Track Listing

1. Where the Old Red River Flows
2. Ruff and Ready
3. Blame It On Joann
4. The Vamp from Back in the Goodle Days
5. Emanuel Cant
6. Bad Music (Is Better Than No Music At All)
7. Dig A Hole
8. Presbyterian Guitar
9. Strange Old Man
10. Lady Jane
11. Oasis
12. Because of You
13. Morning Bugle
14. John Henry
15. Doin' My Time
16. Keep On Truckin'
17. Don't Ever Take Your Eyes Off the Game, Babe
18. Howard Hughes Blues

Product Details

• Released on: 2002-02-05
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .23 pounds

From Amazon.co.uk
Following years of ups and downs at RCA, John Hartford moved to Warner Brothers in 1971. Working with fiddler Vassar Clements, guitarist Norman Blake and dobroist Tut Taylor, he found his creative muse on the landmark progressive bluegrass album Aereo-Plain, issued in 1972. Hartford's quirky humour was the focus, but his deep love for traditional music served as a framework. This entrancing, occasionally off-centre collection assembles selected demos, alternate takes and unreleased material (including Taylor and Blake instrumentals) from those sessions. While he credibly tackled oldies like "Where the Old Red River Flows" and Jimmie Skinner's "Doin' My Time", Hartford's originals made the difference. "Don't Ever Take Your Eyes Off the Game, Babe", "Howard Hughes Blues" and "Strange Old Man" were good enough for release at the time. His fearlessness even extended to such obvious duds as the inane pun-ditty "Emanuel Cant" and ponderous "Blame It on Joann". Hearing a take of "Boogie", his famous guttural chant from Aereo-Plain, dissolve into coughing and laughter can't help but bring a smile. --Rich Kienzle