review
A succinct an great review of this album is found on amazon.com (I usually link other reviews but this is is short and spot on):
John Hartford didn't just bite the hand that fed him; he made it a full-course meal. After Glen Campbell rode Hartford's "Gentle on My Mind" to the top of the charts, Hartford was secure enough to stick his tongue out at the Nashville establishment. His songs offer an almost unparalleled blend of sardonicism and sincerity, a silliness tempered by a respect for musical tradition and beautiful melody. And despite his irreverence, he attracted the best pickers in the business. Norman Blake, Tut Taylor, Vassar Clements, and Randy Scruggs accompany him on this 1971 "newgrass" gem, a spontaneous album that was recorded live in the studio without any arrangements whatsoever. Delicious instrumentals stand by novelties about sex ("Boogie") and drugs ("Holding"), and semiserious diatribes ("Tear Down the Grand Ole Opry") live next to old-time gospel harmonies ("Turn Your Radio On"). Somehow, Aereo-Plain manages to be deeply cynical and emotionally uplifting at the same time.
Bio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hartford
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gifrxql5ldse~T1
producer:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bromberg
Website
http://www.johnhartford.com/biography.cfm
(originally posted: 25/04/2010)
