Being in the place where John Hurt lived most of his life is always an incredible experience for me. A lot of things have changed in that part of the world since John Hurt's day, but because there has been relatively little commercial or residential development in and around Avalon in the last 80 years, the landscape looks a lot like it did when he lived there. Still a lot of gravel roads, deep woods, and abundant wildlife. Music still comes out of the ground there, too. - LJ
Thanks SantaCruzOM! "Avalon Blues" was one of the more difficult John Hurt songs to learn, and no one plays it exactly like he did, because every time he recorded it, he played it a little differently. Anyway, I'm fairly satisfied with this version and I'm very glad you enjoyed it. - Lost Jim
Dear Jojopotato28, Great to hear from someone who has spent some time in Avalon. You're right, it is in the middle of nowhere and at night the darkness is incredible. What road is your house on? Do you know where the old Valley Store is? Do you happen to know Larry Smith? He lives at the edge of the cottonfield just before the paved road turns and goes past the little St. James church. I've rambled all around there and I love that whole area where the hill country begins. Sincerely, Lost Jim
I keep coming back to this clip. What you've managed to recreate is that bouncy feel to the rythym that is pure MJH. You also have that great lick in the E major that I just can't get. It looks like a half-step transition to the B7 and then immediately back to the E, but I just can't get my fingers to do it yet. Great stuff.
Excellent Jim. It must have been great to sit there and play this. Thanks for uploading this - it's been very enjoyable and informative too, seeing what fingering you used to create some parts of it. John.
What a delight to listen to .... and relaxing .... a wonderful version .... you've set the bar high for guitar plonkers like me. If you can do it, maybe I can. It's gives hope & inspiration to keep playing this old tune david v from Australia
Hey montree, I don't have a tab for "You Got To Die." On the recording from the Vanguard "Last Sessions" lp John Hurt played it in E. I don't knw whether it's still available, but you should check out the version that Gene Bush plays on his "Made In Mississippi" CD. Like many of the songs John played in E, he approaches it like open tuning, playing double-stops and licks up the neck and using open bass strings for rhythm. It is all about rhythm and melody, not necessarily chords. - LJ
Jim, Thanks for posting. Great work and a great version, and the setting makes it even more special. Very much appreciated, as is your enthusiasm for the great MJH. Am I right in saying that he spent the last couple of years of his life living in Avalon after becoming tired and weary of touring and the whole showbiz thing which he wasn't familiar with anyway, having lived in obscurity for more than 30 years before being rediscovered? Read that somewhere, don't know if its correct or not.
You're the first cover I have heard that knew to use the A string base drop while on the E chord. To me that's what makes Avalon a unique tune. Also, love the open A chord at the fifth fret. Check out my Candy Man cover
still nobody more faithful to MJH's sound in 2024.
Jim No wonder my cousin Phil loved having you as the Delta River Band geetar picker. Awesome!
That sure is nice of you to say, Mike! Have you read "Don't Ever Start A Band" Phil's band memoir?
Being in the place where John Hurt lived most of his life is always an incredible experience for me. A lot of things have changed in that part of the world since John Hurt's day, but because there has been relatively little commercial or residential development in and around Avalon in the last 80 years, the landscape looks a lot like it did when he lived there. Still a lot of gravel roads, deep woods, and abundant wildlife. Music still comes out of the ground there, too. - LJ
Yeah man. It's inside you now
Thanks SantaCruzOM! "Avalon Blues" was one of the more difficult John Hurt songs to learn, and no one plays it exactly like he did, because every time he recorded it, he played it a little differently. Anyway, I'm fairly satisfied with this version and I'm very glad you enjoyed it.
- Lost Jim
The only cover out there that does this song justice. Thanks
Best recording of that song I've heard since Bruce Cockburn covered it.
Some solid, smooth picking there. Much Love and your practice paid off, youre nailing it.
Thank you, Tim. Did you by any chance run a recording studio in Oshkosh in the 1980s?
@@daddyjohn1893 Not yet.... but i don't give up on the impossible.
Real smooth Jim ,
Any chance to get the TABs for this gem ?
Thanks...vern
This is really nice, Jim, thanks for posting. I love that you did it on the front porch...
I love your version. I'm going to try my best to play it like you do.Thank you Jim for all you do.t.a.awua larteh ghana.
Dear Jojopotato28,
Great to hear from someone who has spent some time in Avalon. You're right, it is in the middle of nowhere and at night the darkness is incredible. What road is your house on? Do you know where the old Valley Store is? Do you happen to know Larry Smith? He lives at the edge of the cottonfield just before the paved road turns and goes past the little St. James church. I've rambled all around there and I love that whole area where the hill country begins.
Sincerely,
Lost Jim
excellent playing - to be picking Avalon Blues on the porch of MJH's house in Avalon ...well, that's really something
You really have that John Hurt feel and touch, wonderful !
Thank you for posting.
Antoine - Apee Guitars
I keep coming back to this clip. What you've managed to recreate is that bouncy feel to the rythym that is pure MJH. You also have that great lick in the E major that I just can't get. It looks like a half-step transition to the B7 and then immediately back to the E, but I just can't get my fingers to do it yet. Great stuff.
Wow, that's just fantastic.
Excellent Jim. It must have been great to sit there and play this. Thanks for uploading this - it's been very enjoyable and informative too, seeing what fingering you used to create some parts of it. John.
You play this really well. Sounds great, well done.
Thanks RZero73! Cheers - Lost Jim
Excellent! This is one of my favorite MJH tunes. You've really got it.
What a delight to listen to .... and relaxing .... a wonderful version .... you've set the bar high for guitar plonkers like me.
If you can do it, maybe I can. It's gives hope & inspiration to keep playing this old tune
david v from Australia
Hey montree,
I don't have a tab for "You Got To Die." On the recording from the Vanguard "Last Sessions" lp John Hurt played it in E. I don't knw whether it's still available, but you should check out the version that Gene Bush plays on his "Made In Mississippi" CD. Like many of the songs John played in E, he approaches it like open tuning, playing double-stops and licks up the neck and using open bass strings for rhythm. It is all about rhythm and melody, not necessarily chords. - LJ
very good matey :)
Jim, Thanks for posting. Great work and a great version, and the setting makes it even more special. Very much appreciated, as is your enthusiasm for the great MJH. Am I right in saying that he spent the last couple of years of his life living in Avalon after becoming tired and weary of touring and the whole showbiz thing which he wasn't familiar with anyway, having lived in obscurity for more than 30 years before being rediscovered? Read that somewhere, don't know if its correct or not.
You're the first cover I have heard that knew to use the A string base drop while on the E chord. To me that's what makes Avalon a unique tune. Also, love the open A chord at the fifth fret. Check out my Candy Man cover
r
l burnside
Echo the thanks.
One thing, I don't nose, how ya put.
that's awesome .....do you have a tab available for the way you play it ?
Great performance, its a pleasure to listen. May I ask at what age you started to learn to play guitar and especially this alternating thumb technic.
Jim, this ain’t right, unfortunately. It’s actually not in standard tuning
So in what tuning are you claiming it to be?