Let Go (John Fahey album)
Encyclopedia
Let Go is an album
by American
fingerstyle guitar
ist and composer John Fahey
, released in 1984. It was his first release on the Varrick
label after over 25 years on his own label Takoma
, as well as a few releases on other labels.
in 1981, Fahey met guitarist and producer Terry Robb, who accompanies him on all but two of the songs on Let Go. He would work with Robb on three subsequent releases. Since his final album on Takoma
(Railroad) Fahey had signed with Varrick Records, an imprint of Rounder Records
. It was to be his first of four releases on the label.
His liner notes distance himself for the folk music
label he had had since his career began. The notes begin "No folk music on this record—not even that sounds or suggest folk music... it's hard to break out of a bag I never intended to be in—never thought I was in... I'm not a Volk. I'm from the suburbs." He also noted the influence of the Brazil
ian guitarist Bola Sete
. He had commented on Sete's influence in 1977 in the notes to his guitar transcription book The Best of John Fahey 1959–1977. He did his first cover
of a Sete composition on his 1979 album John Fahey Visits Washington D.C.
.
He had previously record the "River Medley" on 1972 Reprise
release Of Rivers and Religion
. "Dvorak" is based on themes from Antonín Dvořák
Eighth and Ninth symphonies. Regarding the duo's cover of the Derek and the Dominos
song "Layla
", Fahey commented: "Talk about ambition, Chutzpah—that’s us."
Production notes
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
fingerstyle guitar
Fingerstyle guitar
Fingerstyle guitar is the technique of playing the guitar by plucking the strings directly with the fingertips, fingernails, or picks attached to fingers, as opposed to flatpicking ....
ist and composer John Fahey
John Fahey (musician)
John Fahey was an American fingerstyle guitarist and composer who pioneered the steel-string acoustic guitar as a solo instrument. His style has been greatly influential and has been described as the foundation of American Primitivism, a term borrowed from painting and referring mainly to the...
, released in 1984. It was his first release on the Varrick
Rounder Records
Rounder Records, originally of Cambridge, Massachusetts, but now based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is a record label founded in 1970 by Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin and Marian Leighton-Levy, while all three were still university students...
label after over 25 years on his own label Takoma
Takoma Records
Takoma Records was a small but influential record label founded by John Fahey in the late 1950s.. It was named after Fahey's hometown, the Washington, D.C. suburb of Takoma Park, Maryland.-History:...
, as well as a few releases on other labels.
History
Since his move to Salem, OregonSalem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
in 1981, Fahey met guitarist and producer Terry Robb, who accompanies him on all but two of the songs on Let Go. He would work with Robb on three subsequent releases. Since his final album on Takoma
Takoma Records
Takoma Records was a small but influential record label founded by John Fahey in the late 1950s.. It was named after Fahey's hometown, the Washington, D.C. suburb of Takoma Park, Maryland.-History:...
(Railroad) Fahey had signed with Varrick Records, an imprint of Rounder Records
Rounder Records
Rounder Records, originally of Cambridge, Massachusetts, but now based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is a record label founded in 1970 by Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin and Marian Leighton-Levy, while all three were still university students...
. It was to be his first of four releases on the label.
His liner notes distance himself for the folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
label he had had since his career began. The notes begin "No folk music on this record—not even that sounds or suggest folk music... it's hard to break out of a bag I never intended to be in—never thought I was in... I'm not a Volk. I'm from the suburbs." He also noted the influence of the Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian guitarist Bola Sete
Bola Sete
Bola Sete was a Brazilian guitarist. Sete played jazz with Vince Guaraldi as well as with Dizzy Gillespie. His song "Bettina" was featured on the "Tribe Vibes" breakbeat compilation, as it had been sampled by the musical group A Tribe Called Quest.Born in Rio de Janeiro, Bola Sete's name means...
. He had commented on Sete's influence in 1977 in the notes to his guitar transcription book The Best of John Fahey 1959–1977. He did his first cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of a Sete composition on his 1979 album John Fahey Visits Washington D.C.
John Fahey Visits Washington D.C.
Music critic Richie Unterberger praised the album, noting the "stellar picking and an eclectic range of influences... Some of his characteristic moodiness emerges in passages from 'Ann Arbor' and 'Melody McBad'."...
.
He had previously record the "River Medley" on 1972 Reprise
Reprise Records
Reprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...
release Of Rivers and Religion
Of Rivers and Religion
Of Rivers and Religion is an album by American folk musician John Fahey, released in 1972. It was his first recording on a major label, and is credited to John Fahey and His Orchestra. It marked a significant change from Fahey's previous releases, incorporating a backing band and performing songs...
