Foundation: Doc Watson Guitar Instrumental Collection, 1964-1998

Amazon.com
Deep Gap, North Carolina's Doc Watson is considered one of country music's most influential guitar players. Watson's blend of Appalachian folk, blues, country, gospel, and bluegrass first gained steam nationally during a 1963 Newport Folk Festival appearance, and this anthology of instrumentals begins with "Black Mountain Rag" from his self-titled debut record from the following year. Foundation borrows 16 tracks from 11 albums--nearly 35 years worth of material--from his earliest recordings for Vanguard through the '70s and '80s duets with his late son Merle (who accompanies on banjo and guitar). Doc's voice serves only as an introduction to several of the collection's live numbers, letting his strings do the talking where it counts: on cap-tipping covers of songs by John D. Loudermilk, Maybelle Carter, and Molly O'Day, and on the nearly half-dozen rags that best display Doc's trademark flat-picking frenzy. --Scott Holter--

Tracks:

Black Mountain Rag
Windy & Warm
June Apple
Doc's Guitar
Stone's Rag
Victory Rag
Nashville Pickin'
Medley: Fiddler's Dram/Whistling Rufus/Ragtime Annie (Raggedy Ann)
Billy In The Lowground
Rainbow
Dill Pickle Rag
Salt River/Bill Cheatham
Lonesome Banjo
Texas Gales
Tucker's Barn
Cannonball Rag

Amazon.com

Deep Gap, North Carolina's Doc Watson is considered one of country music's most influential guitar players. Watson's blend of Appalachian folk, blues, country, gospel, and bluegrass first gained steam nationally during a 1963 Newport Folk Festival appearance, and this anthology of instrumentals begins with "Black Mountain Rag" from his self-titled debut record from the following year. Foundation borrows 16 tracks from 11 albums--nearly 35 years worth of material--from his earliest recordings for Vanguard through the '70s and '80s duets with his late son Merle (who accompanies on banjo and guitar). Doc's voice serves only as an introduction to several of the collection's live numbers, letting his strings do the talking where it counts: on cap-tipping covers of songs by John D. Loudermilk, Maybelle Carter, and Molly O'Day, and on the nearly half-dozen rags that best display Doc's trademark flat-picking frenzy. --Scott Holter--

Customer Reviews:

Six string heaven.......2002-12-05

A flatpicking fan's delight. Ya can't beat Doc Watson when he gets those strings a-ringing, although I have to confess being more partial to his vocal numbers, myself. Sixteen sterling examples of Watson's flawless guitar playing, gathered from various old Vanguard albums.

Great stuff, but not enough of it.......2001-12-13

Clocking in at a spare 31:36, this CD collects sixteen instrumental cuts from a small selection of Doc's output during these 25 years. This collection is a good starting point for newcomers to Doc's fine guitar (and banjo) playing, but for the avid fan it provides only highlights of his career and little more. We get a taste of flat picking, and a taste of finger picking, with a little banjo playing thrown in on the side. Still, it's hard to complain about an artist who is truly a national treasure, and whose picking is unsurpassed. It's just so good one wishes that they had included much, much more.

the Quintessential Doc.......2001-10-02

I first heard Doc when I was A boy. Being that my mother is from Kentucky, I was blessedly afforded the gift of bluegrass. Being A Yankee from Michigan, this type of music was lost on my friends but Lawdy, not on me. My first experience with Docs music was through the hands of my uncle Nathen who would play everything you could imagine and then some. But,... But when he got to Doc, time stood still. I tell you these things as when I listened to this collection, time stood still with meaning for me. "Docs guitar" still leaves me speachless, and "Windy and Warm" is a lovely coalition of two generations (God rest Merle) coming together, one at his fathers feet, to gift the world with the glory of artisans. I have been a guitarist for 27 years and yet still I stand in rapt awe of his magesty on the guitar.

( THE MAN ).......2000-10-20

THE MAN

Doc has always been THE MAN to a lot of picker's,even the top picker's today, like Tony Rice,Norman Blake,& so on,it might seem like straight picking,but try and do some of his song and you'll find out different. When I frist started playing I started out with the guitar, listing to the Stanely Brother's, then I heard Doc play, and was in awh, I did'nt no you could pick a guitar that fast and smooth. And then I heard Tony Rice play and he would start out like Doc but then take it a different level, and now today I here young picker's play, start out like Tony Rice, but take it a new level, but it all started with THE MAN (Doc Watons). Its a must bye if you dont have these recordings already in your (Library), bye this one, sit back, and listen to the picking of Doc and the picker's of today and you'll see what I'am talking about, and you will also say yes he is (THE MAN)... thanks

The best of Doc in instrumental form........2000-08-20

Doc Watson is a man who has had enormous influence on the the emergence of the acoustic guitar as a lead instrument in the folk/bluegrass genres. Without a doubt, Doc is the guy who blazed the trail and showed just what the guitar could do. This album is a fitting tribute to Doc and showcases a selection of tunes that span his career.

While all of these cuts have been previously issued, this instrumental album is a first and should not be missed by any serious Doc Watson fan. It is truly magical to hear Doc's playing through the years on this CD. While his own style is remarkably similar throughout, the variety of artists who accompany him that make the tunes quite different and varied. This CD demonstrates just how special a player Doc is.

Music Album:

Music Album