Avalon Blues: A Tribute to the Music of Mississippi John Hurt

Various Artists - Blues | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 12, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Vanguard Records
• ASIN: B00005J9TC
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #53,684 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Frankie & Albert - Chirs Smither

2. Avalon, My Home Town - Bruce Cockburn

3. Angels Laid Him Away - Lucinda Williams

4. Here Am I, Oh Lord, Send Me - Alvin Youngblood Hart

5. Candy Man - Steve & Justin Earle

6. Monday Morning Blues - Peter Case & Dave Alvin

7. Sliding Delta - Ben Harper

8. Chicken - Geoff Muldaur (with Jenni & Claire Muldaur)

9. Make Me A Pallet On Your Floor - Mark Selby

10. Stagolee - Beck

11. Since I've Laid My Burden Down - Victoria Williams

12. Pay Day - Bill Morrissey

13. My Creole Belle - Taj Mahal

14. Beulah Land - Gillian Welch

15. I'm Satisfied - John Hiatt

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Gentle Side of the Blues, June 13, 2001

By 

Jerome Langguth (Erlanger, KY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Avalon Blues: A Tribute to the Music of Mississippi John Hurt (Audio CD)

I very much like the idea of this album. Musicians whose approach to music has been informed by the music and spirit of the great Mississipi John Hurt pay him tribute by interpreting his songs in their own style. After a couple of listenings, though, I have to say that I am a little dissapointed with the results. The problem is earnestness. Missisipi John Hurt was a sly, surprising , and funny performer. Part of his unique charm is his ability to take you off guard with a funny line, or guitar part. With a few exceptions (Victoria Williams,John Hiatt,Bill Morrissey), these covers come off as somewhat distant approximations of Hurt's brilliance. A better bet is Bill Morrissey's 1999 album "Songs of Mississipi John Hurt," or any of Hurt's own records.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Now here's someone worthy of a tribute, July 30, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Avalon Blues: A Tribute to the Music of Mississippi John Hurt (Audio CD)

This album ranks as my favorite of the first half of 2001 - Peter Case should get an award for just thinking of it, let alone putting it together. The performances are - not universally (see all comments about Victoria Williams) - fantastic; I always thought that the only guy who could fingerpick like this was Mississippi John Hurt himself, but evidently others have learned how. Bruce Cockburn, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Gillian Welch and Chris Smither all have stellar cuts. Geoff Muldaur shows us that John Hurt played more than just folk blues numbers (and his daughters sound eerily like their mother). Most importantly, this album will send a lot people to the source material - which is what every record collection should have, a Mississippi John Hurt album (start with the Vanguard releases, "Today" or the - double lp - live one recorded at Oberlin College).

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible bargain for under $3, May 16, 2004

By 

"gazman67" (Belgrave, Victoria Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Avalon Blues: A Tribute to the Music of Mississippi John Hurt (Audio CD)

As I write this, new copies of this wonderful album are available for less than $3 (through recommended Amazon sellers - check the 'new and used' link). That, my friends, is an exceptional bargain! I paid about $20 (including postage and handling) for this album around 18 months ago and considered it great value for money at the time, since every track (even the much maligned Victoria Williams cover of 'Since I Laid My Burden Down') is at least listenable, if not a veritable aural treat.

If you're a fan of the late Mississippi John Hurt (like myself), you'll find the contributions by Ben Harper and John Hiatt to be most reminiscent of his original recordings. Although these two modern artists come closest in replicating Hurt's distinctive finger-picking style, neither can match the deceptively subtle ease of his guitar playing. This is not to suggest that their versions are any less enjoyable, only that no one on this album can quite match the brilliance of Hurt.

From my perspective, only one track on this album - Gillian Welch's version of 'Beulah Land' - actually surpasses the original. Although the guitar playing is much more subdued on this track, the haunting echoes of Welch's vocals will send shivers down your spine. This track alone makes this $3 album a bargain, but it offers so much more than that. Even if you can't stand the Victoria William's track (it's not that bad, people), this great album is packed with 14 other songs which are hard to skip past. How many other albums for under $3 can you say that about?