Doc's Finest
K. Giorlando | Eastpointe, Michigan United States | 04/10/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is such a phenomenal album! Doc Watson and his son, Merle (with help from some friends), recorded what I would consider to be the ultimate southern roots album. The tunes on this collection span well over a hundred years, from the Civil War ("Bright Sunny South") to the 1930's ("Hello Stranger") to somewhat contemporary ("Solid Gone") to country gospel ("What A Friend We Have In Jesus"), it's all here. There's a consistency about this album that, although recorded in the early '80's, it has a very old-timey feel to it. Is it folk? Definitely! Is it country? Could be, although country radio stayed away from it. Is it traditional? Absolutely! One of the most traditional back porch albums I've ever heard! There is nothing contemporary in the feeling of this CD. And every note sung and played comes straight from the heart.
'Down South' is the perfect title for this album, because it is truly a regional recording, and it's the one record I can turn to that will give me a 'south of the mason-dixon' feel. It sounds like what you might hear at a southern family reunion. Another of my 'desert island discs.' Coming from someone who lives nowhere near the Bright Sunny South (unless southern Michigan counts), well, that's a pretty high compliment!"
The Really Essential Doc Watson
Jerome Langguth | Erlanger, KY United States | 06/13/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is one of my favorite Doc Watson albums. It is a well chosen selection of songs, performed brilliantly by Doc and his son Merle. One of the nicest things about it is that it highlights Doc's ability to transform songs from all over the musical map into Doc Watson music. There's the blues of Mississippi John Hurt, fiddle tunes, Gospel, bluegrass, and old-time country. All in less than an hour."
Is there a better doc watson album?
C. Abel | 11/26/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"or one even close? seriously i want to know. this one is great."