Release Date: November 15, 2019 / March 12, 2001 (Shanachie).
Release Info: Compilation (SGG15789) / (Shanachie–6117).
Recording Time: 211 minutes.
Recording Date: 1958 - 1966.
Styles: Acoustic Blues, Country Blues, Gospel Blues.
(3-CD) Stefan Grossman's Guitar Workshop presents a definitive portrait of the hugely influential folk blues icon Rev. Gary Davis in a comprehensive three-CD set titled Demons & Angel. Compiled by disciple and historian Stefan Grossman (who calls Davis 'the Stravinsky of the acoustic guitar'), this sprawling set showcases the full stylistic range of Davis' music, encompassing blues, gospel, ragtime, minstrel songs and other bits of Americana. The recordings were culled from over 100 hours of studio, concert and home recordings. The definitive collection from one of the true giants in early blues and gospel, Reverend Gary Davis, a man positively worshipped by latter-day folkies and rockers (Dave Van Ronk, for one, called him 'the most fantastic guitarist I'd ever seen'). This 3-CD set contains 57 tracks - many unreleased - highlighted by such spine-tinglers as Baby, What You Going to Do; I Am the Vine; Mean Old World; Devil's Dream; You're Going to Quit Me Baby; Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning, and more. A PDF booklet on Disc 1, includes all the song lyrics plus a bio of Rev. Davis by Ian Zack.
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When folk revivalists all of a sudden became fascinated with country-blues performers of the early 20th century, no one had to go into the sticks to find Reverend Gary Davis. Though he'd stopped recording, Davis was an active street singer and preacher in Harlem throughout the 1940s. In the 1950s, folklorists, fans, and followers began to seek him out to hear him play, record him, and learn from him. Stefan Grossman, now a respected guitarist in his own right, was one of his longtime students, and he's compiled this wonderful three-disc box set, complete with detailed song notes and an essay that explores Davis's pre-New York days. Disc 1 features rare recordings made by Columbia University student John Gibbons in 1958 and 1959, and it focuses mostly on Davis's instrumental prowess: a thoroughly matchless fingerpicking guitar style that fused bits of jazz, blues, and ragtime into a highly personal technique. In addition to the many instrumentals on the first disc, there are some of Davis's most spellbinding vocal performances, especially "Crucifixion" (which blends singing and preaching) and "Don't Know Where to Go." Disc 2 includes home recordings from the mid-1960s, while the final disc of live recordings shows off his stage charisma and command. Demons and Angels clearly displays the breadth of Reverend Gary Davis's talent and material--from pop songs to "holy blues" and age-old folk--and is quite a welcome boon to his devoted fans and anyone else looking to discover one of the genre's inimitable talents. Beyond that, it will have aspiring (and even accomplished) acoustic guitarists staying up half the night trying to figure out exactly how the good Reverend played what he played. ~ Marc Greilsamer
Credits: Reverend Gary Davis - Primary Artist, Guitar, Vocals.
Tracklist:
Volume One - "Slippin' 'Til My Gal Comes In Partner: Columbia University, 1958-1959"
1-01. Buck Dance
1-02. Soldier's March
1-03. Baby, What You Going To Do?
1-04. Twelve Sticks (The Dozens)
1-05. Save Up Your Money, John D. Rockerfeller, Put The Panoc On
1-06. I Am The Light Of This World
1-07. Nobody Cares For Me
1-08. Slippin' 'Til My Gal Comes In Partner
1-09. Blues
1-10. Crucifixion
1-11. Rag Blues In C
1-12. Blues In E
1-13. Square Dance Verses
1-14. Don't Know Where To Go
1-15. He's My King
1-16. I'm Throwin' Up My Hands (Ain't Gonna Work No More)
1-17. Cross And Evil Woman Blues
1-18. Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning
1-19. I'm So Tired Of Being All Alone
Volume Two - "I Am The True Vine: At Home, 1964-1966"
2-01. I Am The True Vine
2-02. Lord, Stand By Me
2-03. Won't You Hush?
2-04. Mean Old World
2-05. Moon Is Going Down
2-06. Sportin' Life Blues
2-07. God's Gonna Separate
2-08. Soon My Work Will All Be Done
2-09. Blow, Gabriel
2-10. Get Right Church
2-11. I Want To Be Saved
2-12. Oh, Glory, How Happy I Am
2-13. There's Destruction In That Land (Message From Heaven)
2-14. Tired, My Sould Needs Resting
2-15. Georgia Camp Meeting
2-16. Bill Bailey
2-17. Honey, Get Your Towel Wet
2-18. She Wouldn't Say Quit
2-19. You're Going To Quit Me, Baby
Volume Three - "Twelve Gates To The City: In Concert, 1962-1966"
3-01. I'm Going To Sit Down On The Banks Of The River
3-02. Twelve Gates To The City
3-03. I Heard The Angels Sing
3-04. Twelve Sticks
3-05. It's A Long Way To Tipperary
3-06. When The Train Comes Along
3-07. Little Boy, Little Boy Who Made Your Britches
3-08. All Night Long
3-09. Who Shall Deliver Poor Me?
3-10. Jesus Met The Woman At The Well
3-11. Lord, Search My Heart
3-12. Lord, On Your Word
3-13. Let Us Get Together
3-14. Cocaine Blues
3-15. Devil's Dream
3-16. Blow, Gabriel
3-17. Sun Is Going Down
3-18. Spoonful
3-19. Whistlin' Blues
3-20. Virgin Mary