JOHN HARTFORD
Gum Tree Canoe (Flying Fish)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

---

After a series of albums that seemed to be made without consideration for their commercial properties, Gum Tree Canoe seemed to mark a return to popular appeal, without compromising musical integrity. More care was taken with the production, and the sidemen were drawn from the top ranks of the 80's Nashville scene. Among the pickers were Roy Huskey, Jr., Mark O'Connor, Sam Bush, Marty Stuart and Jerry Douglas - names which appeared on dozens of the era's top country albums.

Ultimately, though, it was the musical integrity piece that always mattered most with John Hartford, and he didn't compromise that a bit for this album. Some of the material that he debuted here remained staples of his performances until his death, and not a one delivers anything less than everything you hope for from a John Hartford track. In the final analysis, a huge amount of Hartford's musical appeal lay in his great personal warmth and humanity, and no amount of production could diminish it, no set of songs or players could do anything other than enhance it.

The CD includes two tracks, "You Asked Me To" and "I Wonder Where You Are Tonight," that didn't make the original album. On their merits, either could have been chosen as easily as any of the ten that did make it. It's a treat to have them here.

Track List:

I'm Still Here * Way Down The River Road * Gum Tree Canoe * Your Long Journey * JUg Harris * Little Piece Of My Heart * Take Me Back To My Mississippi River Home * Lorena * Wrong Road Again * No Expectations * You Asked Me To * I Wonder Where You Are Tonight

© 2002 - Shaun Dale