We smoked bales of weed and drank three rivers of beer spending time with John Hartford riding the river boats and having a damn good time. One day we'll all be up on the hill where they do the boogie looking back thinking the one thing that brings us all together is music. I tip my hat to one of the greats, Mr. John Hartford!
Saw him play in Chapel Hill, NC and got him to autograph this album. I had his autograph on another album, and I told him that I was an Elementary Teacher. I said that I used his autograph as an example of great cursive writing. He looked up at me, blushed and said, "why thank you". That's my story.
As a teenager in Scotland, I became acquainted with the Dillards, then John Hartford. Always wanted to see them all playing live. John was so talented and he lived the life which I would have loved. I’ll be listening to his music forever.
This little clip is the essence of what great Country, Bluegrass & Folk is all about - none of the old "Coward of the County"-style preachy moralising. I want good music, not a lecture! And great music is exactly what J H gave us. John Hartford (RIP) was plainly quite ill at this late stage in his life, his voice was failing, but his instrumental prowess was undimmed. He drew other super talents around him like Vassar Clements, the elderly Dobro player and all the others - not one average musician among them. Living in Ireland as I do, I'm afraid I cannot name them all. It is a pure joy to be able to enter UA-cam and access such magnificent gems as this. Whoever it is who does this, please keep on doing it!
john was sick here...you can hear it in his voice. he had just over six months to live when thsi was recorded. what a courageous man he wa -- commited to his beloved music almost to the end. this breaks my heart.
My dear friend, John Hartford died 15 years ago today. Not a day goes by that I don't miss him. This was from an appearance just about 6 months before John passed. He loved performing and he did it until close to the end. John appears here as a shadow of his former self. He was so brave. This breaks my heart.
featherriver2080 . So sorry for the loss of your friend. I was blessed to meet him several times and heard him play many times. He treated everyone like a friend. An amazing multi faceted man, for sure. So many talents...he will always stay alive in the hearts of old and new fans. Gone too soon, but loved forever. ☆♡☆
these guys were & are "the greats" john was so different than the run of the mill. there will never be another john hartford. vassar clements is another one of those different kinds of sweet style fiddlers that could fit with anybody he played with from old & in the way, with gerry garcia, peter rowan , his own cd's and great with anybody he played with. great video, thanks!
This is one of the sacred, seminal albums in my family history and to me, personally. I got here as I was scrolling through the Facebook feed of my father, who passed away this week and it brings me to tears (again). At Merlefest 2001 (maybe 2000), John and some of these folks played this tune and several others from the record. As I inhaled that moment, next to my father and sister, I wanted it to last forever. We all knew John would soon no longer be with us and it was absolutely the most moving live performance I've witnessed. I was hoping someone had posted that on YT but it appears it will only be in my memory. Thanks for the music, John, and thanks for giving me a love of music, Dad. May the Steam-powered Aereo-plain fly you home.
I bought this album [Areoplane] three times gave two away then got it on CD. I have loved his music and him since seeing him on the Smothers Brothers TV show.
This was at the great Troy Savings Bank Music Hall on November 18th, 2000. Troy is across the river from Albany. There are several similarly mis-dated clips out there on the ‘tube. And there are many properly dated full show audio recordings floating around. I just found my program from the show today! It was, by far, the most bittersweet musical event l’ve ever attended.
Norman is the only Aereoplane Band member still with us. RIP, John, Tut, Vassar and Randy Scruggs. Although Randy wasn't an official member of the touring band, he played bass on the record.
What a lovable person. His soul was angelic, filled with honesty, talent and charm. So humble and brilliant. John Hartford deserves a place on Mount Rushmore. He is pure American. All the good of a nation is who he was.
Love seeing all the clips of John. Thanks so much for sharing it. I first saw him perform in Cincinnati right after Mark Twang came out. Wow! Blew us away! Miss him a lot!
Oh man, I was at this show. Little did I know it'd be my last time seeingJohn Hartford play. Such fond memories of watching John Hartford play at Grey Fox over the years. One of my favorite songs by him, and I love when Sam Bush plays it too.
We've lost an encyclopedia of American music when we lost John. Although... Seeing this here he is not lost. Thank you John Hartford... You have me forever in the "Goodle Days".
Thanks for the precious video. That young band helping John and the Aereoplane band was John Hartford's String Band that toured with him for many years and was John's band right before he died. The other banjo player is long time collaborator Bob Carlin. I'm not sure who the bass player is. But I can find out.
It never get's any better.. This song has been going through my mind (some odd 40 plus years later) all week and I ended up here.. Worth the trip.. I'll take one more of those tickets on that ol fashioned steam powered aereoplane.. His music always leaves me in deep yearning mode.. I never know if I feel like I should cry or laugh..
