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A Mississippi John tale

03 Oct 00 - 08:35 PM (#311489)
Subject: A Mississippi John tale
From: khandu

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


03 Oct 00 - 10:11 PM (#311557)
Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: catspaw49

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


03 Oct 00 - 10:28 PM (#311574)
Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: catspaw49

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

GO CLUNK HERE

Spaw


04 Oct 00 - 10:42 AM (#311886)
Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: Steve Latimer

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?


04 Oct 00 - 10:50 AM (#311892)
Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: mousethief

Whatever it is, it's great.

Alex
O..O
=o=


04 Oct 00 - 10:53 AM (#311894)
Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: catspaw49

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


04 Oct 00 - 11:25 AM (#311919)
Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: Steve Latimer

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.


04 Oct 00 - 11:34 AM (#311927)
Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: Ferrara

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


04 Oct 00 - 11:10 PM (#312495)
Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: khandu

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


04 Oct 00 - 11:24 PM (#312505)
Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: Lepus Rex

What, blues isn't folk? ;)

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

---Lepus Rex


05 Oct 00 - 12:24 AM (#312535)
Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: GUEST,alanabit

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?


05 Oct 00 - 09:45 AM (#312697)
Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: Steve Latimer

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.


07 Oct 00 - 04:40 AM (#314009)
Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: GUEST,Joy2U

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.


15 Oct 00 - 10:55 PM (#319524)
Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: GUEST,Martin B.

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.


16 Oct 00 - 01:22 PM (#319927)
Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: GUEST,sweetpea

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!


16 Oct 00 - 01:36 PM (#319940)
Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: catspaw49

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


16 Oct 00 - 01:58 PM (#319958)
Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: GUEST,calico

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


17 Oct 00 - 01:41 AM (#320570)
Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: GUEST,jaze

"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.


17 Oct 00 - 10:27 AM (#320825)
Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: Fortunato

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


26 Dec 00 - 07:15 PM (#363700)
Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: jeepman (inactive)

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


26 Dec 00 - 07:22 PM (#363709)
Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: McGrath of Harlow

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


26 Dec 00 - 07:26 PM (#363711)
Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: Sorcha

moved to new thread.......


26 Dec 00 - 10:32 PM (#363805)
Subject: RE: A Mississippi John tale
From: jaze

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