Pure Religion and Bad Company

Description

Pure Religion and Bad Company is an album by the American blues singer and songwriter Blind Gary Davis (April 30, 1896 – May 5, 1972), released in the UK on 77 Records in 1962. The album was recorded by Fred Gerlach and Tiny Robinson in New York City, June 1957.

The folk revival of the 1960s invigorated Reverend Gary Davis’ career. He performed at the Newport Folk Festival. Peter, Paul and Mary recorded his version of “Samson and Delilah”, also known as “If I Had My Way”, a song by Blind Willie Johnson, which Davis had popularized. “Samson and Delilah” was also covered and credited to Davis by the Grateful Dead on the album Terrapin Station. Eric Von Schmidt credited Davis with three-quarters of Schmidt’s “Baby, Let Me Follow You Down”, covered by Bob Dylan on his debut album for Columbia Records.

Recorded in the late ’50s, this gospel blues recording captures Rev Gary Davis at his finger pickin’ peek where he combines his distinctive style of guitar playing with his rasping voice, rubbed raw from years of street singing. On instrumentals like «Buck Dance», his guitar playing is given full expression and his use of percussive effects is also demonstrated. This mix of blues and ragtime playing shows the blues preacher’s versatility and these recordings also contain the first recordings of songs that became classics like the instrumentals «Cocaine Blues» and «Hesitation». The album title is very apt since these tunes range from the inspiring gospel message of «Right Now» to the flipside of warnings like «Bad Company». Ultimately this is essential listening for anyone interested in the blues. [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms]

> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/pure-religion-and-bad-company/137187459)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Pure Religion”
A2. “Mountain Jack”
A3. “Right Now”
A4. “Buck Dance”
A5. “Candy Man”
A6. “Devil’s Dream”
A7. “Moon Goes Down”
A8. “Coco Blues”

Side Two
B1. “Runnin’ To The Judgement”
B2. “Hesitation”
B3. “Bad Company”
B4. “I Didn’t Want To Join The Band”
B5. “Evening Sun Goes Down”
B6. “Seven Sisters”
B7. “My Heart Is Fixed”

Note: Re-issued on CD by Smithsonian Folkways in 1991, featuring 2 additional tracks (“Time Is Drawing Near” and “Crucifixion”).

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