Audio CD review:
John Fahey - Return Of The Repressed: The Anthology

John Fahey - Return Of The Repressed: The Anthology

Band: John Fahey Title: Return Of The Repressed: The Anthology Rating: Release Date: 04 October, 1994 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Desperate Man Blues 2: Dance Of The Inhabitants Of The Palace Of King Phillip XIV Of Spain 3: Sligo River Blues 4: Sun Gonna Shine In My Back Door Blues 5: On Doing An Evil Deed Blues 6: I'm Gonna Do All I Can For My Lord 7: Some Summer Day 8: Worried Blues 9: Tell Her To Come Back Home 10: Poor Boy 11: Orinda-Moraga 12: The Death Of Clayton Peacock 13: Brenda's Blues 14: On The Sunny Side Of The Ocean 15: Revelation On The Banks Of The Pawtuxent 16: Night Train To Valhalla 17: Knott's Berry Farm Molly 18: Bill Cheatum 19: Knoxville Blues 20: Sunflower River Blues 21: A Raga Called Pat-Part One 22: In Christ There Is No East Or West 23: The Yellow Princess 24: Lion 25: The Revolt Of The Dyke Brigade 26: The Portland Cement Factory At Monolith California 27: Steamboat Gwine 'Round De Bend 28: Lord Have Mercy 29: Beverly 30: Hawaiian Two-Step 31: Candy Man 32: Jaya Shiva Shankarah 33: Medley: Silver Bell/Cheyenne 34: The Approaching Of The Disco Void 35: Summer Cat By My Door 36: Theme And Variations 37: Lava On Waikiki 38: Samba De Orfeo 39: Rain Forest 40: Twilight Time 41: The Sea Of Love 42: Yes, Jesus Loves Me

Customer Reviews the first, the best Before Fahey the guitar (in "popular" music) was only there to support the voice. It's very hard to grasp the importance that John Fahey's music had in the development of the solo acoustic performance genre. Fahey made the guitar the star. He did this not through sheer virtuosity, although certain elements of his technique were unmatched, but by being INTERESTING! His music was hard to pigeonhole, was it bluegrass,blues,new-age,folk?. . . all of these and none of these, it WAS thought provoking and hypnotic. Now that he's gone artists are coming out of the woodwork (at least three tribute albums already). He could have used their support during his very tough life, but Fahey was not an easy person to love. He was iconoclastic and highly critical(even of himself). His excellent literary efforts show him to be a very complex and troubled individual. This compilation of recordings is a good representation of his ever evolving musical style (he called it "American Primitive Guitar"). If you love music and don't know John Fahey, prepare to be profoundly changed. . First rate collection of this brilliant guitarist Yeah, it's true there's so much great John Fahey music out there, that limiting it to a single best-of seems a shame. A fab 2-CD collection of one of the 20th Century's most innovative acoustic musicians, the late John Fahey. . . Still, this is a wonderful introduction to his work. . . Admittedly, these beloved classic recordings from the '50s, '60s and '70s are to blame for the legions of sugary acoustic musicians to follow -- Will Ackerman, et al -- but the curse of history in no way diminishes the original power of Fahey's incredibly creative muse. As he brilliantly quotes and elaborates on old folk and turn-of-the-century popular music, Fahey distorts the melodies, meter and tonal qualities in radically unexpected, mind-altering ways. Chances are that if these two CDs are your first exposure to Fahey's work, you will be left swiftly scrambling for more. Hark! The dark angel sings. The Return of the Repressed is wonderful and uplifting. . You can see a complete list of all John Fahey discography, or go back to the John Fahey tabs