Energy and Sympathy
Former Old Grow Medicine Show member Willie Watson with
banjo and guitar and Dave Rawlings on production goes nearly solo on a
wonderful set of traditional songs, his vocal a warbling high tenor of energy.
John Henry, for example,
is simply banjo and voice and pace; Leavin’
Blues is a guitar-picked gem where that voice soars at such a height your
body rises with it, right above the lament: I
got holes in my pocket mama sung
with infectious rise and fall.
Opener Samson and
Delilah has The Fairfield Four adding gospel harmonies to the delightful
mix [accompanying wonderfully on two more]; second Gallows Pole is guitar and harmonica and darkness, a backing orchestration
joining in, and eighth Ry Cooder’s Always
Lift Him Up and Never Knock Him Down gets a beautiful cover, sweet flutes
in sympathy. There is so much more of all of this and it is superb.
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