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John Fahey

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From what I can gather and what I know about Fahey, he was an american original. His take on traditional folk guitar playing (and especially his finger-picking style) has proved immensely influential. Virtually all of the new psych-folk bands out there have mentioned him as a direct influence on their music, from The Tower Recordings' MV+EE to No Neck Blues Band (who have even released an album on Fahey's own Revenant Records label and were proclaimed his favorite new artists in his later years) via even British artists like Richard Youngs.

I got to hear my first Fahey record after his association with NNCK sparked my interest (that and my favorite record store in Montreal had his LPs plastered on the shelves behind the front desk). I didn't have much information about him (and I still find him to be somewhat of a mystery to me) at the time, all I knew is that the artwork on (most) of his album were quite incredible and if the music would be half as interesting as the art, then I would have a winner. So when I noticed that emusic.com had a bunch of his albums available for download, I took the opportunity to get everything they had.

At first, I didn't really how to react to all this music and understand in what way it influenced all those artists I cherished. Part of it sounded like novelty records (especially the Christmas albums), but after repeated listens, I got to discover a world of small experiments, sound collages added audio weirdness. Slowly but surely, it all started to make sense to me and ever since, I've had only but the biggest of respect for his work. His discography is quite huge and I have a lot left to discover (especially the later, more openly experimental albums), but I have promised myself to get everything he has recorded one day.

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Album Cover The Legend Of Blind Joe Death
Label: Takoma Records
Release: 1959/64
Format: CD
Cat. no: TAKCD-8901-2

Song list:

  1. On Doing An Evil Deed Blues (5:12)
  2. St. Louis Blues (4:57)
  3. Poor Boy Long Ways From Home (3:15)
  4. Uncloudy Day (3:27)
  5. John Henry (3:24)
  6. In Christ There Is No East Or West (2:25)
  7. Desperate Man Blues (4:09)
  8. Sun Gonna Shine In My Back Door Someday Blues (3:35)
  9. Sligo River Blues (3:09)
  10. On Doing An Evil Deed Blues (4:00)
  11. St. Louis Blues (3:19)
  12. Poor Boy Long Ways From Home (2:27)
  13. Uncloudy Day (2:25)
  14. John Henry (2:09)
  15. In Christ There Is No East Or West (2:47)
  16. Desperate Man Blues (4:02)
  17. Sun Gonna Shine In My Back Door Someday Blues (4:40)
  18. Sligo River Blues (2:37)
  19. I'm Gonna Do All I Can For My Lord (1:28)
  20. The Transcendental Waterfall (10:40)
  21. West Coast Blues (1:26)


Album Cover Death Chants, Breakdowns And Military Waltzes
Label: Takoma Records
Release: 1963/67
Format: CD
Cat. no: TAKCD-8908-2

Song list:

  1. Sunflower River Blues (2:36)
  2. When The Springtime Comes Again (3:52)
  3. Stomping Tonight On The Pennsylvania/Alabama Border (6:59)
  4. Some Summer Day (3:23)
  5. On The Beach At Waikiki (2:58)
  6. Spanish Dance (1:56)
  7. John Henry Variations (5:42)
  8. The Downfall Of The Adelphi Rolling Grist Mill (3:38)
  9. Take A Look At That Baby (1:26)
  10. Dance Of The Inhabitants Of The Palace Of King Philip XIV Of Spain (2:31)
  11. America (7:53)
  12. Episcopal Hymn (1:14)
  13. Sunflower River Blues (3:22)
  14. When The Springtime Comes Again (4:54)
  15. Stomping Tonight On The Pennsylvania/Alabama Border (5:36)
  16. Some Summer Day (3:27)
  17. On The Beach At Waikiki (2:40)
  18. Spanish Dance (2:06)
  19. John Henry Variations (5:14)
  20. Take A Look At That Baby (1:26)
  21. America (5:00)
  22. Episcopal Hymn (1:23)


Album Cover The Transfiguration Of Blind Joe Death
Label: Takoma Records
Release: 1965
Format: CD
Cat. no: TAKCD-6505-2 (TAK-7015)

Song list:

  1. Beautiful Linda Gretchell (1:56)
  2. Orinda-Moraga (3:58)
  3. I Am The Resurrection (2:56)
  4. On The Sunny Side Of The Ocean (3:15)
  5. Tell Her To Come Back Home (2:44)
  6. My Station Will Be Changed After A While (2:05)
  7. 101 Is A Hars Road To Travel (2:22)
  8. How Green Was My Valley (2:19)
  9. Bicycle Built For Two (1:13)
  10. The Death Of The Clayton Peacock (2:57)
  11. Brenda's Blues (1:50)
  12. Old Southern Medley (6:12)
  13. Come Back Baby (2:22)
  14. Poor Boy (2:31)
  15. Saint Patrick's Hymn (0:56)


