Various Artists - Avalon Blues: A Tribute to the Music of Mississippi John Hurt

Title: Avalon Blues: A Tribute to the Music of Mississippi John Hurt Artist: Various Artists Release Date: 6/12/2001 Re-Released On: 7/9/2001 Label: Vanguard, Vanguard Records Album Type(s): Various artists collection, Greatest Hits UPCs: 015707958226, 090204995912 Genre: Blues Styles: Modern Acoustic Blues, Blues-Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Psychedelic, New Wave, Folk-Rock, Alternative Country-Rock, Folk-Blues, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alt-Country, Contemporary Folk, Americana, Contemporary Blues, Alternative/Indie Rock, Punk/New Wave, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Alternative Folk, College Rock, Neo-Traditional Folk Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 3 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. Frankie & Albert :: Chris Smither
2. Avalon, My Home Town :: Bruce Cockburn
3. Angels Laid Him Away :: Lucinda Williams
4. Here Am I, Oh Lord, Send Me :: Alvin Youngblood Hart
5. Candyman :: Justin Townes Earle, Steve Earle, Steve & Justin Earle
6. Monday Morning Blues :: Dave Alvin, Peter Case
7. Sliding Delta :: Ben Harper
8. Chicken :: Clare Muldaur, Geoff Muldaur, Jenni Muldaur
9. Make Me a Pallet on Your Floor :: Mark Selby
10. Stagolee :: Beck
11. Since I've Laid My Burden Down :: Victoria Williams
12. Pay Day :: Bill Morrissey
13. My Creole Belle :: Taj Mahal
14. Beulah Land :: Gillian Welch
15. I'm Satisfied :: John Hiatt

Year Type Label Catalog # 2001 CD Vanguard 795822 2001 CD Vanguard Records 79582

Avalon Blues [Bonus Track]

If you assemble a bunch of above-average artists to pay tribute to a major artist, is the result an above-average tribute record? Not always, but in this case it is. Organized and executive-produced by Peter Case, this contains covers of the Mississippi bluesman's songs by more than a dozen medium-big and very-big names from the folk and rock worlds, including Beck, Taj Mahal, Bruce Cockburn, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle (dueting with Justin Earle), Ben Harper, Peter Case & Dave Alvin (performing together), Geoff Muldaur, Gillian Welch, and John Hiatt. It's more a folk-rock-blues crossover album than a delta blues one, which is fine: tribute albums shouldn't be re-creations of the originals, and whether or not it was the intention, it will expose some of John Hurt's songs to fans who identify themselves primarily as folk or rock listeners. And not many of these songs are very well-known, with the exception of "Candy Man" (done by Steve & Justin Earle) and "Stagolee" (sung by Beck). The arrangements are low-key and respectful, the best ones being Ben Harper's "Sliding Delta" (which is one of the bluesiest performances) and Victoria Williams' "Since I've Laid My Burden Down," which has very eccentric banjo sounds. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alvin Youngblood Hart Producer Ben Harper Vocals, Guitar Bill Morrissey Bottleneck Guitar, Guitar, Vocals Bruce Cockburn Producer, Harmonica, Vocals, Guitar (12 String) Chris Smither Vocals, Engineer, Producer, Guitar (Acoustic) Chuck Fields Drums Clare Muldaur Performer Colin Linden Engineer, Producer, Electric Dobro Cormac McCarthy Harmonica Dave Alvin & the Guilty Men Vocals David "Goody" Goodrich Mandolin David P. Jackson Bass, Organ (Hammond) David Rawlings Guitar (Electric), Vocals, Engineer, Mixing Dawn Hopkins Lap Steel Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Mixing, Bass, Harmonica, Foot Tambourine, Engineer Geoff Muldaur Guitar, Banjo, Kazoo, Vocals Gillian Welch Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals James Cruce Percussion, Washboard Janice Powers Keyboards Jeff Landrock Engineer Jenni Muldaur Vocals Jim Wirt Mixing John Hiatt Performer Lucinda Williams Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals Mark Selby Arranger, Vocals, Producer, Guitar Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen Vocals (Background) Matt Andrews Engineer, Mixing Mike Poole Mixing, Engineer Mills Logan Engineer, Mixing Patrick Earle Assistant Engineer Peter Case Vocals, Harmonica, Compilation Producer, Guitar Peter Mulvey Guitar (Acoustic) Richard Greene Fiddle Sandy Chila Percussion, Vocals (Background) Taj Mahal Performer Twangtrust Producer Victoria Williams Rainstick, Vocals (Background), Guitar (Acoustic) Will Rigby Drums