"I first encountered this album when I purchased it on vinyl in the late seventies after a co-worker turned me on to Leo Kottke. This in turn introduced me to the master--John Fahey--and the relatively unknown Peter Lang.Like Kottke after his first album on Takoma, Lang branched out to include session musicians and even the occasional vocal. It didn't work for him, mostly due to poorly chosen material. But Lang's guitar playing shines on the four cuts here. [And if you can find it, his only Takoma album "The Thing at the Nursery Room Window" is remarkable.]As far as Kottke's and Fahey's contributions, they are as always superb. But other than this being the ONLY way to still hear anything by Peter Lang, this album serves as little more than a sampler for the twin pillars of finger-picking guitarists. It is, of course, all wonderful, but it will leave you wanting more...the next place to go is Kottke's "Six and Twelve String Guitar" and Fahey's "The Legend of Blind Joe Death." HIGHLY RECOMMENDED"
Up, up and away...
Dana J. Valley | Melbourne, Australia | 07/10/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What Piccard and Jones did with a balloon in '99, Kottke, Lang & Fahey did way back in '74 with a guitar. They took centuries old technology and redefined its capabilities by applying innovation, vision and courage. For the unenlightened that thought the guitar was limited to either ear splitting rock riffs and/or, campfire strum-alongs, this trio lifts the listener far above the peaks of expected performance and shows them the light.A must have for fingerstyle guitar enthusiasts? Certainly, but more importantly, a must have for anyone who has no idea what fingerstyle guitar is. These are the guitar-tists that changed the guitar-picker paradigm and defined the fingerstyle genre."
The best guitar work ever recorded.
Dana J. Valley | 07/13/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It's about time this was released on a CD. I've worn my album out. This is the best of Kottke. Lang was a wonderful surprise. When Kings Come Home is an amazing song. As for Fahey, there is no one better on a 12 string and this selection of songs proves it."
A must for finger-style players
Dana J. Valley | 08/06/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Perhaps the best compilation of players from the "Fahey" school of fingerstyle guitar. Kottke's Cripple Creek is an unaccompanied arrangement and really shows the focused power of his early playing. I've probably listened to this track about 1000 times and have yet to get tired of it. Lang was a revelation to me when I bought this record. A very polished player whose records are hard to find now. Fahey checks in with nicely remastered versions of older favorites. Why don't you already own this record? Buy it yesterday!"