JOHN FAHEY
The Dance Of Death & Other
Plantation Favorites (Takoma)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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One of the various delights of recent times has been the reappearance of John Fahey's Takoma Records catalog on CD. The Takoma releases of the early sixties were obsure to the general public, but enormously influential to a legion of guitar pickers. Fahey operated from the point of view of a dedicated folklorist, dedication that went beyond his own playing and led to the rediscovery of artists like Skip James and songs that were rescued from stacks of ancient 78s. Some of those songs appear on this remastered edition of the 1964 sessions for The Dance Of Death & Other Plantation Favorites, along with some more adventurous Fahey originals.

Particularly pleasing is the inclusion of four new cuts, culled from the same sessions, which include versions of Tin Pan Alley novelties like "Tulup (aka When You Wore A Tulip And I Wore A Big Red Rose)" and "Daisy (aka Bicycle Built For Two)" alongside the folk nugget "The Seige Of Sebastopol" and the C&W standard "Steel Guitar Rag." More John Fahey is always better than some John Fahey, and some John Fahey is always better that damn near anything else of its kind.

As a singular talent and a significant influence, John Fahey deserves a wider audience, and thanks to Fantasy Records, the current curators of the Takoma catalog, this music is available in pristine and expanded form for everyone. This is one of the most significant blues reissues of the year, indeed, of any year.

Track List:

Wine And Roses * How Long * On The Banks Of The Owchita * Worried Blues * What The Sun Said * Revelation On The Banks Of The Pawtuxent * Poor Boy * Variations On The Coocoo * The Last Steam Engine Train * Give Me Cornbread When I'm Hungry * Dance Of Death * Tulip (aka When You Wore A Tulip And I Wore A Big Red Rose) (bonus track) * Daisy (aka Bicycle Built For Two) (bonus track) * The Siege Of Sevastapol (bonus track) * Steel Guitar Rag (bonus track)

© 1999 - Shaun Dale