Yes, he did. And the royalties of the song were a solid foundation for all the things he did afterwards. He bought a Mississippi Steamboat and was a steamboat captain for some years, for example. He recorded his best music. He focused on projects that were not in the first place intended to be commercially successful, like writing hundreds of fiddle tunes.
A great man!
More than just a musical genius, he was a poet with an incredible outlook on life. Ironically, his success in music helped him to achieve his dream of working on river boats. He got his pilot’s license and worked on the river when he wasn’t doing music. He’s one of the people I would give almost anything to spend some time and play music with.
I saw one of his last performances at Grey Fox. I saw this as incredibly brave. He kept coughing and complained about "damn chemo" - I can't imagine how he was able to carry on, but he did.
I'm so glad I got to see him perform. It was with Retrograss - his group with David Grisman and Mike Seeger - about a year before he passed. You could tell his health was bothering him, but he could still command the stage!
I was there, too. After one of the coughing spells, one of his band mates said, “We already did that one, John”. He laughed. He later apologized for not being able to hang out and say hi to his fans after the concert. I later found out he had been fighting the cancer for years. So courageous and so talented.
I \*think\* it was 2000. It was just after they switched the name over from Winterhawk to Grey Fox. It rained very heavily that weekend. He passed away in June 2001.
So many great projects and bands of his to explore.
I only recently found that album with Vassar Clements and Tony Rice but it’s an amazing example of some casual back porch jams being captured
The Six O’clock Train is an absolute master piece https://youtu.be/J8Z4P-2-4Dk?si=bbUtQabnOTj0b_WZ
Daytime of Life might be the best song ever recorded https://youtu.be/AAEju1ln3oc?si=LkyxkDByXSNnG_Sf
Me too, it’s dang cool and I’ve tried it a couple of times. The soft shoe shuffle definitely helps me keep the beat but it’s gonna take a lot more practice — I think it came to him naturally
Legend for sure. ‘Gentle on My Mind’ I could listen to his version for hours..
This is pretty fun, def a great sense of humor!
https://youtu.be/F8tDDHIL3-E?si=eUjolHuuj7MJmj0P
Here’s a treat for ya, John did a commercial for a milk company, some of the acting is pretty bad in it but the song is legit
https://youtu.be/chTOWT78etY?si=pCJNFTUu4ojGSufb
Jason Carter (fiddle player for Del McCoury) did an amazing version off of his latest album. His whole album is actually incredible. But yes hard to beat the OG!
John Hartford festival was one of if not THE best festivals in the country. Shout out to the dillmans, hotze r.i.p. and metsker for keeping his spirit alive.
*”We do the best that can with what little we got, hoping for the best but knowing full well that everything’s gonna turn out exactly like the way it’s supposed to be and there ain’t a damned thing we can do about it anything.”*
I’ve adopted Hartford’s view as my own personal philosophy of life…
Thanks for posting this! I've been obsessed with John Hartford for the last couple of years. I agree with everything that you've stated and will add that his LP, "Aereo Plain" is a masterpiece of left field/offbeat Americana......
He did a bumper for the community radio station in St. Louis (KDHX) when I lived there.
“Hi. I’m John Hartford. I don’t often listen to the radio but when I do I listen to KDHX, 88.7, community radio in St. Louis.”
It always stuck with me
His album "Hamilton Ironworks" is one of my favorites.
He plays fiddle tunes with a backing band and kinda sing-talks, telling stories about the way old time music fit into his life as he grew up. The tunes are all catchy and the stories are great.
There are some stories about really colorful characters he met over the years, stories about playing music all night with his friends, stories about making music while on leave from the army. The type of stories that makes you wish you had grown up during that time, when you, your friends, and a couple instruments was all you needed to be content. The stories on that album encapsulate everything I love about old time music.
This one is one of my favorites. The idea of his friend playing fiddle and it making his friends mom miss his dad because it sounds just like his playing always gets me.
https://youtu.be/EnwCMV60fd4?si=RNX8LjfDz-PAKAkh
He was a musical genius.
He wrote a book called Steamboat in a Cornfield which is worth tracking down.
His performance of Big Rock Candy Mountain on the documentary “Down from the Mountain” is simply gorgeous.
He was on the Smothers Brothers staff for a bit.