. "Dvorak" is based on themes from Antonín Dvořák
Antonín Dvorák
Antonín Leopold Dvořák was a Czech composer of late Romantic music, who employed the idioms of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia. Dvořák’s own style is sometimes called "romantic-classicist synthesis". His works include symphonic, choral and chamber music, concerti, operas and many...
Eighth and Ninth symphonies. Regarding the duo's cover of the Derek and the Dominos
Derek and the Dominos
Derek and the Dominos were a blues rock band formed in the spring of 1970 by guitarist and singer Eric Clapton with keyboardist Bobby Whitlock, bassist Carl Radle and drummer Jim Gordon, who had all played with Clapton in Delaney, Bonnie & Friends...
song "Layla
Layla
"Layla" is a song written by Eric Clapton and Jim Gordon, originally released by their blues-rock band, Derek and the Dominos, as the thirteenth track from their album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs...
", Fahey commented: "Talk about ambition, Chutzpah—that’s us."
Reception
Allmusic critic Richard Foss gave the album a 3 of 5 stars review, writing Let Go "may not be the definitive John Fahey album, but it is a very good one from end to end." CMJ New Music wrote that "you'll find this one to be subtley radiant, tropically blue and exceptionally calming."Track listing
- "Let Go" (Baden Powell) – 6:34
- "Black Mommy" (Chargas, Martius) – 8:04
- "Dvořák" (Traditional) – 4:04
- "The World Is Waiting for the SunriseThe World Is Waiting for the Sunrise"The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise" is a popular ballad with lyrics by Gene Lockhart and music by the concert pianist Ernest Seitz, who had conceived the refrain when he was 12. Embarrassed about writing popular music, Seitz used the pseudonym "Raymond Roberts" when the song was first published...
" (Gene LockhartGene LockhartEugene "Gene" Lockhart was a Canadian character actor, singer, and playwright. He also wrote the lyrics to a number of popular songs.-Early life:...
, Ernest SeitzErnest SeitzErnest Joseph Seitz was a Canadian composer, songwriter, pianist, and music educator. He published some of his work under the pseudonym "Raymond Roberts" because he did not wish to be associated with popular music. His most famous work is The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise, which he co-wrote...
) – 2:30 - "Medley: Deep River/Ol' Man RiverOl' Man River"Ol' Man River" is a song in the 1927 musical Show Boat that expresses the African American hardship and struggles of the time with the endless, uncaring flow of the Mississippi River; it is sung from the point-of-view of a dock worker on a showboat, and is the most famous song from the show...
" (Traditional, Oscar Hammerstein IIOscar Hammerstein IIOscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II was an American librettist, theatrical producer, and theatre director of musicals for almost forty years. Hammerstein won eight Tony Awards and was twice awarded an Academy Award for "Best Original Song". Many of his songs are standard repertoire for...
, Jerome KernJerome KernJerome David Kern was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over 100 stage works, including such classics as "Ol' Man River", "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man", "A...
) – 4:53 - "Lights Out" (John Fahey, Terry Robb) – 2:44
- "Pretty Afternoon" (Bola SeteBola SeteBola Sete was a Brazilian guitarist. Sete played jazz with Vince Guaraldi as well as with Dizzy Gillespie. His song "Bettina" was featured on the "Tribe Vibes" breakbeat compilation, as it had been sampled by the musical group A Tribe Called Quest.Born in Rio de Janeiro, Bola Sete's name means...
) – 3:05 - "Sunset on Prince George's County" (Fahey) – 4:13
- "LaylaLayla"Layla" is a song written by Eric Clapton and Jim Gordon, originally released by their blues-rock band, Derek and the Dominos, as the thirteenth track from their album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs...
" (Eric ClaptonEric ClaptonEric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
, Jim GordonJim Gordon (musician)James Beck "Jim" Gordon is an American recording artist, musician and songwriter. The Grammy Award winner was one of the most requested session drummers in the late 1960s and 1970s, recording albums with many well-known musicians of the time, and was the drummer in the blues-rock supergroup Derek...
) – 5:15 - "Old Country Rock" (Traditional) – 1:20
Personnel
- John Fahey – guitar
- Terry Robb – guitar, bottleneck guitar
- Johnny Riggins - percussion on "River Medley" and "Lights Out"
- Ron "Dr." Manfredo - bass on "River Medley"
Production notes
- Terry Robb – producer
- Jack Barr – engineer
- Jeff Rawson – assistant engineer
- Glenn Berger – mastering