Elementary Doctor Watson/Then & Now

Doc Watson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 25, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Collectables
• ASIN: B00000093I
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #360,442 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Going Down The Road Feeling Bad - Doc Watson

2. The Last Thing On My Mind - Doc Watson

3. Freight Train Boogie - Doc Watson

4. More Pretty Girls Than One - Doc Watson

5. I Couldn't Believe It Was True - Doc Watson

6. Summertime - Doc Watson

7. Worried Blues - Doc Watson

8. Interstate Rag - Doc Watson

9. Three Times Seven - Doc Watson

10. Treasures Untold - Doc Watson

11. Bonaparte's Retreat - Doc And Merle Watson

12. Milkcow Blues - Doc And Merle Watson

13. Bottle Of Wine - Doc And Merle Watson

14. Match Box Blues - Doc And Merle Watson

15. If I Needed You - Doc And Merle Watson

16. Frankie & Johnny - Doc And Merle Watson

17. That's All - Doc And Merle Watson

18. Corrina, Corrina - Doc And Merle Watson

19. Meet Me Somewhere In Your Dreams - Doc And Merle Watson

20. Old Camp Meetin' Time - Doc And Merle Watson

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best of the Best., June 10, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Fayetteville, Arkansas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Elementary Doctor Watson/Then & Now (Audio CD)

I first listened to Doc and Merle Watson 25 years ago in college. I lost my old albums and cassettes and lost Doc Watson as well. I was surfing through Amazon.com and ran across Doc and Merle. I ordered this CD and it immediately sent me back 25 years. The CD is a two album set. The first album Elementary Doc Watson. That was the album that took me back. It is literally fantastic and cannot be surpassed. I was ready to turn off the CD player when to my surprise, the second "album" started. It is just as good as "Elementary". The CD concludes with 3 fantastic songs. "If I Needed You". This song will remind you of whatever sweetheart you hold dear. I was working on a building project and literally replayed that song 20 times over and over again. The next song to look for is "Meet Me Somewhere in Your Dreams." It is similar to "If I Needed You" and again, you'll be thinking of your sweetheart. The last song is "Old Camp Meet Time." This is an old revival song and you'll be clapping your hands and repeating the chorus after one time through. Buy it! You can't lose.

5.0 out of 5 stars By Far, The Very Best of Doc and Merle Playing Together, September 20, 2010

By 

Victor W. Chapman "A Fine Madness" (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Elementary Doctor Watson/Then & Now (Audio CD)

The title of this review is a little silly, since any Doc and Merle album is by definition a must-have, and any Doc Watson album is, also by definition, brilliant.

However, if I had to choose, this album, or rather pair of albums, wins First Prize by a wide margin.

The two (originally vinyl) albums represent the total output of Doc's and Merle's short-lived private label, Poppy. These two geniuses, both at the peak of their powers, certainly put their heart and soul into these songs.

"Elementary, Dr. Watson," especially, is a triumph. The songs on it are not merely among the best that Doc and Merle have ever done. They are also, each and every song, the best version done by ANYONE, ever.

This is an enormous claim to make, particularly for songs such as "Summertime" and "More Pretty Girls Than One," and "I'm Three Times Seven," and "The Last Thing On My Mind" that nearly everybody and his or her uncle and aunt has done at some time or another.

Yet I make this claim with confidence. These songs shine with a power that just will not be denied. You may like other versions, but I know that the versions included in this album will at least match your favorites and may even surpass them.

"Then and Now" is almost as good, if one allows for one glaring fault: on some tracks, a highly unimaginative and THUNKing electric bass is turned up too high in the mix. This can distract from the fabulous playing of Watsons Pere et Fils. The fault is easily fixed: just turn down the bass and dial up the treble, and the bothersome bassist disappears and enjoyment begins. There are a number of nuggets here: "Bottle of Wine," "That's All" and "Match Box Blues," among others.

Please realize that these words come from a reviewer who consciously tries not to overpraise an album, for fear that a person buying it on my recommendation might be disappointed that it does not match my extravagant encomia.

I can only say that I have no such fears here, especially with the "Elementary" songs.

Buy it.

The CD is that great, really.

Get it, and enjoy.