upcoming Folkways Rev. Gary Davis cd of unissued tracks
Posted by: Sigmund on 25 February 2003
Here's my review which I submitted to our local paper.
Reverend Gary Davis If I Had My Way Smithsonian/ Folkways **** (highest rating)
Look out for Folkway’s upcoming release of 18 previously unreleased tracks of acoustic gospel music by this former street musician/ preacher who came of age during the hey day of Piedmont blues circa the 1930’s and who was a direct influence on Brownie McGee, Blind Boy Fuller and Ernie Hawkins among others. John Cohen, of New Lost City Ramblers fame and himself a pioneer in playing America’s earliest recorded folk and blues music, taped them at the Davis’ home in 1953 on a very good day. There's plenty of great picking and the warm, intimate recording is blessedly free of club or festival crowd sounds which gives us an unobstructed view of Rev. Davis in the spirit. The tunes include Sampson and Delilah, complete with a false start, an especially tender Twelve Gates to the City, Uncloudy Day, Say No to the Devil, I Belong To the Band, a spirited You Got to Move, a really sweet Just How Much We Can Bear a.k.a. We are the Heavenly Father’s Children and The United States March here called Civil War Parade. On a couple of tracks, his wife, Annie, sings along. Her sweet, pinched voice adds a touching gentility and sweetness. On another two, his friend, Kinny Peeples, adds his strong baritone and does a credible job with RGD accompanying him.
These are the earliest rediscovery-era tapes known to exist and they rival his greatest works, Harlem Street Singer, Guitar and Banjo and Gospel, Blues and Street Songs. This is an unvarnished portrait of this legendary icon in the most intimate of settings. If you’ve ever wanted to be there with him, this is your opportunity.
Reverend Gary Davis If I Had My Way Smithsonian/ Folkways **** (highest rating)
Look out for Folkway’s upcoming release of 18 previously unreleased tracks of acoustic gospel music by this former street musician/ preacher who came of age during the hey day of Piedmont blues circa the 1930’s and who was a direct influence on Brownie McGee, Blind Boy Fuller and Ernie Hawkins among others. John Cohen, of New Lost City Ramblers fame and himself a pioneer in playing America’s earliest recorded folk and blues music, taped them at the Davis’ home in 1953 on a very good day. There's plenty of great picking and the warm, intimate recording is blessedly free of club or festival crowd sounds which gives us an unobstructed view of Rev. Davis in the spirit. The tunes include Sampson and Delilah, complete with a false start, an especially tender Twelve Gates to the City, Uncloudy Day, Say No to the Devil, I Belong To the Band, a spirited You Got to Move, a really sweet Just How Much We Can Bear a.k.a. We are the Heavenly Father’s Children and The United States March here called Civil War Parade. On a couple of tracks, his wife, Annie, sings along. Her sweet, pinched voice adds a touching gentility and sweetness. On another two, his friend, Kinny Peeples, adds his strong baritone and does a credible job with RGD accompanying him.
These are the earliest rediscovery-era tapes known to exist and they rival his greatest works, Harlem Street Singer, Guitar and Banjo and Gospel, Blues and Street Songs. This is an unvarnished portrait of this legendary icon in the most intimate of settings. If you’ve ever wanted to be there with him, this is your opportunity.