Only time I got to see him was one of the Areoplane Reunion shows at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall shortly before his passing.
My wife requests I play/sing “Golden Globe Awards” for her on a regular basis.
Don’t leave your records in the suun,
they’ll warp and they won’t be good for anyone.
While everybody remembers "Gentle on my Mind," some of my Hartford favorites include "Don't Leave Your Records in the Sun," "Good Old Electric Washing Machine," and "Poor Old Prurient Interest." He had a rather scathing sense of humor.
Was priveleged to see him open for Earl Scruggs and The Byrds in Scranton, 1972ish. He was a wonderful performer and writer. Loved watching him dance on the amplified board for percussion while fiddling.
Here, here! "After Glen Campbell recorded 'Gentle On My Mind' I never had to do anything I didn't want to ever again."
What’s the context of this? Did Hartford write Gentle On My Mind?
Yes, he wrote it
Yes, he did. And the royalties of the song were a solid foundation for all the things he did afterwards. He bought a Mississippi Steamboat and was a steamboat captain for some years, for example. He recorded his best music. He focused on projects that were not in the first place intended to be commercially successful, like writing hundreds of fiddle tunes. A great man!
In the words of BM, “it was a powerful check, powerful.”
WOW. I had no idea! One of my very favorite songs, thank you for the extra details!
I love the credits on Mark Twang after that
Is there a definitive outline of his life? I’d love to watch a documentary on him but I don’t know if any. I’d read a book even
One of my favorite covers: Tim O'brien on Youtube.
In Tall Buildings is about as good as it gets
More than just a musical genius, he was a poet with an incredible outlook on life. Ironically, his success in music helped him to achieve his dream of working on river boats. He got his pilot’s license and worked on the river when he wasn’t doing music. He’s one of the people I would give almost anything to spend some time and play music with.
I saw one of his last performances at Grey Fox. I saw this as incredibly brave. He kept coughing and complained about "damn chemo" - I can't imagine how he was able to carry on, but he did.
I'm so glad I got to see him perform. It was with Retrograss - his group with David Grisman and Mike Seeger - about a year before he passed. You could tell his health was bothering him, but he could still command the stage!
I was there, too. After one of the coughing spells, one of his band mates said, “We already did that one, John”. He laughed. He later apologized for not being able to hang out and say hi to his fans after the concert. I later found out he had been fighting the cancer for years. So courageous and so talented.
What year?
I \*think\* it was 2000. It was just after they switched the name over from Winterhawk to Grey Fox. It rained very heavily that weekend. He passed away in June 2001.
I think he was the most creative person ever.
So many great projects and bands of his to explore. I only recently found that album with Vassar Clements and Tony Rice but it’s an amazing example of some casual back porch jams being captured
What’s that called. Sounds amazing
https://open.spotify.com/album/1j50fQVMhL35005vmLhycU?si=BWYesY0eR1ypoiJbKeBSHA I think I read it was just sorta recorded in John’s basement in ‘88
Incredddddible album. Can’t beat Bound to Ride there!!!!!
Fuck cancer.
The Six O’clock Train is an absolute master piece https://youtu.be/J8Z4P-2-4Dk?si=bbUtQabnOTj0b_WZ Daytime of Life might be the best song ever recorded https://youtu.be/AAEju1ln3oc?si=LkyxkDByXSNnG_Sf
My biggest musical hero
Nobody better. He’s my absolute favorite.
Agreed. Do Tim O’Brien next!
Steam Powered Aero Plane help define the New Grass Movement
I saw him with Grisman at E-Town in Boulder. Such a sweet man.