Album Cover The Great San Bernardino Birthday Party And Other Excursions
Label: Takoma Records
Release: 1966
Format: CD
Cat. no: TAKCD-6508-2 (TAK-1008)

Song list:

  1. The Great San Bernardino Birthday Party (19:07)
  2. Knott's Berry Farm Molly (4:35)
  3. Will The Circle Be Unbroken (4:45)
  4. Guitar Excursions Into The Unknown (3:34)
  5. 900 Miles (3:06)
  6. Sail Away Ladies (6:08)
  7. Oh Come, Oh Come Emanuel (2:00)


Album Cover The Dance Of Death & Other Plantation Favorites
Label: Takoma Records
Release: 1967
Format: CD
Cat. no: TAKCD-8909-2 (TAK-1004)

Song list:

  1. Wine And Roses (3:29)
  2. How Long (2:56)
  3. On The Banks Of The Owchita (3:52)
  4. Worried Blues (2:24)
  5. What The Sun Said (10:12)
  6. Revelation On The Banks Of The Pawtuxent (2:35)
  7. Poor Boy (3:20)
  8. Variations On The Coocoo (4:01)
  9. The Last Steam Engine Train (2:19)
  10. Give Me Corn Bread When I'm Hungry (3:12)
  11. Dance Of Death (7:40)
  12. Tulip (Aka When You Wore A Tukip And I Wore A Big Red Rose) (2:44)
  13. Daisy (Aka A Bicycle Built For Two) (1:20)
  14. The Siege Of Sevastopol (1:23)
  15. Steel Guitar Rag (2:11)


Album Cover Volume 6: Days Have Gone By
Label: Takoma Records/Ace Records
Release: 1967
Format: CD
Cat. no: CDTAK 6509/TAK-1014

Song list:

  1. The Revolt Of The Dyke Brigade (2:38)
  2. Impressions Of Susan (5:05)
  3. Joe Kirby Blues (3:08)
  4. Night Train Of Valhalla (2:14)
  5. The Portland Cement Factory At Monolith, California (4:23)
  6. A Raga Called Pat - Part One (6:22)
  7. A Raga Called Pat - Part Two (8:06)
  8. My Shepherd Will Supply My Needs (8:48)
  9. My Grandfather's Clock (1:27)
  10. Days Have Gone By (2:51)
  11. We Would be Building (1:57)


Album Cover The New Possibility: John Fahey's Guitar Soli Christmas Album/Christmas With John Fahey Vol. II
Label: Takoma Records
Release: 1968
Format: CD
Cat. no: TAKCD-8912-2

Song list:

  1. Joy To The World (1:55)
  2. What Child Is This (3:06)
  3. Medley: Hark, The Herald Angels Sing/O Come All Ye Faithful (3:15)
  4. Auld Lang Syne (2:06)
  5. The Bells Of St. Mary's (2:14)
  6. Good King Wenceslas (1:14)
  7. We Three Kings Of Orient Are (1:53)
  8. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Fantasy (2:48)
  9. The First Noel (2:15)
  10. Christ's Saints Of God Fantasy (10:22)
  11. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear (1:33)
  12. Go I Will Send Thee (3:04)
  13. Lo How A Rose E'er Blooming (3:49)
  14. Silent Night, Holy Night (1:16)
  15. Oh Holy Nigh (3:31)
  16. Christmas Medley: Oh Tannenbaum/Angels We Have Heard On High/Jingle Bells (3:34)
  17. Russian Christmas Overture (6:49)
  18. White Christmas (5:03)
  19. Carol Of The Bells (2:41)
  20. Christmas Fantasy - Part II (12:25)


Album Cover The Yellow Princess
Label: Vanguard Records/Ace Records
Release: 1968
Format: CD
Cat. no: VMD 79293

Song list:

  1. The Yellow Princess (4:49)
  2. View (East From The Top Of The Riggs Road: B & O Trestle) (4:53)
  3. Lion (5:06)
  4. March! For Martin Luther King (3:39)
  5. The Singing Bridge Of Memphis, Tennessee (2:49)
  6. Dance Of The Inhabitants Of The Invisible City Of Bladensburg (4:06)
  7. Charles A. Lee: In Memoriam (3:58)
  8. Irish Setter (7:14)
  9. Commemorative Transfiguration And Communion At Magruder Park (6:00)