Death Chants, Breakdowns & Military Waltzes

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Death Chants, Breakdowns & Military Waltzes
DeathChantsFahey1.jpg
Cover of the first edition
Studio album by
John Fahey
Released1963
Recorded1962 in Adelphi, MD and 1963 in Berkeley, CA
Genre American Primitivism
Label Takoma
John Fahey chronology
Blind Joe Death
(1959)		Death Chants, Breakdowns & Military Waltzes
(1963)		 The Dance of Death & Other Plantation Favorites
(1964)
Alternative Cover
DeathChantsFahey2.jpg
Cover of the 1967 stereo edition of the LP

Death Chants, Breakdowns & Military Waltzes is a 1963 album by American fingerstyle guitarist and composer John Fahey. [1] Various sources show either a 1963 or 1964 original release. It was Fahey's second release and the first to gain a national distributor.

Contents

History

John Fahey's first album was self-released on Takoma Records although the label didn't formally exist until 1963. Fahey and ED Denson formed a partnership with record distributor Norman Pierce which led to increased sales and distribution for this and all Fahey's future releases. [2]

Death Chants, Break Downs & Military Waltzes was recorded in both Adelphi, Maryland in 1962 and Berkeley, California in 1963, the same year as Fahey's and ED Denson's "rediscovery" of delta blues guitarist and singer Bukka White. Fahey had earlier left the East Coast to attend UC Berkeley and later the graduate program at UCLA in folklore. According to Byron Coley, "because a local 78 dealer was also a national distributor, [Death Chants] sold much more quickly than the first had, and it got favorable press in places like Peter Stampfel's influential column in Broadsides ." [3] Stampfel recalled that "Death Chants really blew my mind. [Fahey] used a traditional guitar style to play modern-based compositions in an extended way. And his liner notes were way cool." [3] Because of the positive reception to the album, Fahey earned his first paying gig at Boston's Odyssey Coffeehouse in the summer of 1965. [3]

In 1967 Fahey made new, stereo recordings of ten of the original albums's twelve tracks. The new performances were issued under the same title.

In his 1992 article "Reinventing the Steel" for Acoustic Guitar , Dale Miller described the liner notes that Fahey began including on his releases as "hilarious yet profound and somewhat disturbing phony folklorical ramblings that spoofed the pedantic notes on many folk releases of the day." Denson agreed with this assessment and stated "Fahey mythologized his life in the liner notes," and guitarist Leo Kottke referred to both the liner notes and music together as "a whole world that he sort of chips little pieces off of. It's intact, and you get glimpses of it through him." [4] The liner notes to Death Chants are attributed to Chester C. Petranick (Petranick was a music teacher from Fahey's youth) [5] and carry on the myth of Blind Joe Death:

"Blind Joe never sang. He had no voice. He had been struck blind and dumb at the age of three by a local member of the NAACP, for not complying with the organization's demand to learn bar chords and diminished augmented sevenths, so that he might disassociate himself from the myth of the Negro past. Here, thanks to the intensely personal stubborness[ sic ] of an old man who refused to bow to the dictates of crass commercialism and political interfuge, sat John Fahey at the feet of this old man, listening and waiting for his hands to be big enough to play the surrogate kithera as did his mentor. For in Blind Joe's music, the young white boy could discern a way in which he could express the intensely personal, bitter-sweet, biting, soul-stirring volk poetry of the harsh, elemental, but above all human life of the downtrodden Takoma Park people (volk)." [6]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg('64) [9]
Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg('67) [9]
The Great Folk Discography 7/10 [10]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [11]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [12]
Spin Alternative Record Guide 9/10 [1]

In reviewing the 1967 reissue of Death Chants, Breakdowns & Military Waltzes, music critic Richie Unterberger writes the material "...is still outstanding..." and comparing to the original release "The fidelity is clearer." [7] Of the 1999 reissue, Unterberger claims it "...does Fahey fans a massive favor by combining both versions onto one disc.... Fahey achieves a full and reverberant quality that sets it off not just from the average country blues revivalists of the period, but from vintage country blues itself... it must be said that the originals have an intangibly more affecting, more mysterious quality that does not come through as strongly on the more carefully executed rehauls." [8]

In his piece for The New York Times , Ben Ratliff called Death Chants, Breakdowns & Military Waltzes "dense with eccentricity." [5]

