The Return of the Repressed: The John Fahey Anthology
Encyclopedia
The Return of the Repressed: The John Fahey Anthology is a compilation album by American
fingerstyle guitar
ist and composer John Fahey
, released in 1994. Fahey's career, health and personal life had been in decline. The release of The Return of the Repressed, along with an article in Spin
magazine by Byron Coley
served to provide a renewal of his career.
began working on the Return of the Repressed compilation project for Rhino Records. He interviewed Fahey in Oregon and together with James Austin of Rhino, they selected the tracks to be included. At the time, Fahey was divorced from his second wife and was living in homeless shelters or cheap hotels. Hansen related in an interview with Jason Gross: "He came down with the Epstein-Barr syndrome
, which was something that just kind of snuck up on him. Then the divorce. Those two things were linked, I think. The Epstein-Barr syndrome sapped his energy and [his wife] just got tired of him lying around the house, not doing anything. Then there was that sad story that he lost his house and didn't have any money." Dean Blackwood, later Fahey's partner in Revenant Records
, relates that Fahey was never penniless, "He lived in a series of welfare-motels, weekly rentals, and all of them were more expansive than weekly rent on apartment. He always had this publishing income and that never went away."
Following a 1994 entry on Fahey in Spin magazine
's spin-off Alternative Record Guide publication, Fahey learned that he now had a whole new audience, which included alternative US bands Sonic Youth
and Cul de Sac
, British comedian and writer Stewart Lee
and the avant-garde musician Jim O'Rourke
. Byron Coley
published a large article called "The Persecutions and Resurrections of Blind Joe Death" (also in Spin magazine). New releases started to appear in rapid succession, in parallel to the reissue of all the early Takoma
releases by Fantasy Records
.
gave the album an A- rating, writing "...after two decades of asking myself why he's any better than Leo Kottke
I've decided it's a spiritual thing—he's maintained a direct line to his inner amateur. For two whole CDs, definitely not boring. Just close enough to make you question the category." Rick Anderson, writing for Allmusic recommended the box set with reservations, also stating "...but the faint-hearted should try to listen before buying."
Both the Baltimore City Paper
and The New Rolling Stone Album Guide recommended The Return of the Repressed as an excellent place to start for listeners new to Fahey.
Eric Watford of CMJ New Music wrote "His unshowy style is quiet, unhurried and flowing, using unusual tunings for gorgeous open-string resonances, and focusing on melodies and harmonies which he occasionally augmented with a taste for Indian ragas and 20th century classical composers like yes and Bartok."
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 1994. Fahey's career, health and personal life had been in decline. The release of The Return of the Repressed, along with an article in Spin
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
magazine by Byron Coley
Byron Coley
Byron Coley is an American music critic who wrote prominently for Forced Exposure magazine in the 1980s, starting with their fifth issue until the magazine ceased publication in 1993. Prior to Forced Exposure, he wrote for NY Rocker, Boston Rock, and Take It! magazine. Coley is one of the first...
served to provide a renewal of his career.
History
Most of Fahey's catalog was out-of-print at the time Barry HansenDr. Demento
Barret Eugene Hansen , better known as Dr. Demento, is a radio broadcaster and record collector specializing in novelty songs, comedy, and strange or unusual recordings dating from the early days of phonograph records to the present....
began working on the Return of the Repressed compilation project for Rhino Records. He interviewed Fahey in Oregon and together with James Austin of Rhino, they selected the tracks to be included. At the time, Fahey was divorced from his second wife and was living in homeless shelters or cheap hotels. Hansen related in an interview with Jason Gross: "He came down with the Epstein-Barr syndrome
Epstein-Barr virus
The Epstein–Barr virus , also called human herpesvirus 4 , is a virus of the herpes family and is one of the most common viruses in humans. It is best known as the cause of infectious mononucleosis...
, which was something that just kind of snuck up on him. Then the divorce. Those two things were linked, I think. The Epstein-Barr syndrome sapped his energy and [his wife] just got tired of him lying around the house, not doing anything. Then there was that sad story that he lost his house and didn't have any money." Dean Blackwood, later Fahey's partner in Revenant Records
Revenant Records
Revenant Records is a record label based in Austin, Texas, which concentrates on folk and blues. Revenant was formed in 1996 by John Fahey and Dean Blackwood...
, relates that Fahey was never penniless, "He lived in a series of welfare-motels, weekly rentals, and all of them were more expansive than weekly rent on apartment. He always had this publishing income and that never went away."
