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John Fahey

Death Chants, Breakdowns & Military Waltzes

LabelTakoma

FormatCD

GenreFolk

Out of stock

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Opening with the incredible 'Sunflower River Blues' (covered recently by Jack Rose) this is easily one my favourite of Fahey's albums. It's by no means the best, or the most technically accomplished, but as an enjoyable piece of music from beginning to end, this just does it for me. This particular cd collects tracks from both the 1963 session and the 1967 session of the album, and it's interesting to hear the differences between the recordings. In four years Fahey's outlook changed a lot, so rather than being mere repetitions, these are fresh reworkings of classic tracks. However, there's something about the naïve crackling of the originals that wins me over every time, it's just gorgeous, affecting music, and part of the charm is that quality, that imperfection. Another superb album from a true musical genius.
Details
Cat. number: TAKCD 8908-2
Year: 1998

Release notes

Tracks 8 and 10 recorded live in 1962 at St. Michael’s Church, Adelphi, Maryland. Tracks 1 to 7, 9, 11, 12 recorded Fall, 1963 in Berkeley, California. Tracks 1 to 12 originally released in 1963 as ‘Death Chants, Breakdowns and Military Waltzes’ (Takoma, C-1003). Tracks 13 to 22 re-recorded and released in 1967 under the same title and catalogue number. Remastered in 1998 at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley. Tracks 1 to 12 are mono, 13 to 22 are stereo.

Tracklist
1Sunflower River Blues2:33
2When The Springtime Comes Again3:50
3Stomping Tonight On The Pennsylvania/Alabama Border6:58
4Some Summer Day3:20
5On The Beach At Waikiki2:55
6Spanish Dance1:53
7John Henry Variations5:40
8The Downfall Of The Adelphi Rolling Grist Mill3:35
9Take A Look At That Baby1:25
10Dance Of The Inhabitants Of The Palace Of King Philip XIV Of Spain2:28
11America7:52
12Episcopal Hymn1:10
13Sunflower River Blues3:19
14When The Springtime Comes Again4:53
15Stomping Tonight On The Pennsylvania/Alabama Border5:36
16Some Summer Day3:25
17On The Beach At Waikiki2:40
18Spanish Dance2:05
19John Henry Variations5:11
20Take A Look At That Baby1:25
21America5:00
22Episcopal Hymn1:22
Credits
Jamie Putnam
Art Direction
Anonymous Student Of Posada
Cover
Linda Kalin
Design
John Fahey
Guitar, Producer, Written-By (1 to 13, 15 to 22)
Chester C. Petranick
Liner Notes [1963]
Byron Coley
Liner Notes [1998]
Kirk Felton
Remastered By