Doc Watson (album)

Last updated
Doc Watson
DocWatsonVanguardDebut.jpg
Studio album by
Released1964
Genre Folk, blues
Length35:10
Label Vanguard
Doc Watson chronology
Treasures Untold
(1964)
Doc Watson
(1964)
Doc Watson and Son
(1965)

Doc Watson is the debut album by Doc Watson, released by Vanguard Records in 1964. The musical supervision was credited to Ralph Rinzler.

Contents

It was re-issued on CD by Ace Records in 1995 and numerous tracks have been used in compilations such as Vanguard Years and The Best of Doc Watson 1964-1968.

In celebration of Vanguard Records 60th Anniversary in 2010, it was re-issued with original artwork on a limited edition 180 gram vinyl record pressing of 500 copies for Record Store Day on April 17.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [1]

Writing for Allmusic, music critic Jim Smith wrote the album "The album is incredibly varied, from the stark, banjo-driven "Country Blues" to the humorous "Intoxicated Rat," and many of these songs became Watson standards, especially his signature song "Black Mountain Rag." His incredible flat-picking skills may have been what initially wowed his audiences, but it was Watson's complete mastery of the folk idiom that assured his lasting popularity." [1]

Track listing

  1. "Nashville Blues" (Alton Delmore, Rabon Delmore) – 1:55
  2. "Sitting on Top of the World" (Sam Chatmon, Walter Vinson) – 2:35
  3. "Intoxicated Rat" (Dorsey Dixon, Mainer) – 2:28
  4. "Country Blues" (Dock Boggs) – 3:26
  5. "Talk About Suffering" (Traditional) – 2:45
  6. "Born About Six Thousand Years Ago" (Traditional) – 2:57
  7. "Black Mountain Rag" (Traditional) – 1:29
  8. "Omie Wise" (Traditional) – 4:23
  9. "Georgie Buck" (Traditional) – 2:13
  10. "Doc's Guitar" (Doc Watson) – 1:14
  11. "Deep River Blues" (Traditional) – 3:07
  12. "St. James Hospital" (James "Iron Head" Baker) – 3:25
  13. "Tom Dooley" (Traditional) – 3:13

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<i>Reflections</i> (Chet Atkins and Doc Watson album) 1980 studio album by Chet Atkins and Doc Watson

Reflections is a recording by American guitarists Chet Atkins and Doc Watson. The two musical legends team up on ten songs.

<i>The Elementary Doctor Watson!</i> 1972 studio album by Doc Watson and Merle Watson

The Elementary Doctor Watson! is a studio album by the American country music artists Doc Watson and Merle Watson, released in 1972.

<i>Doc Watson & Son</i> 1965 studio album by Doc Watson, Merle Watson

Doc Watson & Son is the self-titled début album by Doc Watson and Merle Watson, released in 1965.

<i>Legacy</i> (Doc Watson album) 2002 compilation album by Doc Watson

Legacy is the title of a recording by American folk music and country blues artist Doc Watson and David Holt, released in 2002.

<i>Ballads from Deep Gap</i> 1967 studio album by Doc Watson, Merle Watson

Ballads from Deep Gap is the second studio album by American folk music artist Doc Watson and Merle Watson, released in 1967. The title references the town Watson was born in — Deep Gap, North Carolina.

<i>Treasures Untold</i> 1964 live album by Doc Watson and Family

Treasures Untold is the title of a live recording by Doc Watson & Family, recorded at the 1964 Newport Folk Festival. It includes four duets with Clarence White. Watson's son, Merle, was 15 years old at the time of the recording. He later performed numerous concerts and on recordings with his father.

<i>Doc Watson in Nashville: Good Deal!</i> 1968 studio album by Doc Watson

Doc Watson in Nashville: Good Deal! is the title of a recording by American folk music artist Doc Watson, released in 1968.

<i>Doc Watson on Stage</i> 1971 live album by Doc Watson, Merle Watson

Doc Watson on Stage is the title of a live recording by American folk music artist Doc Watson, released in 1971. It was originally released as a double LP and contained many previously unreleased titles.

<i>Doc and Merle Watsons Guitar Album</i> 1983 studio album by Doc Watson, Merle Watson

Doc and Merle Watson's Guitar Album is the title of a recording by American folk music artist Doc Watson and Merle Watson, first released in 1983.

<i>Memories</i> (Doc Watson album) 1975 studio album by Doc Watson

Memories is the title of a studio album by American country music artist Doc Watson, released in 1975. It was originally released as a double-LP by United Artists Records. It peaked at No. 47 on Billboard Country Albums charts and No. 193 on the Pop Album charts.

<i>Songs from the Southern Mountains</i> 1994 studio album by Doc Watson, The Doc Watson Family

Songs from the Southern Mountains is the title of a recording by American folk music artist Doc Watson and Family, released in 1994. The music is taken from recordings by Eugene Earle and D. K. Wilgus. It contains previously unreleased material from the early 1960s as well as three tracks recorded in 1973. The liner notes are by Watson's daughter Nancy, recalling memories of grandpa Gaither Carlton, the first Watson Family recording session, and the April night that Merle Watson began playing guitar.

<i>The Best of Doc Watson: 1964–1968</i> 1999 greatest hits album by Doc Watson

The Best of Doc Watson: 1964–1968 is the title of a recording by American folk music and country blues artist Doc Watson, released in 1999. It contains tracks from Watson's early years on the Vanguard label plus four previously unreleased tracks.

<i>The Vanguard Years</i> (Doc Watson album) 1995 compilation album by Doc Watson

The Vanguard Years is the title of a recording by American folk music and country blues artist Doc Watson, released in 1995.

<i>Foundation</i> (Doc Watson album) 2000 compilation album by Doc Watson

Foundation: Doc Watson Guitar Instrumental Collection, 1964-1998 is the title of a recording by American folk music and country blues artist Doc Watson, released in 2000. It contains instrumental tracks from Watson's 1964 to 1998 recordings.

<i>Watson Country</i> 1996 compilation album by Doc Watson, Merle Watson

Watson Country is the title of a recording by American folk music and country blues artists Doc Watson and Merle Watson, released in 1996.

<i>The Essential Doc Watson</i> 1973 compilation album by Doc Watson

The Essential Doc Watson is the title of a recording by Doc Watson, released in 1973. It was originally released as a double-LP.

<i>Black Mountain Rag</i> 2006 compilation album by Doc Watson, Merle Watson

Black Mountain Rag is the title of a recording by American folk music and country blues artists Doc Watson and Merle Watson, released in 2006. It contains songs taken from albums that Doc and Merle recorded on the Flying Fish label in the 1980s.

<i>Vanguard Visionaries</i> (Doc Watson album) 2007 compilation album by Doc Watson

Vanguard Visionaries is a compilation album by American folk music and country blues artist Doc Watson, released in 2007.

<i>Big Bluegrass Special</i> 1962 studio album by Glen Campbell and The Green River Boys

Big Bluegrass Special is the debut album by American singer-guitarist Glen Campbell and the Green River Boys, released in 1962 by Capitol Records.

<i>Home Is Where the Heart Is</i> (David Grisman album) 1988 studio album by David Grisman

Home Is Where the Heart Is is an album by American musician David Grisman released in 1987. After the 1987 jazz album, Svingin' with Svend, this record contains more traditional bluegrass and includes such stars of the genre as Doc Watson, Tony Rice, J.D. Crowe and others.

References

  1. 1 2 Smith, Jim. "Doc Watson > Review". Allmusic . Retrieved July 2, 2011.