Mississippi John Hurt‎– Today! (1966) :: Zero G Sounds

 This is lovely and my dear brother loved Mississippi John and introduced me to his enchanting work, from the Loving Spoonful of Maxwell House to Make Me a Pallet, Pay Day, I'm Satisfied and more, much more besides, all of which are here. This is great listening at the end of the day and I have been busy so no time for more unfortunately. Mo' tomorrow . . . . . . G'night folks!

Mississippi John Hurt - Today! (1966) Zero G - here 

Zero G says : 

"Today!" is Mississippi John Hurt's first and finest studio release since his "rediscovery" on his Avalon farm by folklorist Tom Hoskins in 1963.

Eclipsed possibly only by his earlier "1928 Sessions", this album shows a more mature Hurt picking his way through standards and originals after the Depression years and Hurt's fall into obscurity before the folk revival of the 1960s. It shows, however, that all that the great bluesman has lost is years; his voice retains its characteristic Buddha-esque warmth and it is still difficult to believe that there is just one man playing on the seemingly effortless guitar work. 

The music on the album comes from a variety of different influences, from the fun and poppy "Hot Time in Old Town Tonight" and "Coffee Blues," to the bluesy standards "Candy Man" (Hurt's most famous song) and "Spike Driver's Blues" to the soulful spirituals "Louis Collins" and "Beulah Land."

Hurt's tranquil guitar work - mixing country, Scottish folk, and Delta blues - strings all of the songs along the same simple and elegant thread. Hurt himself never could explain his guitar playing, as he used to say, "I just make it sound like I think it ought to." Regardless, that sound, along with a mellow and heartfelt voice, wizened here by decades, combine to make "Today!" an unforgettable whole. A truly essential album of the folk revival, unrivaled in its beauty and warmth.    

(192 kbps, cover art included)

I cannot better that and if you care for John Hurt as Doc Watson says . . . . . listen to this today

Did You Hear John Hurt (by Tom Paxton and Dave Von Ronk) - Doc Watson (and Merle)

For Mississippi John Hurt from the Doc . . . . . . . . .now that's a tribute!