Mississippi John Hurt • Today!

 

Review
by David Freedlander  
Today is Mississippi John Hurt's first and finest studio release since his "rediscovery" on his Avalon farm by folklorist Tom Hoskins in 1963. Eclipsed possibly only by his earlier 1928 Sessions, this album shows a more mature Hurt picking his way through standards and originals after the Depression years and Hurt's fall into obscurity before the folk revival of the 1960s. It shows, however, that all that the great bluesman has lost is years; his voice retains its characteristic Buddha-esque warmth and it is still difficult to believe that there is just one man playing on the seemingly effortless guitar work. The music on the album comes from a variety of different influences, from the fun and poppy "Hot Time in Old Town Tonight" and "Coffee Blues," to the bluesy standards "Candy Man" (Hurt's most famous song) and "Spike Driver's Blues" to the soulful spirituals "Louis Collins" and "Beulah Land." Hurt's tranquil guitar work -- mixing country, Scottish folk, and Delta blues -- strings all of the songs along the same simple and elegant thread. Hurt himself never could explain his guitar playing, as he used to say, "I just make it sound like I think it ought to." Regardless, that sound, along with a mellow and heartfelt voice, wizened here by decades, combine to make Today an unforgettable whole. A truly essential album of the folk revival, unrivaled in its beauty and warmth.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/today%21-mw0000193954

///////

Reseña
por David Freedlander  
Hoy se publica el primer y mejor álbum de estudio de Mississippi John Hurt desde su "redescubrimiento" en su granja de Avalon por el folclorista Tom Hoskins en 1963. Eclipsado posiblemente sólo por sus anteriores 1928 Sessions, este álbum muestra a un Hurt más maduro abriéndose camino a través de estándares y originales tras los años de la Depresión y la caída de Hurt en la oscuridad antes del renacimiento folk de los años sesenta. Sin embargo, demuestra que lo único que ha perdido el gran bluesman son años; su voz conserva su característica calidez búdica y sigue siendo difícil creer que es un solo hombre el que toca la guitarra, aparentemente sin esfuerzo. La música del álbum procede de una variedad de influencias diferentes, desde las divertidas y pop "Hot Time in Old Town Tonight" y "Coffee Blues", hasta los estándares blueseros "Candy Man" (la canción más famosa de Hurt) y "Spike Driver's Blues", pasando por los conmovedores espirituales "Louis Collins" y "Beulah Land". El tranquilo trabajo de guitarra de Hurt -que mezcla country, folk escocés y blues del Delta- engarza todas las canciones en un mismo hilo simple y elegante. El propio Hurt nunca pudo explicar su forma de tocar la guitarra, como solía decir: "Simplemente hago que suene como creo que debe sonar". En cualquier caso, ese sonido, junto con una voz melosa y sentida, marchita aquí por las décadas, se combinan para hacer de Today un conjunto inolvidable. Un álbum verdaderamente esencial del renacimiento del folk, inigualable por su belleza y calidez.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/today%21-mw0000193954

Tracks:
1 - Pay Day - 4:18
2 - I'm Satisfied - 2:52
3 - Candy Man - 2:54
4 - Make Me A Pallet On Your Floor - 4:30
5 - Talking Casey - 5:04
6 - Corrinna, Corrinna - 1:48
7 - Coffee Blues - 3:43
8 - Louis Collins - 4:05
9 - Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight - 3:29
10 - If You Don't Want Me Baby - 3:17
11 - Spike Driver's Blues - 3:23
12 - Beulah Land - 3:44

Label:    Vanguard – VSD-79220
Country:    US
Released:    1966
Genre:    Blues
Style:    Delta Blues
https://www.discogs.com/release/1376433-Mississippi-John-Hurt-Today

 

 

MORE Mississippi John Hurt ...

This file is intended only for preview!
I ask you to delete the file from your hard drive or device after reading it.
thank for the original uploader