Reverend Gary Davis

Subject: Reverend Gary Davis
From: outfidel
Date: 29 May 03 - 11:47 AM

Great pic Rev. Gary Davis & the daughter of Phil Ochs -- click here

Subject: RE: Reverend Gary Davis
From: Leadfingers
Date: 29 May 03 - 01:11 PM

I was lucky enough to catch Gary Davis at the Troubadour when he was touring over here with Long John Baldry Roadying for him.An absolutely
marvelous evening- Oh Those long gone Happy days!

Subject: RE: Reverend Gary Davis
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 29 May 03 - 01:22 PM

Back in the early 60's, even though Rev. Davis had labums out on Prestige and a long history of recording, he was still singing on street corners, and in pass the hat coffee houses that most of the up and coming folkies considered beneath them. When I was walking down McDougal or Bleeker Street, I'd often see him singing on a six foot stage in the window, and go in and listen to him. I don't know how many hours I listened to him, except it was never enough. In those years, I only heard him at a paid booking one time. The rest of the time, he was mostly supporting himself singing on the street. Someone did a wonderful documentary on him in the early 60's that I've never seen nor heard of since then.

Thanks for posting this..

Jerry

Subject: RE: Reverend Gary Davis
From: outfidel
Date: 29 May 03 - 02:11 PM

Lately, I've been listening a lot to RGD's "Demons and Angels" box set that Stefan Grossman put together -- superb!

Subject: RE: Reverend Gary Davis
From: M.Ted
Date: 29 May 03 - 02:12 PM

Why did all the good stuff happen to you, Jerry? Over the years, his recordings just keep sounding better and better, and. more than anything, I wish I could have been there with you to hear him--

Subject: RE: Reverend Gary Davis
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 29 May 03 - 04:33 PM

At the time, Mr. Ted, much was taken for granted. Dzve Van Ronk ran a hootenanny every Monday night at the Gaslight Cafe, and when he wasn't singing, he was upstairs in the Kettle Of Fish drinking. The sidewalks were swarming with people who would later "make it," but everyone was broke, and the favorite culinary delicacy was chinese food at a little place in China Town where you could get a full meal for $.99, and all the tea you wanted to drink, if you didn't mind going in the kitchen to get it yourself in one of those half inch thick battered restaurant glasses. But for me, I just soaked it up... Rev. Gary Davis, Mississippi John Hurt, Dave, Tom Paxton, and the occasional surprises like Arlo Guthrie at about 15, Jose Feliciano, Buffy St. Marie, Kim Kweskin, Eric Andersen, even Johnny Cash one drunken night, with Dylan sitting on the stage behind him, plucking on his guitar and looking like he was going to fall asleep.

Truth is, Ted, there are things happening in all of our lives right now that we don't give a second thought about. Give it another thirty years and people will be saying, boy I wish I had been there.
It was good, though.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Reverend Gary Davis
From: GUEST,Marion
Date: 29 May 03 - 07:52 PM

I want to get one of these RGD albums (one to start with, anyway); does anyone have any strong feelings on which one to get first?

Here are the ones available through Camsco:

Gary Davis albums

Thanks, Marion

Subject: RE: Reverend Gary Davis
From: outfidel
Date: 29 May 03 - 08:54 PM

Marion - I would start with DOCU 5060, Rev. Gary Davis, 1935-49 -- these are the early recordings of the Rev in great sound quality with some of his best playing. I would also HIGHLY recommend SF 40035, Pure Religion And Bad Company. Can't go wrong with either album.

Subject: RE: Reverend Gary Davis
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 29 May 03 - 09:46 PM

I'm with outfidel, although I'd try Pure Religion first, as it's my favorite album of his... he didn't cut any bad stuff..

Jerry

Subject: RE: Reverend Gary Davis
From: fretless
Date: 30 May 03 - 01:24 PM

I loved the Riverside album where he was joined up with Pink Anderson.

Now here's another way to go at the question: can anyone suggest a wrong Gary Davis album? Does such a thing exist?

Subject: RE: Reverend Gary Davis
From: GUEST,New York City
Date: 30 May 03 - 01:33 PM

Fretless,

Yes, back in the 1970's Biograph Records released an LP of Reverend Davis that was almost unlistenable in its sound quality.

There is a new CD from Smithsonian Folkways of Reverend Davis that was recorded at his home in 1953 by John Cohen. It is excellent.

Subject: RE: Reverend Gary Davis
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 30 May 03 - 02:03 PM

"Death Don't have No mercy in This land" and "I Will Do My Last Singing".

I simply can't imagine greater moments than when I first heard those masterpieces live at Mariposa in 1966. He'll always be my hero.

Rick