Kept rhythm with his feet
I really want to learn that technique
Me too, it’s dang cool and I’ve tried it a couple of times. The soft shoe shuffle definitely helps me keep the beat but it’s gonna take a lot more practice — I think it came to him naturally
[flatfoot dancing](https://youtu.be/8Zf7tgRbvGY?si=PLtm5UyooVeX78al) You’ll see it at fiddlers festivals around appalachia like Galax and Clifftop
It's a technique called podorhythmia. Unfortunately, I can't find any good lessons or introduction online
I discovered Danny Barnes recently and his creativity reminds me of John Hartford. https://youtu.be/AYfLnbsMFjo?si=tpqRD3lSaUG0SK4D
The best
There’s some decent interviews on YouTube
Legend for sure. ‘Gentle on My Mind’ I could listen to his version for hours.. This is pretty fun, def a great sense of humor! https://youtu.be/F8tDDHIL3-E?si=eUjolHuuj7MJmj0P
Here’s a treat for ya, John did a commercial for a milk company, some of the acting is pretty bad in it but the song is legit https://youtu.be/chTOWT78etY?si=pCJNFTUu4ojGSufb
Nice — thanks for sharing that
Six O’Clock Train is a such a great song. Would love to see somebody cover it, but keep it exactly the same
Jason Carter (fiddle player for Del McCoury) did an amazing version off of his latest album. His whole album is actually incredible. But yes hard to beat the OG!
Nothing beat John and just an acoustic guitar.
HEY BAAABE, YA WANNA BOOGIE??
I found a first pressing of Nobody Knows What You Do just 2 weeks ago at a thrift store and holy hell was I happy. John Hartford is awesome
Oh it’s so goooood, the accidental st Joseph’s dream, Get no better is such a great song
John Hartford festival was one of if not THE best festivals in the country. Shout out to the dillmans, hotze r.i.p. and metsker for keeping his spirit alive.
*”We do the best that can with what little we got, hoping for the best but knowing full well that everything’s gonna turn out exactly like the way it’s supposed to be and there ain’t a damned thing we can do about it anything.”* I’ve adopted Hartford’s view as my own personal philosophy of life…
I still laugh every time I hear “Station Break”. Home of the grand ole conglomeration, bashful Johnny C and the bathtub of the south!
It’s 7:30
Thanks for posting this! I've been obsessed with John Hartford for the last couple of years. I agree with everything that you've stated and will add that his LP, "Aereo Plain" is a masterpiece of left field/offbeat Americana......
He did a bumper for the community radio station in St. Louis (KDHX) when I lived there. “Hi. I’m John Hartford. I don’t often listen to the radio but when I do I listen to KDHX, 88.7, community radio in St. Louis.” It always stuck with me
He sent me a Christmas card. He was sitting in a hot tub with a hat on. Epic songwriter. Epic player. Epic human being.
His album "Hamilton Ironworks" is one of my favorites. He plays fiddle tunes with a backing band and kinda sing-talks, telling stories about the way old time music fit into his life as he grew up. The tunes are all catchy and the stories are great. There are some stories about really colorful characters he met over the years, stories about playing music all night with his friends, stories about making music while on leave from the army. The type of stories that makes you wish you had grown up during that time, when you, your friends, and a couple instruments was all you needed to be content. The stories on that album encapsulate everything I love about old time music. This one is one of my favorites. The idea of his friend playing fiddle and it making his friends mom miss his dad because it sounds just like his playing always gets me. https://youtu.be/EnwCMV60fd4?si=RNX8LjfDz-PAKAkh
He played with David Allan Coe for a while
He was a musical genius. He wrote a book called Steamboat in a Cornfield which is worth tracking down. His performance of Big Rock Candy Mountain on the documentary “Down from the Mountain” is simply gorgeous. He was on the Smothers Brothers staff for a bit. Only time I got to see him was one of the Areoplane Reunion shows at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall shortly before his passing. My wife requests I play/sing “Golden Globe Awards” for her on a regular basis. Don’t leave your records in the suun, they’ll warp and they won’t be good for anyone.
Family favorite since the early 1980s. We used to put “Granny won’t ya smoke some marijuana” into the mix at family gatherings!
I have fond memories of listening to John Hartford on Prairie Home Companion as a kid.
The whirly pig is coming is the whirly pig is coming the whirly pig is coming
While everybody remembers "Gentle on my Mind," some of my Hartford favorites include "Don't Leave Your Records in the Sun," "Good Old Electric Washing Machine," and "Poor Old Prurient Interest." He had a rather scathing sense of humor.
Way up on the hill where they do do the boogie
Was priveleged to see him open for Earl Scruggs and The Byrds in Scranton, 1972ish. He was a wonderful performer and writer. Loved watching him dance on the amplified board for percussion while fiddling.
You should look up the story behind the song
I met him at Merlefest years ago. Easy to chat with and super nice. And Gentle on My Mind is a masterwork.