Mark Twang
| Mark Twang | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:MarkTwang.jpg | ||||
| Studio album by John Hartford | ||||
| Released | June,1976 | |||
| Recorded | 1976 | |||
| Genre | Bluegrass | |||
| Length | 34:50 | |||
| Label | Flying Fish | |||
| Producer | Michael Melford | |||
| John Hartford chronology | ||||
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Mark Twang is John Hartford's 1976 album of river songs and other eccentric gems, which came from inspiration from years of working on a riverboat. The album was recorded all acoustic in the studio with Hartford by himself on all instruments and vocals.
At the Grammy Awards of 1977 Mark Twang won the Grammy Award for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording.
Reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Robert Christgau | (B) [2] |
Writing for Allmusic, critic Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr. wrote of the album "The songs, as usual, run from sentimental to strange, from the romantic to the weird... Mark Twang may not be the first stopping place for the new Hartford fan, but for those already familiar with his unique talent, it's a must have."[1] Music critic Robert Christgau wrote "These days he sings mostly about the mighty Mississip (too thick to navigate, too thin to plow) and records eccentric river music for a folk label. He's slightly the better for it, on the whole—but I wouldn't say his living sounds so secure that he should turn down a gig on the Proud Mary. A gig playing, or a gig navigating"[2]
Track listing
All tracks composed by John Hartford; except where indicated
- "Skippin' in the Mississippi Dew" – 3:01
- "Long Hot Summer Days" – 4:48
- "Let Him Go On, Mama" – 3:49
- "Don't Leave Your Records in the Sun" – 2:26
- "Tater Tate and Allen Mundy" – 2:42
- "The Julia Belle Swain" – 4:48
- "Little Cabin Home on the Hill Waugh Waugh" (Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt, Hartford) – 1:13
- "Austin Minor Sympathy" – 6:42
- "The Lowest Pair" – 0:45
- "Tryin' to Do Something to Get Your Attention" – 4:39
Personnel
- John Hartford - banjo, guitar, fiddle, plywood, vocals
Production
- Producer: Michael Melford
- Recording Engineer: Claude Hill
- Art Direction: John Hartford
- Cover Artwork: Willy Matthews
- Liner notes: John Hartford