Following a 1994 entry on Fahey in Spin magazine
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
's spin-off Alternative Record Guide publication, Fahey learned that he now had a whole new audience, which included alternative US bands Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
and Cul de Sac
Cul de Sac (band)
Cul de Sac are a rock music group formed in 1990 in Boston, Massachusetts and led by guitarist Glenn Jones. Their music is primarily instrumental. Jones and keyboardist Robin Amos have been the only constant members....
, British comedian and writer Stewart Lee
Stewart Lee
Stewart Lee is an English stand-up comedian, writer and director known for being one half of the 1990s comedy duo Lee and Herring, and for co-writing and directing the critically acclaimed and controversial stage show Jerry Springer - The Opera...
and the avant-garde musician Jim O'Rourke
Jim O'Rourke (musician)
Jim O'Rourke is an Irish-American musician and record producer. He was long associated with the Chicago experimental and improv scene...
. Byron Coley
Byron Coley
Byron Coley is an American music critic who wrote prominently for Forced Exposure magazine in the 1980s, starting with their fifth issue until the magazine ceased publication in 1993. Prior to Forced Exposure, he wrote for NY Rocker, Boston Rock, and Take It! magazine. Coley is one of the first...
published a large article called "The Persecutions and Resurrections of Blind Joe Death" (also in Spin magazine). New releases started to appear in rapid succession, in parallel to the reissue of all the early 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:...
releases by Fantasy Records
Fantasy Records
Fantasy Records is a United States-based record label that was founded by Max and Sol Weiss in 1949 in San Francisco, California. They had previously operated a record-pressing plant called Circle Record Company before forming the Fantasy label...
.
Reception
Music critic Robert ChristgauRobert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
gave the album an A- rating, writing "...after two decades of asking myself why he's any better than Leo Kottke
Leo Kottke
Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is widely known for his innovative fingerpicking style, which draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and his syncopated, polyphonic melodies...
I've decided it's a spiritual thing—he's maintained a direct line to his inner amateur. For two whole CDs, definitely not boring. Just close enough to make you question the category." Rick Anderson, writing for Allmusic recommended the box set with reservations, also stating "...but the faint-hearted should try to listen before buying."
Both the Baltimore City Paper
Baltimore City Paper
Baltimore City Paper is a free alternative weekly newspaper published in Baltimore, Maryland, founded in 1977 by Russ Smith and Alan Hirsch. Current owner Times-Shamrock Communications purchased the paper in 1987...
and The New Rolling Stone Album Guide recommended The Return of the Repressed as an excellent place to start for listeners new to Fahey.
Eric Watford of CMJ New Music wrote "His unshowy style is quiet, unhurried and flowing, using unusual tunings for gorgeous open-string resonances, and focusing on melodies and harmonies which he occasionally augmented with a taste for Indian ragas and 20th century classical composers like yes and Bartok."
Track listing
All songs by John Fahey unless otherwise noted.- "Desperate Man Blues" (Traditional) – 4:01
- "Dance of the Inhabitants of the Palace of King Phillip XIV of Spain" – 2:33
- "Sligo River Blues" – 2:37
- "Sun Gonna Shine in My Back Door Someday Blues" – 4:39
- "On Doing an Evil Deed Blues" – 3:59
- "I'm Gonna Do All I Can for My Lord" – 1:26
- "Some Summer Day" – 3:28
- "Worried Blues" (Fahey, Hutchison) – 2:30
- "Tell Her to Come Back Home" (Fahey, Uncle Dave MaconUncle Dave MaconUncle Dave Macon , born David Harrison Macon—also known as "The Dixie Dewdrop"—was an American banjo player, singer, songwriter, and comedian...
) – 2:43 - "Poor BoyPoor Boy Blues"Poor Boy Blues" or "Poor Boy, Long Ways From Home" is a traditional blues song of unknown origin. As with most traditional blues songs, there is great variation in the melody and lyrical content as performed by different artists...
" (Fahey, Bukka WhiteBukka WhiteBooker T. Washington White , better known as Bukka White, was an American Delta blues guitarist and singer. "Bukka" was not a nickname, but a phonetic misspelling of White's given name Booker, by his second record label .-Biography:Born between Aberdeen and Houston, Mississippi, White was the...
