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Reverend Gary Davis

29 May 03 - 11:47 AM (#961300)
Subject: Reverend Gary Davis
From: outfidel

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


29 May 03 - 01:11 PM (#961349)
Subject: RE: Reverend Gary Davis
From: Leadfingers

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!


29 May 03 - 01:22 PM (#961357)
Subject: RE: Reverend Gary Davis
From: Jerry Rasmussen

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


29 May 03 - 02:11 PM (#961390)
Subject: RE: Reverend Gary Davis
From: outfidel

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


29 May 03 - 02:12 PM (#961391)
Subject: RE: Reverend Gary Davis
From: M.Ted

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--


29 May 03 - 04:33 PM (#961447)
Subject: RE: Reverend Gary Davis
From: Jerry Rasmussen

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


29 May 03 - 07:52 PM (#961545)
Subject: RE: Reverend Gary Davis
From: GUEST,Marion

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


29 May 03 - 08:54 PM (#961573)
Subject: RE: Reverend Gary Davis
From: outfidel

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.


29 May 03 - 09:46 PM (#961601)
Subject: RE: Reverend Gary Davis
From: Jerry Rasmussen

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


30 May 03 - 01:24 PM (#962014)
Subject: RE: Reverend Gary Davis
From: fretless

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?


30 May 03 - 01:33 PM (#962028)
Subject: RE: Reverend Gary Davis
From: GUEST,New York City

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.


30 May 03 - 02:03 PM (#962055)
Subject: RE: Reverend Gary Davis
From: Rick Fielding

"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