The Essential Doc Watson [Live]

Amazon.com essential recording
These 1963 and 1964 performances from the Newport Folk Festival illustrate the wide range of influences absorbed by flatpicker Doc Watson. Traditional folk, old-time, Piedmont blues, bluegrass, and gospel are all part of his musical equation, as well as the music of Jimmie Rodgers and the Delmore Brothers. Vanguard's 26-song compilation displays Watson's fleet guitar work and his deep, mellow voice (reminiscent of Burl Ives, actually), plus his passion for the material at hand. His 1963 performance was the one that propelled him into prominence. He'd been playing many of these traditionals since childhood, giving the songs a feeling of well-earned authenticity. --Marc Greilsamer

Tracks:

Tom Dooley
Alberta
Froggie Went A-Courtin'
Beaumont Rag
St. James Hospital
Muskrat
Down In The Valley To Pray
Blue Railroad Train
Rising Sun Blues
Shady Grove
My Rough And Rowdy Ways
The Train That Carried My Girl From Town
Black Mountain Rag
I Was A Stanger
Blueridge Mountain Blues
Country Blues
Groundhog
Little Orphan Girl
Blackberry Blossom
Going Down This Road Feeling Bad
Rambling Hobo
Little Omie Wise
Handsome Molly
Whitehouse Blues
I Want To Love Him More
Way Downtown

Amazon.com essential recording

These 1963 and 1964 performances from the Newport Folk Festival illustrate the wide range of influences absorbed by flatpicker Doc Watson. Traditional folk, old-time, Piedmont blues, bluegrass, and gospel are all part of his musical equation, as well as the music of Jimmie Rodgers and the Delmore Brothers. Vanguard's 26-song compilation displays Watson's fleet guitar work and his deep, mellow voice (reminiscent of Burl Ives, actually), plus his passion for the material at hand. His 1963 performance was the one that propelled him into prominence. He'd been playing many of these traditionals since childhood, giving the songs a feeling of well-earned authenticity. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

Best version of Froggie Went a Courtin' I ever Heard.......2002-02-27

OK, Never heard of Doc Watson? Well, thanks to my Dad, I have. This is easily his best album. You should hear his version of Froggie Went a Courtin. It is the best. Other songs on this album include Shady Grove, Tom Dooley, Alberta, Groundhog, there's even a duet with his late son Merle who flipped a tractor over on himself. If you love bluegrass, you're sure to fall in love with this album.

This is the one..........2000-08-08

The title says it all, really - If you own only one Doc Watson recording, this should be it. Doc's flatpicking (on "Black Mountain Rag, for instance), his fingerpicking (on"Little Omie Wise", for instance) and his folk/gospel style vocals (on most of the tracks) demonstrate just why he's considered one of this era's finest musicians. Doc's range is remarkable, and on this CD you'll find him singing gospel a capella, playing guitar full steam ahead, harmonizing with his mother (really!), playing duets with his son Merle, and yodeling like, well, a guy who knows what he's doing. 26 tracks here, over an hour of music, a must-have for anyone who enjoys traditional music, bluegrass, folk, acoustic.

One of the best blue grass albums.......1999-10-15

Getting this album was a trip back in time. My foot hasn't stopped tapping yet.

Fantastic.......1999-06-28

I think that this CD by far is one of if not the best. One other thing, if there is anybody out there that is a big Doc Watson fan, years ago he had a guitar course out, does anybody know how I could get one or even if it still exist? Thank You for taking the time to read this.

An essential album for acoutic guitar pickers to learn from.......1998-12-11

Any acoustic guitar picker who wants to learn from the master should have this in their collection. Doc makes the difficult seem effortless. His son Merle is the perfect match for Doc in providing his backup and when he takes his own breaks it is clear that he has inherited Doc's guitar genius.

Music Album:

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