John Hartford "Aereo-Plain" CD (1971) Vassar Clements/Randy Scruggs/Norman Blake

Description: Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE Here we have the CD version of an album that took the traditional sounds of bluegrass into bold new directions that still resonate today, courtesy of eternal good-timer JOHN HARTFORD: Aereo-Plain, first issued on Warner Brothers in 1971, rendered unto digital a full twenty-six years later by Rounder, now tragically out of print. Aereo-Plain has been called the Revolver of bluegrass, and not without cause, though this album would shake up bluegrass even harder than the Beatles classic did rock 'n roll. Hartford's masterpiece is a song cycle that celebrates the rise and fall of the old timey music subculture. Ironically, this loving epitaph to bluegrass was premature, as Aereo-Plain found a hip young audience that would lead to the music's transformation into "newgrass" and "progressive bluegrass," styles that would rejuvenate the old sounds. Producer David Bromberg had as much to do with the success of Aero-Plain as Hartford. A fellow traveler in folk circles, Bromberg resisted efforts to record second takes or embellish the tracks with overdubbing. Instead, he achieved pristine sound quality with the freewheeling ambience of a back-porch picking session. Hartford's quirky persona was served well by the lean production values, lending the music a warmth and intimacy that'll make you smile. The Aeroplane Band was an astounding line-up of notable country instrumentalists: Vassar Clements, ex-Bill Monroe fiddler extraordinaire; Norman Blake, master of mandolin, dobro and flat-top guitar; Tut Tyler, legendary innovator of the flat-picked dobro style; and Randy Scruggs, normally a lead guitarist, here performing on bass. Hartford himself moved with surprisingly equal facility between banjo and guitar. The song cycle begins (and closes) with A.J. Brumley's anthem to old time gospel radio, "Turn Your Radio On." For the next forty-odd minutes, Hartford is our tour guide, sweeping the listener away on a wondrous "Steam Powered Aeroplane," recalling his days with a riverboat band, traveling down to the city dump where old timers relive past glories, taking a moment to cop himself some weed, visiting the hill "where they do the boogie," pausing to reflect on his first love, even stopping in at the Grand Ol' Opry. It's sentimental stuff, but Hartford keeps pathos at bay with his eccentric stoner/philosopher humor and relaxed demeanor. The scope of the album is breathtaking, as Hartford skillfully lays claim to bluegrass credibility with a loopy counter-cultural vibe. Now, over five decades after the release of Aereo-Plain, the bluegrass revival that Hartford shaped rose like a sleeping giant to challenge the MOR country music establishment when the astounding dark-horse success of the Oh Brother Where Art Thou? soundtrack sent the pop/rock stars of Nashville scrambling to figure out what a mandolin was, and how to incorporate it into their next album. Hopefully Hartford got a smile out of seeing his musical revolution come to fruition, so many years after lighting the fuse. They can tear down the Grand Ol' Opry, but the music that built it refuses to die... and Aereo-Plain is a milestone album in this well-weathered genre. Tragically, this CD edition was deleted years ago by Rounder, with no reissue anywhere in sight. Don't miss this chance to warm your heart and tickle your soul with this beautiful album! The disc shows slight wear, but looks great and plays flawlessly. Track listing Turn Your Radio On Steamboat Whistle Blues Back in the Goodle Days Up on the Hill Where They Do the Boogie Boogie First Girl I Loved Presbyterian Guitar With a Vamp in the Middle Symphony Hall Rag Because of You Steam Powered Aereo Plane Holding Tear Down the Grand Ole Opry Leather Britches Station Break Turn Your Radio On

Price: 20 USD

Location: Brentwood, California

End Time: 2024-12-31T11:00:45.000Z

Shipping Cost: 5 USD