Customer Reviews

Far Away Down on a Georgia Farm

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is another fine album by Norman, complete with more of his increasingly impressive original body of work ("Whiskey Deaf and Whiskey Blind", for one) and fine takes on old standards ("Give Me Back my 15 Cents"). Pure, simple, and truly beautiful music. Norman is as artist of the highest caliber, and this music reflects his loving preoccupation with old-time tones and archaic poetry. A must-have for Norman fans.

Norman Blake couldn't make a bad recording if he tried. His fans have come to expect paramount taste and distinctive stylings, and that's what he supplies. This recoding sounds like it could have been made on the same day as "Chatanooga Baby," although perhaps a bit more reflective. Typical of his work for the past fifteen years, he's not out to show off how fast and flashy he can be (which, of course, he can), but this guitarist's guitarist knows how to get the most from his instrument.

In recent reviews of "Brother, Where Art Thou?" and "Songcatcher" in this space I mentioned some of the high points of the mountain music revival of the early part of the 2000's (weird to write that, right?) I noted the name Norman Blake as a premier example of the modern continuation of that tradition. If Hazel Dickens (and Alice Gerrard) represented a strong female voice for the revival of this music then Norman Blake represents the male counterpart.

I also noted in a documentary, "Down The Tracks: The Music That Influenced Bob Dylan", tracing the roots that influenced his development that one commentator noted that when various ballads (mainly listed in the "Child Ballad" inventory) came over from the old country (England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland) and landed in the Appalachian Mountains they never got out and remained (with many local variations) essentially unchanged for generations. And the musical instruments didn't change much either-fiddle, guitar and, occasionally a mandolin. But, come Saturday night the competition was fierce to be "king (or, less often, queen) of the hill". Those points remain true today and it is this tradition that Norman Blake can call his own.

His virtuoso guitar playing has always attracted me since I first heard him long along a local radio program called "Hillbilly At Harvard" (Weird, right? But it had great stuff on it.). He continues that here with some nice instrumentals and a few vocals. The Georgia (and hence the title of my headline) centers on Georgia and the need to either get out or to find his way back to it. An eternal dilemma. Tops here are "Down On The Georgia Farm" and a very funny take on marriage "Give Me Back My Fifteen Cents".

I bought this CD after sampling it at a Borders listening station. Up until then, I had never even heard of Norman Blake. I am surprised he is not better known, because he is so good. Nothing flashy, just great guitar music. I especially like the lively opening track. I will definitely buy more works by this artist

Discovered Norman and Nancy over twenty-five years ago. Have only seen him three times over the years. He was warming up backstage and a few people were there. He played as though he was just playing for them. I knew he had gotten John Harford to flat-foot on some of John's tracks, so I danced as he played, and he loved it! What a great guy! Saw him just a few years later and he seemed to remember me. Needless to say I was impressed. Wish he toured more. I am slowly replacing my music of Norman and Nancy with CD's. Thanks to all for the reviews as I never owned this one. Norman is the guitarist even the best guitarists stive to be. Norman once told me that he would notice his guitar not being with him before he would notice his pants were not on.

Being a Norman Blake fan for the last 20 years, i finally got around to getting this CD. I wasn't disappointed. I've only listened to it about ten times so far, but it is a great addition to my collection. This CD features Norman at his most humble moments; beautiful instrumental fingerstyle pieces, heartfelt ballads, and of course some flatpicked masterpieces. What Norman's voice lacks in tone and vibrato, it more than makes up for in emotional delivery and honesty. Mr. Blake's music has a timeless quality that i love.