John gave his all to the music! Everyone reveres Bill Monroe for good reason, but along with Flatt and Scruggs, Hartford really introduced bluegrass music to the masses (in areas outside the South) back in the 60's. He loved performing and showed up on TV a lot where he injected great energy, and humor into his music. He had a great appreciation for talent, as displayed by his backup members. Plus he respected old American history, and brought back-popularized old songs and a unique old-time style of playing!
This was the Sat. night before Thanksgiving in 2000 at the great Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, NY. There was a full camera crew on hand, and we've been wondering if this would ever surface. Great work and thanks for posting. Please release this as a concert film, it was incredible!
I saw him in Morgantown, WV many, many years ago, in a small venue. I was completely unprepared. The level of talent, the showmanship, the connection with the audience was beyond anything I have ever seen. Even the biggest acts - and I've seen them all - couldn't compare. And never will.
John's music and my family's music was instrumental to my love of music. 15 years since he left us. Thanks for the post... I hope whoever has the full concert share this in some format soon... Saw him many times.... love every second!
John Hartford has always been an inspiration to my own music, listening to his records back in the 70's and catching a concert in Toronto in the early 90's with his son on stage playing the mandolin and John waltzing through the crowd playing his fiddle (they both wore derbies) PURE MAGIC and Musical JOY ~eff
Something about watching John lovingly surrounded by all his friends in the final months of his life is utterly heartbreaking and profoundly beautiful at the same time. I hope he's found a nice deck-chair to sit on, high up over Kansas City.
Johnathan, I hope so, too, but John's presence still hangs everywhere in his old house on the Cumberland River. I have sat in John's old practice chair up in the crow's nest of his house and played my Hartford banjo. He was larger than life, that's for sure! When you are in his house, even to this day, you feel him.
@@ilovemypugdog Who am I? LOL! Just one of the many anonymous musicians in the world. Nobody particularly special. I just happened to love John's music, and was lucky enough, by chance, to become friends with the current owners of the house, who had been John's neighbors for many, many years before his death. I do have pictures of the house and property. If you are curious about the house, there's a Texas Swing version of "Gentle on My Mind" on UA-cam from Victorian Rose, and there are pictures of the house (and John's recording studio) in that video, if that helps. Plus, it might be my favorite version of the song.
So many of this group no longer with us. They will be missed. Had the chance on many occasions to have coffee with John when he would pilot the Julia Belle Swain up the Illinois River to a state park lodge near my town. He would put on a one man show there then head back down to Peoria the next morning. Wonderful man.
How anyone can gives this a thumbs down is beyond me I admit John's voice is not as strong as it was before he was sick but the music is strong sweet and beautiful.
Today I have learned about John Hartford. I never really knew much about him, except, of course, he wrote "Gentle on my Mind" His fansite is good, and thanks to all the youtube uploads. Now I get to have the fun of discovering all that talent he had--things like finding some of his 30 album releases in used record stores (don't we all love that?) Sorry he was gone too soon.
I first heard about John Hartford about 8 years ago from a gentleman giving me Banjo lessons. Lonnie Hoppers, who played with Bill Monroe in 59-60. I am sorry to say that Lonnies teachings didnt go to far with me, Still cant play worth a darn. Just listened to this recording 10 consecutive times sitting in 92 degree heat and as usual I have goosebumps. Love his music and playing style, Sorry I never saw him in person,but sure enjoy him here. Great artists with him and the lap steel in super.
I was at this concert! And I've tried to get a copy of it as I remember it was recorded...this is the first clip I've seen of it. Thanks! I just wish I was listening to "Good 'ole boys".
Had the opportunity to talk to John Hartford in Owensboro, Kentucky at length. We we stuck on an elevator. I found that he and I were born on the same day in 1937.
I was on an elevator in Louisville with him for one of the IBMA festivals there. Though we didn't get stuck, he did help me off with my bass by yelling out "Watch out! Man with a baby!"
Saw John in May of 2001 at the Grafton Illinois tow boat festival unfortunately he passed soon after. Could see that he wasn't doing very well. such a great talent truly missed
Morning Bugle was the first album I bought after I got my first banjer 30 some odd years back. I bought Aereoplane a couple of weeks later. I have more John Hartford albums than anyone else. John sounds very weak in this clip, but I still love it.
You don't consider Tut Taylor, Norman Blake, Vassar Clements to be "name" pickers? They are at least as "name" as Sammy. Bob Carlin is a well respected clawhammer player too. And John is as big a "name", if not bigger, than/as Sam Bush.
