Search - Happy Traum :: I Walk the Road Again

Happy Traum accomplishes his mission

Richard Hasenauer | Sewell, New Jersey United States | 10/29/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Happy Traum wrote in his liner notes, for his latest cd release, "I Walk the Road Again", that he hoped to give these tunes new life and to give pleasure to listeners. I'm compelled to state that I believe he has succeded beyond his anyone's expectations. Happy gets no pass simply because he has been a pillar in the folk/americana/accoustic tradition. He DELIVERS! His guitar playing is that of a master (check out www.happytraum.com or www.homespuntapes.com if you have any questions about his credentials as a force in the significant history of the 'player'). His range from the sweet sentimentality of, "It's Good to See You"(my favorite) to "Pinto Pony" (a Paul Siebel gem) to "Friends and Neighbors", which is wonderfully revisited,(in 1982 he, along with Larry Campbell and Roly Saley...and feathuring Cindy Cashdollar & Paul Butterfield, delivered a traditional lp that is a collector's treasure and features the 'Friends & Neighbors' song as well as it being the LP title)...Cindy Cashdollar and Larry Campbell appear on this new release, as well (those of you familiar with Bob Dylan or Praire Home Companion or Asleep At the Wheel will know the musical talent of Cindy and Larry). The blues treatment of Betty & Dupree congers up the rhythm of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee....Happy's vocal is honest...it is your neighbor singing songs of significance. These are the melodies and lyrics of a real America....they have social, political, emotional, and historical significance. 'Step It Up and Go' makes one recall Lightin' Hopkins delivery and cadence. John Sebastian's soulful harmonica accompaniment on selected tunes is a wonderful garnish to the talents that Happy displays. Artie (Happy's brother) has done a masterful job of producing this cd and, no doubt, with their complimentary muscial affection and respect, this achievement was inevitable...they have been in sinc from their duo days to the loose collective of Woodstock Mountains Revue....check those recordings out on the internet (if you go online to search, try Mad Acres as well as Mud Acres and Woodstock Mountains Revue). Thanks Happy for a wonderful cd...one that evokes the passion of a person who loves the strings and the stories that can be told in words and melody."

Beautiful Acoustic Blues...

Peter Hyatt | Orrington, Maine | 03/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"with an excellent band behind him, Happy has come up with a suble and beautiful country/blues/bluegrass album that is soothing, lovely, and a marvel to listen to in its complex simplicitiy. (Musicians will understand that phrase!). Just listen to the samples provided here and you will grab this wonderful collection from one of the most talented musicians/teachers today. This is an album that is not heard often today, and although the MTV generation may have lost its soul watching silly videos with more for the eye than the ear, those that give this even the quickest listen may be redeemed. Great work, Happy! Happy is also my "guitar teacher" through his Homespuntapes.com It may be said of him: he both does and teaches."

I Walk the Road Again: an ongoing, clean, tight satisfying l

Alan Herman | New York, NY USA | 11/01/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Happy Traum's new CD, "I Walk the Road Again", is a terrific album... wonderfully produced, and filled with terrific arrangements track after track, replete with masterful musicianship from major achievers at the top of their game, all put down in what feels, just a simple intimate way... Personal favorites are, "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You" and "Friends and Neighbors", and then probably "Times A-Getting Hard" and "Danville Girl".... after that I fear the list starts to get long.... I doubt anyone into folk music will not find this an ongoing, clean, tight satisfying listen.



Alan Herman, NYC"