Covered in Folk: John Hartford
(The John Hartford Stringband, plus Gillian Welch, Sam Bush, & more!)
June 16th, 2010 — 11:29 am
Well-covered in popular culture and over at classic songs collaborative Star Maker Machine, John Hartford never made the splash he could and should have as a performer, in part because Glen Campbell’s Grammy-winning cover of Gentle On My Mind sold so well, the cash flow gave Hartford license to chuck it all in and pursue his true passion – as a steamboat captain on his beloved Mississippi River.
But the man I once heard referred to as “the clown prince of old-time” kept coming back to the music, winning a few Grammys himself in his day. His legacy is strong, and his influence can be found in the continued evolution of the old-time folkgrass sound so beloved on these pages; indeed, we’ve posted several Hartford compositions here before, as warranted. And though I myself only truly found his songs in the last few years, as far I’m concerned, any celebration of the man and his songbook is warranted, too, any time we can justify it.
Proof positive arrived in the mail this week from the members of John Hartford’s band, now performing as the John Hartford String Band: they’ve just released Memories of John, a fine and fitting tribute featuring previously unreleased audio from the man himself, and with guest vocals and instrumentals from Tim O’Brien, Bela Fleck, Alison Brown, and others – a short but solid who’s who of artists equally adept on the folk, bluegrass, and country line.
The collection works splendidly. Despite aging voices, in Memories of John, the one-time compatriots of the late great singing, songwriting steamboat pilot (Bob Carlin on banjo, Matt Combs on fiddle, Mike Compton on mandolin, Mark Schatz on bass, and guitarist Chris Sharp) have put together a worthy collection of Hartford tunes both familiar and obscure, including several songs Hartford left as sketches, now fleshed out as quintessentially Hartford-esque. And the love these men feel for their long-gone compatriot shows through the performance, with fine instrumental craftsmanship at both joyfully breakneck and tender ballad tempos, and a sense of reverent whimsy that evokes the man himself in every note.
The album delves deep, skipping over several of the Hartford tunes true fans know best. But this choice makes sense, in a way – many of Hartford’s most famous compositions have found their way into the folkways, and as such, any tribute designed specifically to focus on the close connection between the man and the songs themselves would suffer from the distant echo of coverage in our hearts and ears.
Our mandate is different, of course: at Cover Lay Down, it is that absorption of song into the canon which inspires us. Today, then: a thorough treatment of John Hartford’s songbook, in folkways both sparse and rich…and with plenty of fiddle and banjo at the helm, just as John would have wanted it.
- The John Hartford String Band: Lorena (trad; arr. Hartford)
- The John Hartford String Band: M.I.S.I.P.
(from Memories of John, 2010. You can win your own copy, too – just keep reading to find out how!)
- Sara Watkins: Long Hot Summer Days
(from a May 6 Daytrotter Session, 2010)
- Jones Street Station: Tall Buildings
(from Overcome, 2007)
- Gillian Welch: Tall Buildings
- Kathy Mattea & Tim O’Brien: Gentle On My Mind
(from A Tribute To John Hartford: Live From Mountain Stage, 2001)
- Lucinda Williams: Gentle On My Mind
(from The Talladega Nights soundtrack [out of print], 2006)
- New Grass Revival: Vamp In The Middle
- New Grass Revival: Steam Powered Aero Plane
(from Grass Roots: The Best of New Grass Revival, 2005)
- Leftover Salmon: Steam Powered Aeroplane
(from Live, 2002)
- Sam Bush: On The Road
(from Laps In Seven, 2006)
- Jamie Hartford w/ Kim Richey & Tim O’Brien: Part Of Your History
(from Part Of Your History: The Songs of John Hartford, 2006)
Like what you hear? Thanks to the fine folks at Compass Records, I’ve got an extra copy of The John Hartford Stringband’s Memories Of John coming my way via parcel post. Leave a comment below with your name and email address, and I’ll enter you into a drawing to win it.
Of course, the songs of John Hartford would be nowhere without the original powerhouse performances of Hartford himself, who passed on of complications from non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2001, leaving us with a legacy of over 30 albums of original songs, traditional tunes, and the occasional playful popcover. Today’s Bonus Tracks let the man speak for himself, through a few select familiarities remade in his own inimitable manner:
- John Hartford: Piece Of My Heart (pop. Janis Joplin)
- John Hartford: No Expectations (orig. Rolling Stones)
(from Gum Tree Canoe, 1984)
- John Hartford, Dave Grisman, Mike Seeger: Maybellene (orig. Chuck Berry)
- John Hartford, Dave Grisman, Mike Seeger: Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay (orig. Otis Redding)
(from Retrograss, 1999)
Cover Lay Down posts new features and coverfolk sets each Wednesday, Sunday, and the occasional otherday. Click here to help support the cause.