Customer Reviews

Gum Tree Canoe

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After a four year recording hiatus, our hero returns with yet another wonderfully soulful, gentle album, with material ranging from rock covers to super-sentimental oldies such as "Lorena", a sentimental tearjerker that dates back to the Civil War. Every tune is effective and stirring in Hartford's hands -- he has a way of sitting back and letting the melody pass by him, then sort of calling out and saying "hey" with the lyrics, it's such a minutely flawed delivery that you believe in the humanity of the singer every single time... Even on rock covers such as the Stones' "No Expectations" or the Janis Joplin oldie, "Take A Piece Of My Heart," his read is so original that he completely avoids the usual "novelty cover" pigeonhole that other newgrassers fall into... Nice record, highly recommended.

John Hartford's recent death was a great loss to American music. Seldom has there been a singer/songwriter who has remained truer to his roots and more focused on his musical mission - in John's case to sing and write the very finest bluegrass music that he could. This is one of his best records. At first listen to "Piece of My Heart," a song burned in everyone's psyche in Janis Joplin's searing version, you might think, Whoa, what's this guy trying to do? But after hearing John's version a few times, you begin to realize that the quieter pain expressed in his take of the song is no less valid than Janis's cosmic heartbreak. Highlights include "Piece," "I'm Still Here," "No Expectations," and the title tune. If you like the best in bluegrass music, you can't go wrong with this CD, which includes two fine bonus tracks.

In the annals of American folk music, now undergoing a solid revival, John Hartford will surely rank among the best as both a performer and writer. It is too bad he is no longer with us but he has left a legacy of great value. This CD shows several sides of him from traditional folk/bluegrass to the playful. If you are a folk music fan I'd get this one.

Rounder releases an album that gives out with "Ultimate Bluegrass" from the best of the best John Hartford...with a strong line-up backing our hero.

Let's take a look at this talented group of musicians ~ Jack Clement(guitar/dobro/ukulele)...Mark Howard(lead guitar)...Mark O'Connor(guitar/mandolin/fiddle)...Roy M. Huskey Jr.(bass)...Sam Bush(mandolin)...Marty Stuart(mandolin)...Jeannie Seely(vocals)...Tommy Hannum(vocals)...Rich Schulman(vocals)...Kenny Malone(percussion)...Jerry Douglas(dobro)...Billy Lee Riley(french harp), all-stars written all-over, having a ball and sharing the goodtimes with all their fans...so if you like good old-time Bluegrass, try this one on for size, you'll never look back!

You might try other Rounder releases featuring John Hartford, all worthy of a good listen ~ "Aereo-Plain" (0366)..."Morning Bugle" (0356)..."Hamilton Ironworks" (0442)... (...) .

Total Time: 41:27 on 12 Tracks ~ Flying Fish/Rounder 18964-0289-2 ~ (2001)

Always liked John Hartford, and love playing this one of sentimental old favorites and some rowdy ones. Always makes my heart lighter.

Fabulous and extraordinary. John Hartford was and is a true American classic in the vein of Stephen Foster, Woody Guthrie, Irving Berlin, etc. Whatever your tastes, this is pure musical and poetic artistry for the ages. The talent and virtuosity on this disc is beyond my comprehension, as I am a very poor musician. But I have never before heard such a banjo, such a mandolin, such a dobro. At times gentle and loving, at times more fantastically baroque then even the best of progressive rock---but all cuts are instantly memorable, not to mention foot-tappin' catchy. Add to this Mr. Hartford's quirky and clean wit, and you will recognize this as a true American cultural treasure. It is really very simple---if you like music---of ANY type---then this is for you. John Hartford was, and is, the American Bach.