| Spider Blues | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 1965 | |||
| Genre | Blues | |||
| Label | Elektra EKL-290 (mono) EKS-7290 (stereo) | |||
| "Spider" John Koerner chronology | ||||
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Spider Blues is the debut solo album by blues artist "Spider" John Koerner, released in 1965. He was a member of the loose-knit blues trio Koerner, Ray & Glover at the time of its release.
As a member of the blues trio Koerner, Ray & Glover, Koerner was recording on the Elektra label. While recording the trio's albums Lots More Blues, Rags and Hollers and The Return of Koerner, Ray & Glover , he recorded a number of solo tracks. These tracks were assembled into Koerner's debut solo album. He also appeared at the Newport Folk Festival that same year, accompanied by trio member Tony Glover. [1]
In his subsequent releases, his style changed as he turned from the blues to traditional folk music. In a 2000 interview, Koerner said, "I finally decided I was not a blues guy. How could I be? I was too young and too white, all that shit. So I took a year off and when I started playing again, I treated the subject in general as folk music. It's a new culture; it's not music being made on a back porch anymore." [2]
Spider Blues was reissued on CD in 2010 by Wounded Bird Records.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |   [3] |
| Jazz Monthly | (no rating) [4] |
In his 1965 Jazz Monthly review, music critic Albert McCarthy excoriated the album and wrote, "This is, without any doubt, one of the worst records I have had to review for many a long day. In a sleeve note notable for the inane quotes from Koerner himself, Paul Nelson of The Little Sandy Review, which I understand is one of the better folk publications, makes the remarkable claim that 'Koerner's art is like Chaplin's, as great and lasting as it is entertaining'. I nominate this as the most absurd remark of the year in the sleeve note field. In fact, Koerner is a passably competent guitarist, a poor harmonica player and a quite dreadful singer." [4]
On the other hand, in the mid-late 1960s radio station WBCN in Boston used to regularly play "Rent Party Rag" on the first of every month.
All songs by John Koerner unless otherwise noted.
Dave "Snaker" Ray was an American blues singer and guitarist from St. Paul, Minnesota, United States, associated with Spider John Koerner and Tony "Little Sun" Glover in the early Sixties folk revival. Together, the three released albums under the name Koerner, Ray & Glover. They gained notice with their album Blues, Rags and Hollers, originally released by Audiophile in 1963 and re-released by Elektra Records later that year.
"Spider" John Koerner was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He was best known as a guitarist and vocalist in the blues trio Koerner, Ray & Glover, with Dave Ray and Tony Glover. He also made albums as a solo performer and with Willie Murphy. He was also an important mentor to the young Bob Dylan.
David Curtis Glover, better known as Tony "Little Sun" Glover, was an American blues musician and music critic. He was a harmonica player and singer associated with "Spider" John Koerner and Dave "Snaker" Ray during the early 1960s folk revival. Together, the three released albums under the name Koerner, Ray & Glover. Glover was also the author of diverse "harp" songbooks and a co-author, along with Ward Gaines and Scott Dirks, of an award-winning biography of Little Walter, Blues with a Feeling: The Little Walter Story.
Ian A. Anderson is an English magazine editor, folk musician and broadcaster.
Doc Watson at Gerde's Folk City is the title of live recordings by American folk music and country blues artist Doc Watson, released in 2001. The recordings are of Watson's first solo public performances, recorded in 1962 and 1963 at Gerde's Folk City. The tracks were never released prior to 2001.
Koerner, Ray & Glover was a loose-knit group of three blues musicians from Minneapolis, Minnesota: "Spider" John Koerner on guitar and vocals, Dave "Snaker" Ray on guitar and vocals, and Tony "Little Sun" Glover on harmonica. They were notable figures of the revival of folk music and blues in the 1960s.
Blues, Rags and Hollers is the first album by the American country blues trio Koerner, Ray & Glover, released in 1963.
Lots More Blues, Rags and Hollers is an album by the blues trio Koerner, Ray & Glover, released in 1964.
The Return of Koerner, Ray and Glover is an album by Koerner, Ray & Glover, released in 1965. It was their last recording for Elektra and it would be seven years before the trio's next release.
Good Old Koerner, Ray & Glover is an album by Koerner, Ray & Glover, released in 1972.
Running, Jumping, Standing Still is an album by blues artists "Spider" John Koerner and Willie Murphy, released in 1969. The album is often credited in Koerner's solo discography.
Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Been is an album by folk artist "Spider" John Koerner released in 1986. The album was recorded in one evening at Creation Audio studios in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Some American Folk Songs Like They Used To is an album by folk artist "Spider" John Koerner, released in 1974. The album is out of print.
Raised by Humans is an album by folk artist "Spider" John Koerner, released in 1992. It was recorded live to two-track tape at Minnesota Public Radio Station Studio M, in St. Paul, Minnesota.
StarGeezer is an album by folk artist "Spider" John Koerner, released in 1996. Some of the songs are re-recordings of titles previously released by Koerner on albums that are no longer in print.
The Even Dozen Jug Band is the debut and only studio album by the American jug band Even Dozen Jug Band, released in December 1963.
Live @ The 400 Bar is an album by folk and blues artists John Koerner and Tony Glover, released in 2009.
Willie Murphy was an American pianist, singer, producer, and songwriter. He is known for his solo work as a singer and pianist; as a singer, bassist and guitarist for the blues band Willie and the Bees; and for his collaborations with Bonnie Raitt and John Koerner.
March 1963 is an album by folk and blues musician John Koerner, released in 2010.
What's Left of Spider John is an album by folk and blues musician John Koerner, released in 2013. The album was recorded in mono through valve microphones and mixed live to tape using vintage Ampex equipment.