Steam Powered Aereo-Takes
Encyclopedia
Steam Powered Aereo-Takes is a collection of outtakes, demos and jam-sessions from John Hartford's
groundbreaking 1971 album Aereo-Plain
, released in 2002. The music is a blend of traditional bluegrass musicianship, and the hippie
spirit of the 70's. The other members of the Aereo-Plain Band were Norman Blake
, Vassar Clements
, Tut Taylor
, and Randy Scruggs
.
spirit of the '70s. The album has been called the forerunner of the genre now known as "Newgrass
". The recording was done in informal jam sessions that created some 80-plus reels of tape. The tracks featured here are song sketches, outtakes, demos, impromptu jams, and goofing-off. Music critic Zac Johnson wrote that "If the sessions that were used on Aereo-Plain became the Revolver
of the progressive bluegrass movement, this disc is more like the White Album
or maybe Let It Be."
John Hartford
John Cowan Hartford was an American folk, country and bluegrass composer and musician known for his mastery of the fiddle and banjo, as well as for his witty lyrics, unique vocal style, and extensive knowledge of Mississippi River lore...
groundbreaking 1971 album Aereo-Plain
Aereo-plain
Aereo-Plain is American musician John Hartford's groundbreaking bluegrass album released in 1971. It reached number 193 on the The Billboard 200 chart.-History:...
, released in 2002. The music is a blend of traditional bluegrass musicianship, and the hippie
Hippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
spirit of the 70's. The other members of the Aereo-Plain Band were Norman Blake
Norman Blake (American musician)
Norman Blake is an instrumentalist, vocalist, and songwriter. In a career spanning more than 50 years Blake has played in a number of folk and Country groups...
, Vassar Clements
Vassar Clements
Vassar Clements was a Grammy Award- winning American jazz, swing, and bluegrass fiddler. Clements has been dubbed the Father of Hillbilly Jazz, an improvisational style that blends and borrows from swing, hot jazz, and bluegrass along with roots also in country and other musical...
, Tut Taylor
Tut Taylor
Tut Taylor is an American bluegrass musician.Taylor played banjo and mandolin as a child, and began playing dobro at age 14, learning to use the instrument with a distinctive flat-picking style. Taylor was a member of The Folkswingers in the 1960s, who released three LPs; he recorded his debut...
, and Randy Scruggs
Randy Scruggs
Randy Scruggs is a music producer, songwriter and guitarist. He had his first recording at the age of 13...
.
History
Hartford and the members of the Aereo-Plain Band recorded Aereo-plain, a blend of traditional bluegrass musicianship, and the hippieHippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
spirit of the '70s. The album has been called the forerunner of the genre now known as "Newgrass
Progressive bluegrass
Progressive bluegrass is one of two major subgenres of bluegrass music. It is also known as newgrass, a term attributed to New Grass Revival member Ebo Walker. Musicians and bands John Hartford, New Grass Revival, J.D. Crowe and the New South, The Dillards, Boone Creek, Country Gazette, and the...
". The recording was done in informal jam sessions that created some 80-plus reels of tape. The tracks featured here are song sketches, outtakes, demos, impromptu jams, and goofing-off. Music critic Zac Johnson wrote that "If the sessions that were used on Aereo-Plain became the Revolver
Revolver (album)
Revolver is the seventh studio album by the English rock group The Beatles, released on 5 August 1966 on the Parlophone label and produced by George Martin. Many of the tracks on Revolver are marked by an electric guitar-rock sound, in contrast with their previous LP, the folk rock inspired Rubber...
of the progressive bluegrass movement, this disc is more like the White Album
The Beatles (album)
The Beatles is the ninth official album by the English rock group The Beatles, a double album released in 1968. It is also commonly known as "The White Album" as it has no graphics or text other than the band's name embossed on its plain white sleeve.The album was written and recorded during a...
or maybe Let It Be."
Reception
Writing for Allmusic, critic Zac Johnson wrote "The song ideas are there, but they feel looser and more free, with each of the performers playing with ideas and song structures, fiddling with things when they don't work, and milking them when they click." Rick Bell of Country Standard Time wrote "Its historical value can't be denied, yet much of it sounds as fresh and innovative today as it must have 30 years ago. Aereoplane offered up several dandy instrumentals and traditional numbers during their short time together... arguably the best among a career of sometimes offbeat, but never dull music."Track listing
All tracks composed by John Hartford; except where indicated- "Where the Old River Flows" (Jimmie Davis) – 3:07
- "Ruff and Ready" (Tut TaylorTut TaylorTut Taylor is an American bluegrass musician.Taylor played banjo and mandolin as a child, and began playing dobro at age 14, learning to use the instrument with a distinctive flat-picking style. Taylor was a member of The Folkswingers in the 1960s, who released three LPs; he recorded his debut...
) – 1:51 - "Blame It on Joann" – 3:12
- "The Vamp from Back in the Goodle Days" – 4:41
- "Emanuel Cant" – 1:44
- "Bad Music (Is Better Than No Music at All)" (Tut Taylor) – 4:32
- "Dig a Hole" (Traditional) – 4:14
- "Presbyterian Guitar" – 2:03
- "Strange Old Man" – 1:40
- "Lady Jane" – 2:43
- "Oasis" (Tut Taylor) – 3:31
- "Because of You" – 1:10
- "Morning Bugle" – 3:28
- "John Henry" (Traditional) – 1:44
- "Doin' My Time" (Jimmy DriftwoodJimmy DriftwoodJames Corbitt Morris , known professionally as Jimmy Driftwood or Jimmie Driftwood, was a prolific American folk music songwriter and musician, most famous for his songs "The Battle of New Orleans" and "Tennessee Stud"...
) – 3:06 - "Keep on Truckin'" – 2:46
- "Don't Ever Take Your Eyes Off the Game, Babe" – 3:28
- "Howard Hughes Blues" – 3:01
Personnel
- John HartfordJohn HartfordJohn Cowan Hartford was an American folk, country and bluegrass composer and musician known for his mastery of the fiddle and banjo, as well as for his witty lyrics, unique vocal style, and extensive knowledge of Mississippi River lore...
- banjo, guitar, violin, vocals - Norman BlakeNorman Blake (American musician)Norman Blake is an instrumentalist, vocalist, and songwriter. In a career spanning more than 50 years Blake has played in a number of folk and Country groups...
- guitar, mandolin, vocals - Vassar ClementsVassar ClementsVassar Clements was a Grammy Award- winning American jazz, swing, and bluegrass fiddler. Clements has been dubbed the Father of Hillbilly Jazz, an improvisational style that blends and borrows from swing, hot jazz, and bluegrass along with roots also in country and other musical...
- violin, cello, viola, vocals - Tut TaylorTut TaylorTut Taylor is an American bluegrass musician.Taylor played banjo and mandolin as a child, and began playing dobro at age 14, learning to use the instrument with a distinctive flat-picking style. Taylor was a member of The Folkswingers in the 1960s, who released three LPs; he recorded his debut...
- dobro, vocals - Randy ScruggsRandy ScruggsRandy Scruggs is a music producer, songwriter and guitarist. He had his first recording at the age of 13...
- bass, vocals
Production
- Producer: David Bromberg
- Recording Engineer: Warren Dewey/Claude Hill
- Mixing: Toby Mountain
- Art Direction: Susan Marsh
- Photography: Peter Amft
- Liner notes: Bob Carlin