Near the end of his life, Mississippi John Hurt finally got his due…
Mississippi John Hurt – Today – Vanguard Records/ Craft Recordings # CR00837 – 180 gm remastered vinyl – 1964 – ****1/2
(Mississippi John Hurt – acoustic guitar & vocals; Jerry Ricks – 2nd guitar on “Pay Day,” and “If You Don’t Want Me Baby”)
It took until 1963 for folk and country blues enthusiasts to discover the syncopated finger picking guitar talents of country blues icon, Mississippi John Hurt. John, born in 1892, was the son of former slaves in Avalon, Ms.
Playing only near his home since he was a child, he only had a brief opportunity to record (in 1921 for Okeh Records), before returning to farm work as a farm hand and share cropper.
Not until the early 1960s, when other neglected Southern blues artists, discovered late in their lives, such as Son House, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Skip James, and Hurt were discovered by musicologists. John had a gentle demeanor, never bitter, and was surprised by a sudden appreciation of his talents. His renaissance was brief, only lasting less than five years, before he passed away in November, 1966, at age 74.
His second studio album (and first for Vanguard Records), titled Today, was recorded in 1964, and released in 1966. Now as part of their Bluesville series, the boutique label, Craft Recordings, is re-releasing the album in remastered 180 gm vinyl. It has been taken direct from the lacquers cut from the original master tapes by Matthew Lutthans, and pressed at QRP in conjunction with Acoustic Sounds.
As expected the acoustics are sublime, with Hurt’s finger picking, and gentle soothing voice on full display. His gentleness is a panacea for these troubled times.
Song selection is prime country blues classics, made up of five traditional songs, and seven of his originals. His signature tunes such as “Candy Man,” “Make Me a Pallet on Your Floor,” and “Corrinna, Corrinna,” have been covered by today’s idols like Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia, Taj Mahal, and many others. Regrettably, only their versions have brought acclaim, while many listeners today do not know of the master that wrote and recorded them, and just briefly had the chance to shine with his greatness.
Luckily, now with this release, and in remastered glory, listeners can revisit his definitive talents and his gentle soul.
–Jeff Krow
Mississippi John Hurt – Today
Tracklist:
Side One:
Pay Day, I’m Satisfied, Candy Man, Make Me a Pallet on the Floor, Talking Casey, Corrinna, Corrinna
Side Two:
Coffee Blues, Louis Collins, Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight, If You Don’t Want Me Baby, Spike Driver’s Blues, Beulah Land
