A Mississippi John tale

Subject: A Mississippi John tale
From: khandu
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 08:35 PM

Perhaps this is a bit uncouth of me, but I think that the Mudcatters are very forgiving nd gracious to their fellow 'catter's oddities. I have a web page and I invite you all to visit it. It concerns Mississippi John and his shaping of my music. I do not know HTML magic so I'll have to paste the URL. If, in doing this, I have trespassed, forgive me . It is done in ignorance. The URL is: http://members.tripod.co.uk/albo1/index-3.html

Come see. Thanks, khandu

Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 10:11 PM

Not at all!!! That was a good read. I'm envious.

Everybody got to folk through many different ways. I came to MJH through Patrick Sky and that distinctive style of Hurt's influenced thousands of folk pickers. Great man with a unique history. It took him a long time to even see that he was appreciated, not to mention influential.

Spaw

Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 10:28 PM

Here's a blue clicky thing to khandu's site and story....I hope.

GO CLUNK HERE

Spaw

Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 10:42 AM

Khandu,

Very nice. I just discovered MJH about a year ago. I was browsing the Blues section at the local CD store and picked up Avalon Blues on a whim. I expected him to sound like Robert Johson or Son House. What a surprise. He has since become a favourite of mine. What a voice, what a player and songwriter.

I was listening to Son House on the way to work this morning and it got me thinking of just how different MJH was to his contemporaries. To the point that I'm wondering if his music should be considered Blues or is it more folk?

Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: mousethief
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 10:50 AM

Whatever it is, it's great.

Alex
O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: catspaw49
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 10:53 AM

That's kind of an old debate thing that everybody comes to Steve. He certainly did the blues thing, but his whole style, his music, and everything else make MJH a real folk musician. Many great players have had their effect and their lineage traced to today's players......But for my buck, that MJH style comes through most strongly. The first time I heard him it was obvious how many had gravitated to that picking pattern, personalized perhaps, but MJH at its roots.

Spaw

Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 11:25 AM

There's a great quote in the liner notes of Avalon Blues. He was asked who he was influenced by and he responded along the lines of 'nobody, I just tried to play the guitar the way I thought it should sound."

I'd say he succeeded.

Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: Ferrara
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 11:34 AM

Thanks for both stories, they'll stay with me a long time.

Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: khandu
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 11:10 PM

Thanks Spaw for the blue clicky thing. And thank all the rest of you for the comments and the visits. The Great Debate of whether MJH is blues or folk will continue as long as his music is played. I gave up trying to catergorize it. Hell, I'm too busy trying to learn it.

Thanks again, boys! Grace and Peace to y'all! khandu

Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 11:24 PM

What, blues isn't folk? ;)

Ah, and I liked the storied, too, khandu:)

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: GUEST,alanabit
Date: 05 Oct 00 - 12:24 AM

I used to have a wonderful album by MJH called "Last Sessions". It had several songs about death on it, yet it sounded as though he was laughing in the face of it. It was full of warmth and humour. It ended with a very individual version of Leadbelly's "Irene". Does anyone know if this album is still available, or if it has been repackaged on CD?

Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 05 Oct 00 - 09:45 AM

Amazon.com list it in stock. There is an Mudcat/Amazon link so that if you order it Mudcat will be supported.

I was just listening to him again the morning on the way to work. Louis Collins, Avalon Blues, Frankie. What a sound.

Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: GUEST,Joy2U
Date: 07 Oct 00 - 04:40 AM

I liked your stories on MJH. It brings back memories of hearing him as a child...on the record player and by my stepfather and his friend. They often played MJH on their guitars. Those two odd fellows were a story in themselves, (maybe I should make my own webpage about them),they sure liked to play.

Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: GUEST,Martin B.
Date: 15 Oct 00 - 10:55 PM

A few weeks ago, I went to a music store. As I was checking out the guitars, I heard this incredible guitarist. I told him that I had always wanted to play like that and I asked him who does he listen to. He said Mississippi John Hurt.

I had never heard of Hurt, but I went out and bought a CD called Rediscovered. Man, Hurt was great!

I told a friend about him and he told me that he had heard about Hurt on Mudcat. I had never heard of Mudcat before this. My friend showed me Mudcat on his computer and I love this place!

We filtered and found this thread. I checked out kandu's page and enjoyed it very much. He also had a page about Tunk who was Hurt's friend. That was a great story.

I love Mudcat and I'll be coming back often!

Martin B.

Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: GUEST,sweetpea
Date: 16 Oct 00 - 01:22 PM

I visited your web page and I think it was just wonderful. Let people know when you update your web page.I will checking in from time to time. sweetpea!

Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: catspaw49
Date: 16 Oct 00 - 01:36 PM

Martin, as has often been noted, much of the playing style of many folkies came directly from MJH. One fella you might want to listen to acted as the producer on a couple of MJH albums and played with him an awful lot. His name is Patrick Sky and he's dead ringer style-wise for MJH.

Spaw

Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: GUEST,calico
Date: 16 Oct 00 - 01:58 PM

khandu,I have been to your web page and I think it is very wonderful.I was introduced to MJH about a year ago and he has a unique music that you wouldn't hear anywhere else. Keep us posted when you update your web page. I will check it from time to time. calico

Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: GUEST,jaze
Date: 17 Oct 00 - 01:41 AM

"Last Sessions" along with several other "recent" records by MJH are available from Vanguard. He apparently recorded in the 20's,disappeared,and was rediscovered in the 60's. Those Vanguard are all excellent and avalilable on CD.

Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: Fortunato
Date: 17 Oct 00 - 10:27 AM

I enjoyed your webpage and your story. John Hurt's music has meant a great deal to me. I played "Make me a pallet on your floor" Saturday night, a crowd pleaser and no mistake. Certainly his guitar playing runs through mine, melding with Merle Travis, Doc Watson, Chet Akins. One can only wonder on any given Saturday night how many guitar players do homage to John Hurt. Regards, Chance

Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: jeepman (inactive)
Date: 26 Dec 00 - 07:15 PM

Can anyone give me the (approximate) chords of MJH's Pallet on your Floor? Jeepman

Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 26 Dec 00 - 07:22 PM

Saying "is it blues or is it folk?" is a bit like saying "is it a sparrow or is it a bird?"

Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: Sorcha
Date: 26 Dec 00 - 07:26 PM

moved to new thread.......

Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: jaze
Date: 26 Dec 00 - 10:32 PM

I've read his music described as "folk-blues". I think that settles the question. It's great music however you describe it.