Happy stuff!
Judith Lindenau | Traverse City, MI USA | 05/25/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Last year someone taught me an old time song called "Wild Hog in the Woods". I loved the song, and found another song with the same name. Now, along comes yet another Wild Hog song, the "Wild Hog in the Red Brush", title tune of this album. Like all the tunes in the entire album, this wild hog tune is joyous, authentic, and well documented.John Hartford plays fiddle on this album, which results from Hartford's research into the music and fiddle technique of the late Ed Haley. Hartford not only gathered the recordings Haley made, he befriended the master fiddler's reclusive family, and collected unrecorded tunes and anecdotes from those who knew Haley. The "Wild Hog in the Red Brush" isn't either of the wild hog tunes I know: in fact, most of the tunes in this collection are new to me. I'm delighted by this recording: it's fresh and full of happiness. Hartford's fiddle and the backup of the Hartford String Band make these great old tunes come back to life."
As Good As It Gets
Stephen E. Adams | Lopez Island, WA USA | 09/05/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you've never listened to John Hartford, forget everything you think you know about bluegrass and treat yourself to some genuine Hillbilly fiddle. Along with two other fiddle albums recorded in loving homage near the end of his life (THE SPEED OF THE OLD LONG BOW and HAMILTON'S BREAKDOWN), John Hartford has created a lasting testimony to the best in American music. This is music that makes you move your feet."
Excellent Old-time Fiddling with Excellent Band
Stephen E. Adams | 11/27/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a great CD to both listen to and learn from. I love the song "Squirrel Hunter". It makes use of Hartford's approach to generating variations which he calls "Windows". You will be entranced by this music.If the CD in the previous review did not make it intact to Tokyo, that is likely to be due to shipping. My copy and my friend's copy both sounded flawless."