Comin' Down from Denver on a Trip to Galway Here and There
Chicken Oh Chicken
Goforth's Dusty Miller
Turkey Buzzard
Hamilton Ironworks, the last album recorded by the late, great John Hartford, is one of the most unique and bewitching stringband records in recent memory. While it can be argued that every note that John Hartford played i... more »s a tribute to his stylistic forefathers (given his thorough knowledge of rural American music), this is his first album entirely devoted to exploring his formative influences and experiences. Effortlessly blending singing, fiddling, and storytelling, Hartford creates a moving document that simultaneously pays homage to his heroes while retaining the ingenuous spark that has characterized his own music of the past four decades. Joining Hartford is the unassailable Hartford Stringband, which features Bob Carlin, Mike Compton, Larry Perkins, and Chris Sharp.« less
Hamilton Ironworks, the last album recorded by the late, great John Hartford, is one of the most unique and bewitching stringband records in recent memory. While it can be argued that every note that John Hartford played is a tribute to his stylistic forefathers (given his thorough knowledge of rural American music), this is his first album entirely devoted to exploring his formative influences and experiences. Effortlessly blending singing, fiddling, and storytelling, Hartford creates a moving document that simultaneously pays homage to his heroes while retaining the ingenuous spark that has characterized his own music of the past four decades. Joining Hartford is the unassailable Hartford Stringband, which features Bob Carlin, Mike Compton, Larry Perkins, and Chris Sharp.
Bridget S. (Vassar) from PLYMOUTH, IN Reviewed on 3/28/2009...
As John Hartford says on the introduction track this album is an album of memories for him. Through each tune after one break on the fiddle he tells a story about the song or about some of his pickin' friends such as the Goforths and Doug Dillard. These are all old time fiddle tunes, and for someone who likes old time music, they will just love this cd! A few of the tunes, you get to hear how they were originally played such as Dusty Miller, which sounds different than the way people play it today. This cd is like a sequel to Speed of the Old Long Bow.
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Fred P. (beeman07) from CLINTON, MI Reviewed on 11/13/2008...
John Hartford had many diverse musical phases throughout his career. This disc is from his last phase, his old-time fiddle period. If you are strictly a fan of Hartford's country ("Gentle on My Mind"), bluegrass ("Aereoplain"), or folk ("Mark Twang") phases, this might not be your cup of tea. But, if you like old-time fiddle or string-band music this is quite an enjoyable CD.
Another like this is Hartford's "Red Hog in the Wild Brush". Good stuff!
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
CD Reviews
Hartford's last gift
Jerome Clark | Canby, Minnesota | 12/30/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Given how 2001 turned out, I guess it must be said that John Hartford's passing was not the worst thing that happened, but it certainly was a long way from the best, either. If there's anything good to be said about the death of a musician and personality gloriously unlike anybody else's, it is that he left the world with one last great, fully realized musical statement, also gloriously unlike anybody else's. On it Hartford is playing mostly little-known fiddle tunes with old pal Bob Carlin and others, interjecting stories about where he heard them and who was doing them. The music is mesmerizing, the tales sad and funny and strange. In a tribute to Hartford in the liner notes to Down from the Mountain, the Coen brothers and T Bone Burnett write, "He walked away from TV stardom to go to the outskirts of Nashville to devote himself to fiddle playing and the study of American traditional music. It was not the usual career arc." Because of what he did, the rest of us have the gift of this magnificent recording. The beauty of Hamilton Ironworks feels boundless."
"rollicking & good natured Hartford takes you back"
J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 10/27/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As a youth in St. Louis, Missouri, Hartford fell in love with riverboats and the mighty Mississippi River...was very much influenced by Earl Scruggs and Stringbean, this is when the five-string bango came into being...but his fiddling and telling of stories is the heart of who he is...nothing like him has come along since. His style is hard to describe, not completely Bluegrass...but a mixture of traditional & progressive country, old-time-down-home early Americana and just plain good natured music, that everyone young and old can enjoy.Hats off to ~ Bob Carlin (producer), Wes Lachot (recorder/mixer) and Rounder Records for this trip back to Hamilton Ironworks, preserving moments from one of the most original songwriters, string players and lyrical performers ever to grace this planet ~ JOHN HARTFORD! You might try other John Hartford-Rounder releases, all worthy of a good listen ~ "The Speed of the Old Long Bow" (0438)..."Morning Bugle" (0356)..."Aereo-Plain" (0366)...please check out my reviews on amazon.com/music.Total Time: 74:11 on 23 Tracks ~ Rounder Records 82161-0442-2 ~ (2001)"
"OLD TIME" FIDDLE MUSIC DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER
harvard-fiddler | boston, MA United States | 10/20/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Sadly John Hartford left us this past summer at far too early an age. In the wake of this tragedy, however, the recording industry appears to have pumped a fresh supply of his greatest music onto the market. Some earlier work was a bit goofy, but not so this and several others. Any lover of the "old time" styles who wants to hear it at its best should buy this one. Oh heck, whatever you like in music, this one should please you."
Thanks for the memories John!
R. B. Ulrich | Lees Summit, MO USA | 02/27/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have loved John's music over the years. I think this masterpiece kind of wraps it all up. Being John's last album it seems he wanted to leave a trail for others to follow back to a slice of Old time/Blue Grass music. What one hell of a fine job he did. I can't stop listening to it and thinking back on what a neat life he must have led. This is a must if you are even remotely into John Hartford!"
Music and memories
D18GE-Man | 06/26/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"First off, I am a bit biased on a couple fronts. One, I am already a long-time Hartford fan, and two, my late father-in-law
was cousin to Gene and Cecil Goforth. In fact, I recently had the pleasure of playing guitar behind Cecil, who is still playing wonderful fiddle. As one reviewer said, the little commentaries in the music won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I think they make the CD an important little capsule of history for anyone interested in ozark fiddle music. Get this one. Get the Gene Goforth CD, Emminence Breakdown, which John recommends in the intro, and get the CD "Traditional Fiddle Music of the Ozarks, Volume One:Along the Eastern Crescent." The latter featuring many other fiddle players of the area. These three make a real nice little package. Enjoy!