Doc Watson has about him much of the “old, weird America” identified by Greil Marcus in Harry Smith’s famous Anthology Of American Folk Music. In fact, Watson comes over as something of a living anthology, a characteristic this compilation confirms. Born in the Appalachians, Watson learned old-time songs from his family and neighbours such as Clarence Ashley (whose version of The Coo Coo Bird is in Smith’s collection). It might seem inevitable that he turned out this way but, while his background provided a fertile soil, it wouldn’t have produced anything without his singleminded desire to be a musician.
“Living anthology” implies conservatism, but several of the songs here are by contemporary writers such as Tom Paxton and Townes Van Zandt. That said, the majority are either traditional or old-timey, yet the overriding impression is of energy and the sheer joy of playing. Doc’s love of music was transmitted to his son Merle (named after Merle Travis) and between them they turned in an astonishingly consistent body of work, until Merle’s untimely death in 1985.
Not all the tracks work 100 per cent – a few stray string arrangements creep in, while All I Have To Do Is Dream adds nothing to the Everlys’ version – but, overall, a wonderful introduction to, or reminder of, a true American classic.