) – 3:21 - "Orinda-Moraga" – 3:57
- "The Death of Clayton Peacock" – 2:57
- "Brenda's Blues" – 1:49
- "On the Sunny Side of the Ocean" – 3:15
- "Revelation on the Banks of the Pawtuxent" – 2:37
- "Night Train to Valhalla" – 2:19
- "Knott's Berry Farm Molly" – 4:34
- "Bill Cheatham" (Traditional) – 1:55
- "Knoxville Blues" (Sam McGeeMcGee BrothersThe McGee Brothers were an American old-time performing duo consisting of brothers Sam McGee and Kirk McGee . Sam typically played guitar and Kirk usually played banjo or fiddle, although they were both proficient in multiple string instruments...
) – 3:10 - "Sunflower River Blues" – 6:03
- "A Raga Called Pat (Pt. 1) " – 6:26
- "In Christ There Is No East or West" (Harry BurleighHarry BurleighHenry "Harry" Thacker Burleigh , a baritone, was an African American classical composer, arranger, and professional singer...
, John Oxenham) – 2:44 - "The Yellow Princess" – 4:51
- "Lion" – 5:10
- "The Revolt of the Dyke Brigade" – 2:42
- "The Portland Cement Factory at Monolith, California" – 4:27
- "Steamboat Gwine 'Round de Bend" – 4:18
- "Lord Have Mercy" (Traditional) – 2:32
- "Beverly" – 4:51
- "Hawaiian Two-Step" – 2:44
- "Candy Man" (Reverend Gary DavisReverend Gary DavisReverend Gary Davis, also Blind Gary Davis, was an American blues and gospel singer and guitarist, who was also proficient on the banjo and harmonica...
) – 1:28 - "Jaya Shiva Shankara" (Traditional) – 5:03
- "Medley: Silver Bell/Cheyenne" (Fahey, Doc WatsonDoc WatsonArthel Lane "Doc" Watson is an American guitar player, songwriter and singer of bluegrass, folk, country, blues and gospel music. He has won seven Grammy awards as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Watson's flatpicking skills and knowledge of traditional American music are highly regarded...
, Bill MonroeBill MonroeWilliam Smith Monroe was an American musician who created the style of music known as bluegrass, which takes its name from his band, the "Blue Grass Boys," named for Monroe's home state of Kentucky. Monroe's performing career spanned 60 years as a singer, instrumentalist, composer and bandleader...
) – 4:31 - "The Approaching of the Disco Void" – 6:33
- "Summer Cat by My Door" – 4:17
- "Theme and Variations" (Louis HardinMoondogMoondog, born Louis Thomas Hardin , was a blind American composer, musician, poet and inventor of several musical instruments. Moving to New York as a young man, Moondog made a deliberate decision to make his home on the streets there, where he spent approximately twenty of the thirty years he...
) – 3:00 - "Lava on Waikiki" – 2:19
- "Samba de Orfeu" (Luiz BonfáLuiz BonfáLuiz Floriano Bonfá was a Brazilian guitarist and composer best known for the compositions he penned for the film Black Orpheus.-Biography:...
) – 3:12 - "Rain Forest" – 6:47
- "Twilight TimeTwilight Time (song)"Twilight Time" is a popular song with lyrics by Buck Ram, and the music by The Three Suns .Original hits of "Twilight Time" included the Three Suns and Les Brown & His Band of Renown ....
" (Buck RamBuck RamBuck Ram was an American songwriter, and popular music producer and arranger.-Biography:...
, Morty Nevins, Al NevinsAl NevinsAl Nevins, born Albert Tepper , was a renowned musician, producer, arranger, guitarist and violinist. He was also member of a pop trio called the Three Suns and is considered one of the major forces behind the evolution of the 1950s music into the early 1960s pop/rock music.-The Three Suns:Al...
) –2:33 - "The Sea of LoveSea of Love (song)"Sea of Love" is a song written by John Phillip Baptiste and George Khoury. Phillips' 1959 recording of the song peaked at #1 on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart and #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. In the UK, Marty Wilde covered the song, and Phillips' version failed to chart there...
" (Phillip BaptistePhil PhillipsPhil Phillips is an American singer and songwriter, best known for his 1959 hit, "Sea of Love".-Biography:...
, George Khoury) – 2:08 - "Yes, Jesus Loves MeJesus Loves MeJesus Loves Me is a Christian hymn set to words by Anna Bartlett Warner. The lyrics first appeared as a poem in the context of a novel called Say and Seal, written by Susan Warner and published in 1860. The tune was added in 1862 by William Batchelder Bradbury who found the text of "Jesus Loves Me"...
" (William Batchelder BradburyWilliam Batchelder BradburyWilliam Batchelder Bradbury was a musician who composed the tune to Jesus Loves Me and many other popular hymns.-Biography:...
, Anna B. Warner) – 1:45