Today! (Mississippi John Hurt album)
Today! | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1966 | |||
Recorded | 1964 | |||
Genre | Folk, blues | |||
Length | 43:07 | |||
Label | Vanguard | |||
Producer | Patrick Sky | |||
Mississippi John Hurt chronology | ||||
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Today! is the
Background and recording
Hurt had made commercial recordings for the now-defunct
Hurt was invited to perform at the Newport Folk Festival in 1963, where he was greeted as a "living legend". Following this performance, he began to tour around various universities, and recorded a second album in 1964.[1][3] Through touring, Hurt's audience continued to grow, which prompted a recording contract with Vanguard Records and the release of his third album, Today!, in 1966.[4] A similar recording and performance schedule was adopted by the fellow bluesman Skip James around this same time, who also recorded for Vanguard an album of the same name.[6]
Reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [2] |
Music Angle | [7] |
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings | [8] |
David Freedlander, of
It shows ... that all that the great bluesman has lost is years; his voice retains its characteristic
Buddha-esque warmth and it is still difficult to believe that there is just one man playing on the seemingly effortless guitar work ... that sound, along with a mellow and heartfelt voice, wizened here by decades, combine to make Today! an unforgettable whole. A truly essential album of the folk revival, unrivaled in its beauty and warmth.[2]
Track listing
All songs written by Hurt, except when noted
- Side one
- "Pay Day"
- "I'm Satisfied"
- "Candy Man"
- "Make Me a Pallet on the Floor" (trad.)
- "Talking Casey"
- "Corrina, Corrina" (trad.)
- Side two
- "Coffee Blues"
- "Louis Collins"
- "Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight" (trad.)
- "If You Don't Want Me Baby"
- "Spike Driver Blues" (trad., arranged John Hurt)
- "Beulah Land" (trad.)
Personnel
- Mississippi John Hurt – guitar, vocals
See also
- Today! (Skip James album)
- The Lovin' Spoonful, a band whose name was inspired by the song "Coffee Blues"
References
- ^ a b Wirz, Stefan. Illustrated Mississippi John Hurt discography. Wirz.de. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
- ^ a b c Freelander, David. Today! – Mississippi John Hurt. Allmusic. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
- ^ a b Eder, Bruce. Mississippi John Hurt. Allmusic. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
- ^ a b National Recording Registry Adds 25 – The Library Today (Library of Congress). Loc.gov. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
- Fuel 2000 Records. 1998.
- ^ Wynn, Ron. Today! – Skip James. Allmusic. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
- ^ Fremer, Michael. The Analog Revolution Leads a New Blues Renaissance. Michael Fremer's Music Angle. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
- ISBN 978-0-140-51384-4.