Customer Reviews

Fire On The Strings

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Maphis is perhaps best known today as the guitar ace who mentored teenage rockabilly whiz Larry Collins in the 50s. And though Collins' guitar talent was (and remains) substantial, the incendiary flat-picking style (and the twin-neck electric Mosrite guitar) Collins employed was not only originated by Maphis, but never got better. Augmented with seven bonus tracks (including four blazing duets with Collins) and newly penned liner notes from Rich Kienzle, this reissue of Maphis' 1957 Columbia debut is a fitting memorial to one of the guitar's unsung revolutionaries. (Bear Family's "Flying Fingers" compilation offers five additional tracks - and a shuffled track order - at a premium price.)

Across 19 instrumentals, Maphis fingers fly in lightning quick runs. His renditions of classic fiddle tunes, such as "Fire on the Mountain" and "Bully of the Town," pushed flatpicking to its limits, and set the stage for both country and rock (especially surf) pickers to follow. He recast Earl Scruggs' banjo instrumental "Randy Lynn Rag" for the guitar, and then turned to flatpicking a banjo for his own "Floggin' the Banjo." Elsewhere he shows off his mastery of the mandolin.

Perhaps most exhilarating of all are four tracks from the 1957 EP "Swinging Strings." Teacher Maphis and student Larry Collins play with an interlocked precision that is breathtaking. As one vamps, the other races up and down the frets, only to be met at the end by the ripping leads of the other. When they finally slow to a lope, the interplay is nearly telepathic. Also featured on a few tracks are Maphis' wife Rose Lee, and Johnny Bond.

Maphis' television work (most notably on the Los Angeles-based "Town Hall") led to work as a studio ace (including hit sessions with Ricky Nelson and early rockabilly sides with Wanda Jackson), but for sheer guitar pyrotechnics, his debut shows that he left the gate galloping at full speed.

Joe Maphis was a great player on virtually any stringed instrument. Not many guitar players I know of can keep up with him. This guy was a whiz. The CD "Country Guitar Thunder" with Merle Travis is another must-have.

Joe Maphis had undeniable talent and technique as a flat picking guitar monster. Unfortunately, his records are unlistenable. Why? He rushed the beat so much. It's uncomfortable to hear. Drummers must have hated playing with him. But as another reviewer said, it must have worked better live. Listen to Jimmy Bryant or George Barnes "Country Jazz" to hear better version of this sort of guitar playing.

Some of the hottest country guitar, banjo and violin on cd! Very catchy tunes that want to get you playing with Joe himself!