John hartford

**Truckadero** · Apr-24-2007, 10:49pm

Used to go see John Hartford every chance we got at "Wind In The Willows" in Nashville. This was in the late 70's to early 80's, just after college for us. It was a fantastic old house just off of Elliston Place near Vanderbilt. The shows he put on there were amazing. Very intimate. We loved him and miss his music and spirit to this day. Aereoplane was a favorite during those college daze.

**coletrickle** · Apr-25-2007, 3:38pm

Picked up a vinyl copy of this great album in a coffee shop for 3 bucks. Mint condition. I have had the rereleased CD for a few years now, but as stated above nothing beats the vinyl. Perfect.

**jaco** · Apr-25-2007, 5:27pm

This appears to be a collector's item as there is nothing available on Amazon, Rounder's website, or I-Tunes. Can't believe folks wouldn't put such a classic album back out in circulation. I'm even having a hard time finding the lyrics on the internet. Seems like someone would get it back out in circulation.

**Garrett** · Apr-25-2007, 7:23pm

I'm a huge Hartford fan. If you dig Aeroplane get Good Ole Boys, one of his last records and an ensemble masterpiece. I think his very greatest recordings are the string of fiddle records he did late in his career and the apex is "Hamilton Ironworks" which I think is one of the best recordings ever. Period. More moving every time you listen.

As Butch Robins said, our Mark Twain. A true American genius.

**Truckadero** · Apr-26-2007, 1:12am

As was stated earlier...Rhapsody. Aereo-Plain...Morning Bugle....Gum Tree Canoe...Good Old Boys...Hamilton...they are all there. It is a digital world now. Enjoy!

Also go listen to John sing and play "Doin My Time" on Grismans "Life of Sorrow" recording. Best version I've ever heard, hands down.

**Chippster** · Apr-26-2007, 9:20am

I was talking to Grant Boatwright the other night about him. You remember Grant as a big part of Red White and Blue Grass. We agreed that Hartford was as big a part of "legitimizing" progressive bluegrass as anyone. I loved him in the '70's. I even owned his 1960's "Gentle on My Mind, I Would not be Here, Tall Buildings" period oh-so-sensitive folk stuff. I also sat at his feet many times at the Exit/Inn in Nashville when i was in College listening to him solo, sometimes with Benny Martin, sometimes Norman, Vassar, etc. One slow night when we were all drinking, these (drunk) women invited him to our table on a break ... he gratefully sat down and had a drink with us, then we stepped out back in the alley for some "fresh air". I told him i was a fan and he scolded me! "Don't be a fan! Listen to my music, enjoy it, learn from my influences, but I really don't like fans ... they want too much of me." (remember he was drunk and stoned like i was). He also told a funny story about a woman who came up to him after a show, saying "I wish you'd play something i recognize ... that way i could tell if you were any good or not!" I've gotten my 18 year old son into Sam Bush ... think John should be the next step!

**Mattg** · Apr-27-2007, 9:08am

The Fretboard Journal did a great article on John a few issues back. Definately worth the read.

**LimaLarry** · Apr-27-2007, 8:32pm

I was very lucky to get to see John perform in Lima at the Midwest Bluegrass Festival in 1999. I was even luckier to get taken backstage by Raymond McClain to meet John, all because I have a great-great-grandfather, Fiddler Shade Slone, who was an old time fiddler. John introduced a song that day that was soon to be on an album, "The Cross-Eyed Child". This song, which is on the "Good Old Boys" CD, is a great tribute to Bill Monroe, with John telling stories about Bill, like fox-hunting with him, and Bill's competitiveness in everything he did. "Good Old Boys" is one of my favorite CD's, and now I need to get Aero-plain after hearing so much about it. And to think, John had copies of Aero-plain for sale that day in Lima, with signatures if requested, and I passed it up.

Larry