We smoked bales of weed and drank three rivers of beer spending time with John Hartford riding the river boats and having a damn good time. One day we'll all be up on the hill where they do the boogie looking back thinking the one thing that brings us all together is music. I tip my hat to one of the greats, Mr. John Hartford!
Thank You Billy Strings and Billy Failing and boys for bringing this song back for a new generation of fans.
This makes me cry. There has never been any music so passionate, sophisticated, and naive at the same time. I cannot get enough of Aereo-Plain.
It always seemed like he was a really good guy, not phony in the least.
Me too. Mad respect to a life well lived and gifts so freely given.
Saw him play in Chapel Hill, NC and got him to autograph this album. I had his autograph on another album, and I told him that I was an Elementary Teacher. I said that I used his autograph as an example of great cursive writing. He looked up at me, blushed and said, "why thank you". That's my story.
Unbelievable. What a performance. And knowing he’d be gone in. A years time makes this one bittersweet.
Rest in picking John Hartford 🎻🪕
As a teenager in Scotland, I became acquainted with the Dillards, then John Hartford. Always wanted to see them all playing live. John was so talented and he lived the life which I would have loved. I’ll be listening to his music forever.
This little clip is the essence of what great Country, Bluegrass & Folk is all about - none of the old "Coward of the County"-style preachy moralising. I want good music, not a lecture! And great music is exactly what J H gave us. John Hartford (RIP) was plainly quite ill at this late stage in his life, his voice was failing, but his instrumental prowess was undimmed. He drew other super talents around him like Vassar Clements, the elderly Dobro player and all the others - not one average musician among them. Living in Ireland as I do, I'm afraid I cannot name them all. It is a pure joy to be able to enter UA-cam and access such magnificent gems as this. Whoever it is who does this, please keep on doing it!
john was sick here...you can hear it in his voice. he had just over six months to live when thsi was recorded. what a courageous man he wa -- commited to his beloved music almost to the end. this breaks my heart.
Always makes me cry. Something about him singing this song. He was an amazing performer!
My dear friend, John Hartford died 15 years ago today. Not a day goes by that I don't miss him. This was from an appearance just about 6 months before John passed. He loved performing and he did it until close to the end. John appears here as a shadow of his former self. He was so brave. This breaks my heart.
He was unique and truly special.
featherriver2080 ii
featherriver2080 . So sorry for the loss of your friend. I was blessed to meet him several times and heard him play many times. He treated everyone like a friend. An amazing multi faceted man, for sure. So many talents...he will always stay alive in the hearts of old and new fans. Gone too soon, but loved forever. ☆♡☆
suzie koechling
Z
Wish i could have just met him once. What a neat person
these guys were & are "the greats" john was so different than the run of the mill. there will never be another john hartford. vassar clements is another one of those different kinds of sweet style fiddlers that could fit with anybody he played with from old & in the way, with gerry garcia, peter rowan , his own cd's and great with anybody he played with. great video, thanks!
This is one of the sacred, seminal albums in my family history and to me, personally. I got here as I was scrolling through the Facebook feed of my father, who passed away this week and it brings me to tears (again). At Merlefest 2001 (maybe 2000), John and some of these folks played this tune and several others from the record. As I inhaled that moment, next to my father and sister, I wanted it to last forever. We all knew John would soon no longer be with us and it was absolutely the most moving live performance I've witnessed. I was hoping someone had posted that on YT but it appears it will only be in my memory. Thanks for the music, John, and thanks for giving me a love of music, Dad. May the Steam-powered Aereo-plain fly you home.
I bought this album [Areoplane] three times gave two away then got it on CD. I have loved his music and him since seeing him on the Smothers Brothers TV show.
This was at the great Troy Savings Bank Music Hall on November 18th, 2000. Troy is across the river from Albany. There are several similarly mis-dated clips out there on the ‘tube. And there are many properly dated full show audio recordings floating around. I just found my program from the show today! It was, by far, the most bittersweet musical event l’ve ever attended.
Norman is the only Aereoplane Band member still with us. RIP, John, Tut, Vassar and Randy Scruggs.
Although Randy wasn't an official member of the touring band, he played bass on the record.
What a lovable person. His soul was angelic, filled with honesty, talent and charm. So humble and brilliant. John Hartford deserves a place on Mount Rushmore. He is pure American. All the good of a nation is who he was.
Love seeing all the clips of John. Thanks so much for sharing it. I first saw him perform in Cincinnati right after Mark Twang came out. Wow! Blew us away! Miss him a lot!
Oh man, I was at this show. Little did I know it'd be my last time seeingJohn Hartford play. Such fond memories of watching John Hartford play at Grey Fox over the years. One of my favorite songs by him, and I love when Sam Bush plays it too.
