john fahey - "the transfiguration of blind joe death"

this record from 1965 is a sterling example of what the late fahey described as "american primitive music." it is a finger-picking bible of sorts, and has been the inspiration to an unlikely circle of musicians, including thurston moore, howe gelb, cul de sac, and others. fahey twists hillbilly music, acoustic blues, jazz, and ragtime, to form a sculpture all his own. if ever there was an instrumental record that revealed so much about the character of the musician, this is it. fahey puts sounds to irony, sarcasm, desperation, bitterness, and joy.

an interesting side note: the album cover was featured prominently in stanley kubrick's film "a clockwork orange." look for it.

to learn more about john fahey, click here, and visit his website