Just want to let folks know that Takoma Records co-founder with John Fahey, ED Denson, has passed away. He is being remembered by his countless friends.
He's the greatest. Maybe not technically -- though he's no slouch, it's very hard to play so clean and smoothly without sounding mechanical, but he does it -- but leaving that aside, a great great artist. His guitar is an extension of his soul. No one wrote such beautiful music in this idiom. I was lucky enough to see him live several times, it was unforgettable. I even got to go backstage between sets and change his strings for him once -- what an experience!
"though he's no slouch, it's very hard to play so clean and smoothly without sounding mechanical, but he does it" Reminds me of the great spanish master, Andres Segovia, just soul, purely musical.
I've never heard anything that convey so many emotions in one song. He used alot of notes and chord voicings that are considered dissonant, alot of them he made up. It's like he didn't care or know what music was "supposed" to sound. He just said this is what music is supposed to sound like to me, like it or don't.
Today is kinda the beginning of springtime where I live. This was the perfect soundtrack for all my emotions as I explored the wild around me left by winter storms and all the damage of human purposes -- carried out when everyone was watching TV and staying warm in their temporary shelters. Next week will be a big one for prescription drug distributors.
There is a superb biography of Fahey by Steve Lowenthal. The title is The Dance of Death: John Fahey. It just came out in paperback. The book is intelligent, knowledgeable and respectful. Poor John lived in a world of pain.
lucky for us (and, most importantly, for himself), he was a great alchemist, able to transmute that pain into gold. i felt this way after watching nina simone's documentary too, she underwent great suffering.
john fahey was trying to get free, maybe like all artists, each in their own way. you see him walking down the sidewalk, counting the cracks, then looking up at the blossoms, the birds, the day coming to an end. thank you for posting
I went to see John Fahey at the now defunct Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh, Pa back in "the day"' Short Version, some fella' using a hand truck wheels out a short half-refrigerator then he lays out an Arabian style rug' and then brings out a not before seen seen lamp. then a chair and a guitar stand. finally he brings out a guitar.. walks off-stage then quickly returns. Ladies and gentlemen, John Fahey
Definitely one of the truly original Guitar Gods of America, etc., eh? Wherever "he" is now, may the Buddha & all holy saints, angels, and peeps (of whatever species) Bless him and keep him playin' such amazingly beautiful, inspiringly pure music.
for those interested, most of this song is incorporated into his piece "Mark 1:15" from the 1971 album "America". He stated he worked on that piece for years, so it is not surprising, in his deeply blues-rooted nature, that he tried out and improvised some of the sections beforehand, as paragraphs to some intricate folk tale in writing...
Thanks for that tidbit! I'm sure a lot of this was improvised but the song form resembles a Classical piece of work, even if it is rooted in Roots music. I would love to transcribe this but I don't think I have the patience to do so. :)
I heard an apochraphal story that Fahey saw a poster for Douglas Fairbanks Thief of Bagdad and was compelled to play music....but chose the guitar as the most immediate entree to composing...I had that poster on my wall...pre 1976
well fuck. Glad i know who John Fahey is now. Amazing guitar player, knows how to let his guitar breath, goes up, down move from side to side, twist and turn. The soundscapes are amazing.
goes up, down, down move, up move, sideways move, parallel move, and even 90 degree move, twist and turn, twist and shout, a ting here, a tang there, walla walla big bang.
MrPundaddy ... John Fahey was an incredibly inavative guitarist who mentored Leo Kottke. Leos' 1st record, 6 & 12 string guitars, is nearly 50yrs, and still selling today. You will be doing yourself a very big favour if you have a lil listen. It's on Utube. Enjoy!...
Thanks for posting Nick. This is a lovely version. I am more familiar with his shorter version, but I really like this. To give credit where credit is due, however, the original authorship is credited to "John Fahey and Pat Sullivan". Her name seems to be left off subsequent versions.
This arrangement is called "Mark 1:15" on his "America" album, but I don't think Fahey every play it the same twice. "When the Springtime Comes Again" is incorporated into this longer tune. He's the greatest guitarist of all time IMO; as far as I am concerned more heart and soul even than Kottke.
