Looks At Life / Earthworks And Music

John Hartford's death in 2001 has brought a number of issues and reissues, but none have been more important than Camdem Deluxe's release of his six early RCA albums along with the never-before released Radio John. These albums offer a sidelong view of Hartford in the mid- to late '60s, prior to his Aereo-Plain days. His eccentric outlook and unabashed romanticism are already full-blown on Looks at Life and Earthwords and Music, both released in 1967. Both "I Shoulda Wore My Birthday Suit" and "(Good Old Electric) Washing Machine (Circa. 1943)" come straight out of left field, while "The Tall Tall Grass" and "Daytime of Life" capture the wistfulness of a summer Sunday. A couple of pieces, "Front Porch" and "Love Song in 2/4 Time," even manage the difficult feat of being both melancholy and comical at the same time. Hartford also shows a penchant for experimenting on pieces like "I Reckon" and "Earthwords": both sound like beat poetry strained through a Nashville sensibility. Counterculture morality dates "Untangle Your Mind" and "When the Sky Began to Fall," but the songs are nonetheless fun. These albums also hold a couple of early classics. "Corn Cob Blues" and "Gentle on My Mind" offer hints at what Hartford would sound like in his prime. While the arrangements are fairly simple on both albums, keeping Hartford's vocals and banjo front and center, fans of his later, more traditional material will probably find them overproduced. Overall, though, both albums provide a fine introduction to Hartford's early work and will be much appreciated by hardcore fans. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.|