A jewel of of picking style,and a terrific voice.A must.
JEAN-MARIE JUIF | BESANCON France | 06/19/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It's a pity that many of Blind Gary Davis' very great records aren't available here.His 1935-1949 recordings,first; his two magnificent Biograph LPs,which may not have been reissued until now;but you can buy other masterpieces,like the great "demons and angels" set.Gary Davis was born April 30,1896,Laurens County,South Carolina.He lost sight as a little baby,and learned to play harmonica,banjo and guitar before he was ten.He recorded a few sides with Blind Boy Fuller in the thirties,then did a few sides under his name in 1935 and 1949.After that,he worked in New York as a street singer and preacher,until he was rediscovered and had the opportunity of making records and playing concerts.He died May 5,1972,of a heart attack,while he was going to Newtonville,NJ,for a concert date.He was mainly influenced by Blind Blake,and he influenced dozens of great players: Blind Boy Fuller,Brownie McGhee,Josh White,Roy Bookbinder,Ry Cooder,Larry JOhnson,Bob Dylan,Stefan Grossman,Taj Mahal,Tarheel Slim,and Alec Seward.His extremely difficult finger picking style,full of ragtime figures,is one of the most amazing things I've ever heard.But he was not only one of the most gifted guitar players (maybe the most gifted one with the magnificent,amazing,overwhelming,etc,Blind Blake),he also had one of the most expressive and powerful voices in the history of blues and gospel.These tunes,recorded August 10,1961,are perfect examples of this.Of course,the Reverend only plays and sings sacred songs;he very rarely played blues after the war (a few ones on his Biograph LPs,and a complete LP of ragtimes in the sixties).I've often dreamed I was in Harlem,meeting him in a street,where he was playing,and listening to him for hours.Maybe you're a lucky owner of one of the video tapes issued by Stefan Grossman;then,if you ever had the chance of seeing the Reverend,even on TV,you know what I mean.Hearing him is great,seeing him is terrific.There's a tape where he plays a long and dramatic version of "death don't have no mercy",which can resume everything.Some minutes (five? seven? I don't know) of perfect beauty,and outstanding emotion.And some chords you've never think to play,too.Because of his blindness,Gary Davis had invented his own playing.If you try to copy him,you'll have nights and nights of pain and troubles.
Even if this record is not his greatest one,it's already miles and miles away from most of his peers.It could be a perfect introduction to the Singing Reverend's art,so don't miss it.And look for a reissue of his two Biograph LPs,or his pre-war recordings: you'll discover the Reverend playing and singing the blues,in the same style than Blind Boy Fuller;but remember he was Fuller's main influence,not the contrary."
Electrifying!
Hal Pierce | Atlanta | 07/05/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Blind Gary Davis is up to his best work in this 1961 recording of the finger-pickin' giant's own special brand of Piedmont blues Christian standards. If you dig this man, you'll dig this disk!"
The Rev. at the top of his game
A. Hogan | Brooklyn, NY USA | 03/08/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Rev. Gary Davis,blind street preacher and gospel-blues legend,cut this album in 1961.I have found his anonyimity somewhat mystifying. Here is a blues singer with heart and soul,and a voice of a hardbitten angel to match. among musicians, he is celebrated, but th general public would have their blues from others. odd. This album inessentila in the davis canon. From the fist cut{you got to move},Rev. davis is is full command. this is simply him and his guitar,though there is magic here{or grace, if you would prefer.} He ends this sessions with When I die I'll live again, a perfect coda to this excellent collection"
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1