The Essential Doc Watson

by Doc Watson

Overview

The Essential Doc Watson includes 26 tracks of Watson in his most traditional, folksy mode, with his stunning flat-picking guitar technique and warm, unadorned singing in fine form. The album's first half focuses on studio sessions -- some solo, some with accompaniment -- while the second half is taken from Watson's mid-'60s Newport Folk Festival appearances. The performances throughout are top-notch. Watson's flawlessly fluid guitar work is a wonder (most notably on instrumentals like "Beaumont Rag"), and he sounds as at ease singing a cappella ("Down in the Valley to Pray") as he does backed by additional musicians ("The Train That Carried My Girl from Town"). The program includes traditional songs ("Tom Dooley" and "Little Omie Wise"), as well as tunes by Jimmy Rodgers ("I Was a Stranger") and Dock Boggs ("Country Blues"), with Watson bringing each song to life with his incisive, sincere renditions. As a one-stop, economical introduction to this folk legend, The Essential Doc Watson is hard to beat. ~ Rovi Staff

Product Details

Release Date:	10/25/1990
Label:	Vanguard
UPC:	0015707454629

Tracks

1. Tom Dooley
2. Alberta
3. Froggie Went A-Courtin'
4. Beaumont Rag
5. St. James Hospital
6. Muskrat
7. Down in the Valley to Pray
8. Blue Railroad Train
9. Rising Sun Blues
10. Shady Grove
11. My Rough and Rowdy Ways
12. The Train That Carried My Girl from Town
13. Black Mountain Rag
14. I Was a Stranger
15. Blue Ridge Mountain Blues
16. Country Blues
17. Ground Hog
18. Little Orphan Girl
19. Blackberry Blossom
20. Going Down the Road Feeling Bad
21. Rambling Hobo
22. Omie Wise
23. Handsome Molly
24. White House Blues
25. I Want to Love Him More
26. Way Downtown

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Doc Watson   Primary Artist,Banjo,Vocals,Harmonica,Guitar (Acoustic)
Clint Howard   Vocals
Buddy Spicher   Fiddle
Tommy Jackson   Fiddle
Buddy Harman   Drums
Shot Jackson   Dobro
Floyd Cramer   Piano
Grady Martin   Dobro,Guitar
Merle Watson   Guitar
Arnold Watson   Banjo,Vocals
Mrs. General Dixon Watson   Vocals
Roy M. "Junior" Husky   Bass
Russ Savacus   Bass
Fred Price   Fiddle
Gaither Carlton   Fiddle
Don Stover   Banjo
Eric Weissberg   Bass

Technical Credits

M. Christian   Composer
Bill Kreutzmann   Composer
Bob Weir   Composer
Bill Monroe   Composer
Charlie Poole   Composer
James Baker   Composer
Jack Lothrop   Producer
Dennis Rowland   Composer
Huddie Ledbetter   Arranger,Composer
Jerry Garcia   Composer
McWilliams   Composer
Jimmie Rodgers   Composer
Ralph Rinzler   Producer
Jimmie Rogers   Composer
Woody Guthrie   Composer
Jimmy Rogers   Composer
Dock Boggs   Arranger,Composer,Adaptation
Elsie McWilliams   Composer
Lee Hays   Composer
Ron "Pigpen" McKernan   Composer
Phil Lesh   Composer
Mickey Hart   Composer
Lead Belly   Composer
Clarence Ashley   Composer
Doc Watson   Arranger,Composer,Adaptation,Guitar Arrangements
Alton Delmore   Composer
Trade Martin   Composer
Traditional   Composer