mississippi john hurt

Mississippi John Hurt (LP) Folk Songs and Blues (1963) Piedmont (PLP13157)

/ Winch / Leave a comment
Mississippi John Hurt
Folk Songs and Blues
Piedmont (PLP13157) 
1963
Rating: ***** (Good Shit)
Hurt had recorded a few sides for Okey in the 1920s (not big sellers), and then returned to share cropping.  In 1963, two D.C. musicians heard the old sides and managed to find him in Mississippi, brought him back to D.C. to record this debut album.  He’d record a few more sets and then passed away in Mississippi.

Classic country blues.  While I’ve heard sides that can stand next to these, I can’t say I’ve heard anything better in this style.

— winch

The Best of Mississippi John Hurt (LP)

/ Winch / Leave a comment
Mississippi John Hurt
The Best of Mississippi Hurt
Vanguard (VSD 19/20)
Producer: Bob Scherl
Rating: ***** (Good Shit)
Recorded April 15, 1965, released 1970
For some reason, Vanguard was famous for these albums with misleading titles.  This one is actually a four-sider capturing Hurt in concert at Oberlin College.
On the other hand, the title is not really inaccurate as this set is thoroughly enjoyable, Hurt alone with his acoustic guitar, sounding like he’s singing off the back porch of his Mississippi home, likely the place these were typically performed.

While Hurt only had a few years of recording, he sure didn’t waste any time.
— winch
(author of Kalamazoo: Growing Up Sideways in the 1970s)