Rating: 🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂
Genre: Folk
Released in 1964
Doc Watson’s debut is a powerful and interesting musical landmark. The Watson Family already had a degree of fame and had released a record. Doc had also made a splash at the 1963 Newport Festival whose lineup included, incredibly, Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, Joan Baez, Freedom Singers, Peter, Paul & Mary, Pete Seeger, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, John Lee Hooker, Mississippi John Hurt, Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry, Clarence Ashley, John Hammond, Dave Van Ronk, Reverend Gary Davis, Bill Monroe, and Jim & Jesse.
Doc was, as far as I know, mum on politics but these festivals and the folk music they popularized played an important role in leftist thought and activism. This record bridged the gaps between folk, bluegrass, country, and blues. He seems to pull influences from all over the place. You can here Woody and Ledbelly and there’s also Pete Seeger and also Flatt and Scruggs. And even Burl Ives. It’s a beautifully diverse record and every song is a diamond.
Probably the most distinct feature of the record and certainly of his career is his incredibly crystal clear perfected style of flat picking. His guitar style is obviously deeply influenced by Elizabeth Cotten.
I always sum up by saying something like this but this certainly is a crucial record and also a great stepping stone into different genres or for hearing them structured this way by a musician who who created perfect foundations for everything he did.
Warmth Highest 