SUN, MOON AND STARS SHINE FOR OUR FALLEN MAESTRO, MASTER AND CHAMPION COMPOSER. NICK, YOUR POSTING OF THIS JEWEL MEANS A LOT TO ME. ITS BEEN A DOZEN YEARS SINCE HE'S LEFT US. THE GOOD NEWS IS, EVIDENTLY, THERE WILL BE A MOVIE, COMING OUT IN THE WINTER OF 2013, CALLED, SOMETHING LIKE, "IN SEARCH OF BLIND JOE DEATH".
" It's like no one saw the moon until John thought to look up " - Leo Kottke
I wanna hear the whole context but man that's beautiful
Wow. Now there is a stunning compliment. Beautiful is the word.
Just want to let folks know that Takoma Records co-founder with John Fahey, ED Denson, has passed away. He is being remembered by his countless friends.
this is the best wiggly air that ever hit my eardrums
Based
He's the greatest. Maybe not technically -- though he's no slouch, it's very hard to play so clean and smoothly without sounding mechanical, but he does it -- but leaving that aside, a great great artist. His guitar is an extension of his soul. No one wrote such beautiful music in this idiom. I was lucky enough to see him live several times, it was unforgettable. I even got to go backstage between sets and change his strings for him once -- what an experience!
"though he's no slouch, it's very hard to play so clean and smoothly without sounding mechanical, but he does it"
Reminds me of the great spanish master, Andres Segovia, just soul, purely musical.
I've never heard anything that convey so many emotions in one song. He used alot of notes and chord voicings that are considered dissonant, alot of them he made up. It's like he didn't care or know what music was "supposed" to sound. He just said this is what music is supposed to sound like to me, like it or don't.
I agree he's the Goat.
@@tylerbrandon460 he was the first in his generation to sea the moon for what it really was.-
@@zatoichimasseur6767 what really is the moon?
One of the greatest to ever do it.
the greatest imo
The Goat
7:01 a song for the battlefields of your life
Today is kinda the beginning of springtime where I live. This was the perfect soundtrack for all my emotions as I explored the wild around me left by winter storms and all the damage of human purposes -- carried out when everyone was watching TV and staying warm in their temporary shelters. Next week will be a big one for prescription drug distributors.
There is a superb biography of Fahey by Steve Lowenthal. The title is The Dance of Death: John Fahey. It just came out in paperback. The book is intelligent, knowledgeable and respectful. Poor John lived in a world of pain.
I have it, and it's a very interesting book. I wish I had more time to propose myself for a translation in my language
lucky for us (and, most importantly, for himself), he was a great alchemist, able to transmute that pain into gold. i felt this way after watching nina simone's documentary too, she underwent great suffering.
john fahey was trying to get free, maybe like all artists, each in their own way. you see him walking down the sidewalk, counting the cracks, then looking up at the blossoms, the birds, the day coming to an end. thank you for posting
I went to see John Fahey at the now defunct Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh, Pa back in "the day"'
Short Version, some fella' using a hand truck wheels out a short half-refrigerator
then he lays out an Arabian style rug' and then brings out a not before seen seen lamp.
then a chair and a guitar stand.
finally he brings out a guitar..
walks off-stage then quickly returns.
Ladies and gentlemen,
John Fahey
This is it! The HOLY GRAIL Johns greatest this is the quintessential Fahey!
check out the channel blind lewis, lots of great live recordings, even better ones of this song imo
Definitely one of the truly original Guitar Gods of America, etc., eh? Wherever "he" is now, may the Buddha & all holy saints, angels, and peeps (of whatever species) Bless him and keep him playin' such amazingly beautiful, inspiringly pure music.
+Michael Monterey fuck yeah
this guitar makes me happy. Always.
for those interested, most of this song is incorporated into his piece "Mark 1:15" from the 1971 album "America". He stated he worked on that piece for years, so it is not surprising, in his deeply blues-rooted nature, that he tried out and improvised some of the sections beforehand, as paragraphs to some intricate folk tale in writing...