This is "Real American Music". Thank you John Hartford.
We've lost an encyclopedia of American music when we lost John. Although... Seeing this here he is not lost.
Thank you John Hartford...
You have me forever in the "Goodle Days".
Thanks for the precious video. That young band helping John and the Aereoplane band was John Hartford's String Band that toured with him for many years and was John's band right before he died. The other banjo player is long time collaborator Bob Carlin. I'm not sure who the bass player is. But I can find out.
It never get's any better.. This song has been going through my mind (some odd 40 plus years later) all week and I ended up here.. Worth the trip.. I'll take one more of those tickets on that ol fashioned steam powered aereoplane.. His music always leaves me in deep yearning mode.. I never know if I feel like I should cry or laugh..
John gave his all to the music! Everyone reveres Bill Monroe for good reason, but along with Flatt and Scruggs, Hartford really introduced bluegrass music to the masses (in areas outside the South) back in the 60's. He loved performing and showed up on TV a lot where he injected great energy, and humor into his music. He had a great appreciation for talent, as displayed by his backup members. Plus he respected old American history, and brought back-popularized old songs and a unique old-time style of playing!
This was the Sat. night before Thanksgiving in 2000 at the great Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, NY. There was a full camera crew on hand, and we've been wondering if this would ever surface. Great work and thanks for posting. Please release this as a concert film, it was incredible!
I saw him in Morgantown, WV many, many years ago, in a small venue. I was completely unprepared. The level of talent, the showmanship, the connection with the audience was beyond anything I have ever seen. Even the biggest acts - and I've seen them all - couldn't compare. And never will.
John's music and my family's music was instrumental to my love of music. 15 years since he left us. Thanks for the post... I hope whoever has the full concert share this in some format soon... Saw him many times.... love every second!
John Hartford has always been an inspiration to my own music, listening to his records back in the 70's and catching a concert in Toronto in the early 90's with his son on stage playing the mandolin and John waltzing through the crowd playing his fiddle (they both wore derbies)
PURE MAGIC and Musical JOY ~eff
Something about watching John lovingly surrounded by all his friends in the final months of his life is utterly heartbreaking and profoundly beautiful at the same time. I hope he's found a nice deck-chair to sit on, high up over Kansas City.
Johnathan, I hope so, too, but John's presence still hangs everywhere in his old house on the Cumberland River. I have sat in John's old practice chair up in the crow's nest of his house and played my Hartford banjo. He was larger than life, that's for sure! When you are in his house, even to this day, you feel him.
Are there any pictures of his house?
@@selmer862 Who are you, that you were in his house, in his chair? Any pics of his house?
@@ilovemypugdog Who am I? LOL! Just one of the many anonymous musicians in the world. Nobody particularly special. I just happened to love John's music, and was lucky enough, by chance, to become friends with the current owners of the house, who had been John's neighbors for many, many years before his death. I do have pictures of the house and property. If you are curious about the house, there's a Texas Swing version of "Gentle on My Mind" on UA-cam from Victorian Rose, and there are pictures of the house (and John's recording studio) in that video, if that helps. Plus, it might be my favorite version of the song.
John Hartford is FOREVER in our hearts! :)
So many of this group no longer with us. They will be missed. Had the chance on many occasions to have coffee with John when he would pilot the Julia Belle Swain up the Illinois River to a state park lodge near my town. He would put on a one man show there then head back down to Peoria the next morning. Wonderful man.
" Modern day Mark Twain" is the most apropos term I ever heard applied to John Hartford . Aereo- plain should be in everyone's collection of music .
geez, this is awesome and it breaks my heart at the same time ...
Tut Taylor’s dobro picking is classic. He was my sisters father in law and whenever we visited Nashville doors opened.
More than an artist-a force of nature
How anyone can gives this a thumbs down is beyond me I admit John's voice is not as strong as it was before he was sick but the music is strong sweet and beautiful.
Today I have learned about John Hartford. I never really knew much about him, except, of course, he wrote "Gentle on my Mind" His fansite is good, and thanks to all the youtube uploads. Now I get to have the fun of discovering all that talent he had--things like finding some of his 30 album releases in used record stores (don't we all love that?) Sorry he was gone too soon.
That was a great night. I'll never forget it.
Dont what it is about this album but it makes me cry... it embodies everything I love about americana
John Hartford died in '01... however, his music will never die!