Reissues

Track listing

  1. "Sunflower River Blues" – 2:33
  2. "When the Springtime Comes Again" – 3:50
  3. "Stomping Tonight on the Pennsylvania/Alabama Border" – 6:58
  4. "Some Summer Day" – 3:20
  5. "On the Beach at Waikiki" – 2:55
  6. "Spanish Dance" – 1:53
  7. "The Downfall of the Adelphi Rolling Grist Mill" – 3:35
  8. "John Henry Variations" – 5:40
  9. "Take a Look at That Baby" – 1:25
  10. "Dance of the Inhabitants of the Palace of King Phillip XIV" – 3:16
  11. "America" – 7:52
  12. "Episcopal Hymn" (based on "At the name of Jesus" by Ralph Vaughan Williams) – 1:10
Death Chants, Breakdowns & Military Waltzes
DeathChantsFahey3.jpg
Compilation album by
John Fahey
ReleasedFebruary 2, 1999
Recorded1963, 1967
Genre Folk
Length78:35
Label Takoma

Reissue track listing (1999)

  1. "Sunflower River Blues" – 2:33
  2. "When the Springtime Comes Again" – 3:50
  3. "Stomping Tonight on the Pennsylvania-Alabama Border" – 6:58
  4. "Some Summer Day" – 3:20
  5. "On the Beach at Waikiki" – 2:55
  6. "Spanish Dance" – 1:53
  7. "John Henry Variations" – 5:40
  8. "The Downfall of the Adelphi Rolling Grist Mill" – 3:35
  9. "Take a Look at That Baby" – 1:25
  10. "Dance of the Inhabitants of the Palace of King Philip XIV" – 2:28
  11. "America" – 7:52
  12. "Episcopal Hymn" – 1:10
  13. "Sunflower River Blues" – 3:19
  14. "When the Springtime Comes Again" – 4:53
  15. "Stomping Tonight on the Pennsylvania-Alabama Border" – 5:36
  16. "Some Summer Day" – 3:25
  17. "On the Beach at Waikiki" – 2:40
  18. "Spanish Dance" – 2:05
  19. "John Henry Variations" – 5:11
  20. "Take a Look at That Baby" – 1:25
  21. "America" – 5:00
  22. "Episcopal Hymn" – 1:22

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Takoma Records</span> Independent record label founded by John Fahey

Takoma Records was a small but influential record label founded by guitarist John Fahey in the late 1950s. It was named after Fahey's hometown, Takoma Park, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C.

<i>The Transfiguration of Blind Joe Death</i> 1965 studio album by John Fahey

The Transfiguration of Blind Joe Death is a 1965 album by American fingerstyle guitarist and composer John Fahey. Originally issued in a hand-lettered edition of 50, it was Fahey's first album to be released by a label other than his own Takoma Records. As with all of Fahey's independently released early albums, it had little critical recognition upon release. The album has grown in stature since its reissue on CD in 1997 and is now highly regarded critically. It was Fahey's fourth album to see release, though after his fifth album, The Great San Bernardino Birthday Party & Other Excursions, was labeled Guitar Vol. 4, reissues of The Transfiguration of Blind Joe Death were subtitled John Fahey, Volume 5.

<i>Blind Joe Death</i> 1959 compilation album by John Fahey

Blind Joe Death is the first album by American fingerstyle guitarist and composer John Fahey. There are three different versions of the album, and the original self-released edition of fewer than 100 copies is extremely rare.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Fahey (musician)</span> American fingerstyle guitarist (1939–2001)

John Aloysius Fahey was an American fingerstyle guitarist and composer who played the steel-string acoustic guitar as a solo instrument. His style has been enormously influential and has been described as the foundation of the genre of American primitive guitar, a term borrowed from painting and referring mainly to the self-taught nature of the music and its minimalist style. Fahey borrowed from the folk and blues traditions in American roots music, having compiled many forgotten early recordings in these genres. He would later incorporate 20th-century classical, Portuguese, Brazilian, and Indian influences into his work.

<i>The Voice of the Turtle</i> (album) 1968 studio album by John Fahey

The Voice of the Turtle is the seventh album by American guitarist John Fahey. Recorded and released in 1968, it is considered one of his more experimental albums, combining not only folk elements, but shreds of psychedelia, early blues, country fiddles, ragas, and white noise. The album had many reissues with various track listings, jacket designs and mismatched titles.

<i>Leo Kottke, Peter Lang & John Fahey</i> 1974 compilation album by Leo Kottke, Peter Lang, John Fahey

Leo Kottke/Peter Lang/John Fahey is a split album by American guitarists Leo Kottke, Peter Lang, and John Fahey, released in 1974.

<i>The Yellow Princess</i> (album) 1968 studio album by John Fahey

The Yellow Princess is the ninth album by American folk musician John Fahey. Released in 1968, it was his second and last release on the Vanguard label.

<i>The Dance of Death & Other Plantation Favorites</i> 1965 studio album by John Fahey

The Dance of Death & Other Plantation Favorites is the third album by American fingerstyle guitarist and composer John Fahey, released in 1965. The 1999 reissue contained four previously unreleased tracks.