Thanks for that tidbit! I'm sure a lot of this was improvised but the song form resembles a Classical piece of work, even if it is rooted in Roots music. I would love to transcribe this but I don't think I have the patience to do so. :)
I heard an apochraphal story that Fahey saw a poster for Douglas Fairbanks Thief of Bagdad and was compelled to play music....but chose the guitar as the most immediate entree to composing...I had that poster on my wall...pre 1976
I had a dream once withdrawing from drugs. I'd explain it to you but but this song does a far better jobs.
grandioso, non ho mai ascoltato chitarristi come lui, forse solo robbie basho può avvicinarsi
Feels like I live lifetime listening to this song
well fuck. Glad i know who John Fahey is now. Amazing guitar player, knows how to let his guitar breath, goes up, down move from side to side, twist and turn. The soundscapes are amazing.
goes up, down, down move, up move, sideways move, parallel move, and even 90 degree move, twist and turn, twist and shout, a ting here, a tang there, walla walla big bang.
Big Bang scattering in spherical coordinates
dont ever recall getting teary over music this must be a first
MrPundaddy ... John Fahey was an incredibly inavative guitarist who mentored Leo Kottke. Leos' 1st record, 6 & 12 string guitars, is nearly 50yrs, and still selling today. You will be doing yourself a very big favour if you have a lil listen. It's on Utube. Enjoy!...
@@pereraddison932 meh huge fan of Fahey not so much of Kottke, too technical didn’t cry
this is such an incredible piece of music.
So painful
Amazing recording, sounds like he's in my room.
all the memories that were washed away.
This makes me weep of joy
I am feeling so much the Vynil version when I listen to this, this is the kind of stuff i can listen to again and again...
Unavailable on Vinyl.
maestro!
Luca Terzi veramente
At 5:44 b begins the most hauntingly beautiful chords ever strummed.
Thanks John! In the clouds, takes creative genius to get so much variety of tones and riffs and all those sounds! Ya know?
beautiful ~ thank you
Astral expression...! This is great!
Thanks for posting Nick. This is a lovely version. I am more familiar with his shorter version, but I really like this. To give credit where credit is due, however, the original authorship is credited to "John Fahey and Pat Sullivan". Her name seems to be left off subsequent versions.
love this in May 2017
Really interesting version of this song. Definitely takes you on a journey through emotions.
It's an original piece alright, but the version he recorded on vinyl was a bit different.
This is apparently an earlier take on it.
This arrangement is called "Mark 1:15" on his "America" album, but I don't think Fahey every play it the same twice. "When the Springtime Comes Again" is incorporated into this longer tune.
He's the greatest guitarist of all time IMO; as far as I am concerned more heart and soul even than Kottke.
@@WilliamBrownGuitar amen
SUN, MOON AND STARS SHINE FOR OUR FALLEN MAESTRO, MASTER AND CHAMPION COMPOSER. NICK, YOUR POSTING OF THIS JEWEL MEANS A LOT TO ME. ITS BEEN A DOZEN YEARS SINCE HE'S LEFT US. THE GOOD NEWS IS, EVIDENTLY, THERE WILL BE A MOVIE, COMING OUT IN THE WINTER OF 2013, CALLED, SOMETHING LIKE, "IN SEARCH OF BLIND JOE DEATH".
What happened to that?
ua-cam.com/video/3NoXyb9AjJw/v-deo.html
great artist
bliss and heaven
Que genio :)
One of my favorites. Always.
great art
Master of the discord revelation .
unreal
heavenly
what a beautiful creationist
John believed in natural selection.
@@jeffwilliams196 Proofs?
if the part beginning at 7:02 doesn't send chills down your spine then i really don't know you should get yourself checked
while he's not technically the fastest or whatever, theres something about the way he could hold the rhythm that is superhuman.
Brian Jones must have heard that ... if you understand me ... The song is from 1963.
@guitarsfromhell77
Indeed it is.
6:54
By the way (by by the the way way) this is one human bean with one guitar with six strings playing to the gods that be.
Or just playing for himself and others, since there are most likely no gods that be.
@@christiangasior4244 John himself believed in a God. A Great Koonaklaster.
Is that played with a slide?
No.
Dropped D tuning - no slide
please tell me what chord he uses to play this. thanks in advance
all of them
Unorthodox
Is he playing at a klan meeting? ( cross and flags )
No
john fahey was a devout christian and i think the cross is poignant