I first heard about John Hartford about 8 years ago from a gentleman giving me Banjo lessons. Lonnie Hoppers, who played with Bill Monroe in 59-60. I am sorry to say that Lonnies teachings didnt go to far with me, Still cant play worth a darn. Just listened to this recording 10 consecutive times sitting in 92 degree heat and as usual I have goosebumps. Love his music and playing style, Sorry I never saw him in person,but sure enjoy him here. Great artists with him and the lap steel in super.
I was at this concert! And I've tried to get a copy of it as I remember it was recorded...this is the first clip I've seen of it. Thanks! I just wish I was listening to "Good 'ole boys".
Where was the concert? Could listen to these guys on and on...
Jodi Turner
It was at the Troy Music Hall in Troy NY. John died not too long after this...it was a great concert!
I believe I had a cassette recording of this concert...
Truly one of a kind. RIP John!!
what a great performance
Still have this album that was bought at the record exchange on dickson st. in Fayettenam, AR. What a treasure!
We love him!
An artist sorely missed. What a talent the man was.
This is beyond cool! Thanks for sharing this video!
Rest in peace Tut. You are one of the best.
this is as good as it gets
thank you for posting!
Simply wonderful ........ !
What a line up!
A tear just came to my eye.
Alls u can say is; The great John Hartford!!!!
John...thank you
WOW. Historic gathering!
Had the opportunity to talk to John Hartford in Owensboro, Kentucky at length. We we stuck on an elevator. I found that he and I were born on the same day in 1937.
I was on an elevator in Louisville with him for one of the IBMA festivals there. Though we didn't get stuck, he did help me off with my bass by yelling out "Watch out! Man with a baby!"
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. We were there. We ran into Sam Bush in a bar up the street, after the show. That was a great night. 1:06
Saw John in May of 2001 at the Grafton Illinois tow boat festival unfortunately he passed soon after. Could see that he wasn't doing very well. such a great talent truly missed
@csncsn00
Johny Hartford is tha man! Thank you Claudio from Italy!
This video was taken less than a year before he died though...He lives on!
Thank you so much for posting this!!
Thank you for posting. It was an amazing evening. History was made. BTW, my concert ticket says November 18th, not 11th.
Man this is great
Miss John a whole lot! R I P John Harford...keep that paddle-wheel chugging!
This is a commercial release that is being sold by Tut Taylor. I bought a copy off him personally at Merlefest back in 2004.
Tutbro is the flatpickin' Dobro MAN!
Mike Compton on Mando. Reminds me of college nights at the Station Inn. . . Awwwwwwww, man.
Excellent
Awesome thank you!
A simple "like" button isn't enough!!!
Morning Bugle was the first album I bought after I got my first banjer 30 some odd years back. I bought Aereoplane a couple of weeks later. I have more John Hartford albums than anyone else. John sounds very weak in this clip, but I still love it.
Fck that's real music! Thx for the upload old dude
@gibsonrb75vl That's Bob Carlin on the clawhammer banjo. He and John Hartford did a couple of albums together.
man what a legend. rest in peace buddy. wish i could have shaken your hand
very nice indeed!
Thanks so much for posting this. This couldn't have been in November 2001 though, Hartford died June 2001.
It was November 2000.
You are correct. It was November 2000.
RIP John and Vassar
Everyone is accounted for here except Larry Perkins. He played the bass. He's a hell of a fella.
Question: Who would win in a fight between John Hartford and God?
Answer: Trick question, John Hartford is God!
Great, but also kinda heart breaking. He passed away the next June.
RIP John.
I love it how he pronounces it "Aereoplane."
great stuff/he went before his time/too bad
Great, with Norman, Tut and Vassar. Last time I saw him was at Grey Fox in 2000.
damn vassar could play
I love how he pronounces it "Aereoplane."
Tut Taylor on Dobro nice!
SWEEEEEEET! verrry good!
Tut reminds me of my Professor Lewis E. Anderson
Don't forget Larry Perkins on the bass.
Are there any biographies of John on UA-cam or elsewhere?
One of his final performances. He died months later.
norman blake is the man
the best
GOOOOOOOOO
@gibsonrb75vl Chris Sharp on the guitar. Heck of player himself.
Great band! Sam Bush seems to be the only "name" picker, but that's ok too. They all rock!
You don't consider Tut Taylor, Norman Blake, Vassar Clements to be "name" pickers? They are at least as "name" as Sammy.
Bob Carlin is a well respected clawhammer player too.
And John is as big a "name", if not bigger, than/as Sam Bush.
I see Bob Carlin playing the banjer there too.
MO' LAKE !!!
Happy/sad
he was gravely ill at this point ...sucks to see your heroes go down. Cigarettes are killers (but i love em too w/ a cocktail )
John wasn't killed by cigarettes. He had non Hodgkins lymphoma.