JOHN HARTFORD
Steam Powered Aereo-Takes (Rounder)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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It's a shame we had to lose John Hartford to get this album, but now that he's no longer with us to provide new music, it's a comfort to have these previously unreleased tracks to help us carry on. These are demos, outtakes and alternate tracks from one of the greatest bands ever assembled, the legendary Aereo-Plain Band. With Vassar Clements on fiddle, Hartford stuck to banjo and guitar, although his guitar work definitely took second chair to the inimitable Norman Blake. The regular lineup was completed by the Dobro and mandolin of Tut Taylor, and the studio band was augmented by Randy Scruggs on bass.

While the cuts here didn't make producer David Bromberg's list for the original Aereo-Plain album, this was a band seemingly incapable of playing a wrong note or a bad song, or playing without reflecting their obvious love for the music they performed. It's hard to imagine any fan of American folk, country or bluegrass music being told they want this one, but if you fall into that camp, take my word for it, you want this one.

Track List:

Where The Old Red River Flows * Ruff And Ready * Blame It On Joann * The Vamp From Back In The Goodle Days * Emmanuel Cant * Bad Music (Is Better Than No Music At All) * Dig A Hole * Presbyterian Guitar * Strange Old Man * Lady Jane * Oasis * Because Of You * Morning Bugle * John Henry * Doin' My Time * Keep On Truckin' * Don't Ever Take Your Eyes Off The Game, Babe * Howard Hughes Blues

© 2002 - Shaun Dale