<i>Fare Forward Voyagers (Soldiers Choice)</i> 1973 studio album by John Fahey

Fare Forward Voyagers (Soldier's Choice) (or simply, Fare Forward Voyagers) is an album by American fingerstyle guitarist and composer John Fahey, released in 1973. It contains three songs, one comprising a complete side of the original LP.

<i>The Great San Bernardino Birthday Party & Other Excursions</i> 1966 studio album by John Fahey

The Great San Bernardino Birthday Party & Other Excursions is an album by American fingerstyle guitarist and composer John Fahey, released in 1966. The cover simply labels the album Guitar Vol. 4 while the liner notes label it The Great San Bernardino Birthday Party & Other Excursions. The title never appeared on the record labels themselves. It marked the beginning of Fahey's interest in his recording of experimental soundscapes and sound effects. Despite Fahey's distaste for the 1960s counterculture, it is his release most often referred to as psychedelic.

<i>Requia</i> 1967 studio album by John Fahey

Requia is the eighth album by American fingerstyle guitarist and composer John Fahey. Released in November 1967, it was the first of Fahey's two releases on the Vanguard label. It originally received hostile reviews from music critics, particularly for its musique concrète experimentation. It has since been recognised as precursor to new-age music, and has been re-released multiple times, including by Terra in 1985, Vanguard in 1997 and 1998 and Ace in 1998.

<i>America</i> (John Fahey album) 1971 studio album by John Fahey

America is an album by American folk musician John Fahey, released in 1971. Originally intended to be a double album, it was released as a single LP. The unreleased material was subsequently restored in later CD and vinyl reissues.

<i>After the Ball</i> (album) 1973 studio album by John Fahey

After the Ball is an album by the American folk musician John Fahey, released in 1973. It was his second and last recording on the Reprise label and like its predecessor, Of Rivers and Religion, it sold poorly.

<i>The Best of John Fahey 1959–1977</i> 1977 greatest hits album by John Fahey

The Best of John Fahey 1959–1977 is a compilation album by American fingerstyle guitarist and composer John Fahey, released in 1977. The songs are collected from four of Fahey's dozen or so releases up to that point.

<i>John Fahey Visits Washington D.C.</i> 1979 studio album by John Fahey

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<i>Live in Tasmania</i> 1981 live album by John Fahey

Live in Tasmania is a live album by American fingerstyle guitarist and composer John Fahey, released in 1981. It was his first live album release after 18 albums.

<i>Railroad</i> (album) 1983 studio album by John Fahey

Railroad is an album by American fingerstyle guitarist and composer John Fahey, released in 1983. It was originally released as Railroad 1 by mistake. The Shanachie Records reissue is correctly labeled as Railroad. It was his last principal recording for Takoma Records, the label he founded in 1959.

<i>On Air</i> (John Fahey album) 2005 live album by John Fahey

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<i>She Lyin</i> 1993 studio album by Skip James

She Lyin' is the second studio album by American blues singer Skip James, recorded in 1964 and released in 1993. It was originally recorded for Takoma Records and was James' first recording since his rediscovery in 1964.

<i>Greatest of the Delta Blues Singers</i> 1965 studio album by Skip James

Greatest of the Delta Blues Singers is the debut album by the American blues singer Skip James, released in 1965. It was his first album released after his rediscovery in 1964.

References

  1. 1 2 Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 139–140.
  2. ↑ Dunlap Jr., David (July 7, 2006). "The Cosmos Club". Washington City Paper. Archived from the original on June 27, 2008. Retrieved March 10, 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 Coley, Byron (May 2001). "The Persecutions and Resurrections of Blind Joe Death". Perfect Sound Forever. Archived from the original on January 4, 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2010.
  4. ↑ Miller, Dale (1992). "Reinventing the Steel". Acoustic Guitar (January/February): 46. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
  5. 1 2 Ratliff, Ben (1997). "A 60's Original With a New Life on the Fringe". The New York Times . Retrieved January 5, 2010.
  6. ↑ Original liner notes.
  7. 1 2 Unterberger, Richie. "Death Chants, Breakdowns & Military Waltzes > Review 1967 reissue". AllMusic . Retrieved January 26, 2010.
  8. 1 2 3 Unterberger, Richie. "Death Chants, Breakdowns & Military Waltzes > Review 1999 reissue". AllMusic . Retrieved March 26, 2010.
  9. 1 2 Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN   978-0857125958.
  10. ↑ The Great Folk Discography
  11. ↑ Q July 1996 issue, page 137
  12. ↑ Sheffield, Rob (2004). "John Fahey". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). London: Fireside Books. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
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