Search - Doc Watson :: Doc Watson (Vanguard Visionaries)

5-Star Music, 3-Star Value

Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 06/13/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When Doc Watson recorded his self-titled debut for Vanguard in 1964, he was already forty years old; and the nine albums he recorded for the label through 1971 are arguably the best of his career. [Although the most recent song included here is from 1966.] These ten songs are culled from five of those albums. Watson performs solo on some of these tracks, others with his son Merle. In addition, Watson also plays banjo ("Country Blues") and harmonica ("Muskrat"). There are several instrumentals that showcase Watson's considerable finger-picking skills ("Dill Pickle Rag," Black Mountain Rag" among them), but he also possesses a fine baritone voice as exhibited on songs like the traditional "Little Sadie" or his signature song "Tennessee Stud."



This release is part of a series "Vanguard Visionaries" who have recorded for the label over the last 50-plus years, but with this particular release there are too many flaws. Each release in this series is limited to ten songs, which means in this case the total time is well under thirty minutes. The mid-line price still doesn't make it much of a bargain. If you're looking for a more representative Vanguard collection, pick up 1999's THE VERY BEST OF DOC WATSON. At twenty-three tracks, it duplicates all ten tracks here and it isn't that much more expensive. [Running Time - 26:01]



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