12-String Blues

Infobox Album |
Name = 12-String Blues
Type = live Album
Artist = Leo Kottke


Released = 1969
Recorded = The Scholar Coffeehouse, Minneapolis, MN
Genre = Folk, blues
Length =
Label = Oblivion obl-s1
Producer =
Reviews = * Allmusic rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:liaxqj2qoj6a link]
Last album =
This album = "12-String Blues"
(1969)
Next album = "6- and 12-String Guitar"
(1969)

"12-String Blues" (sub-titled "Live at the Scholar"), is the first album by guitarist Leo Kottke. It is not a studio album, but was recorded live at the Ten O'Clock Scholar, a Minneapolis coffee house that had also featured Bob Dylan, Spider John Koerner and Simon & Garfunkel early in their careers.

Most of these songs were re-recorded for Kottke's third album "Circle Round The Sun". This album, on the justly-named Oblivion Records (their only known product), is out of print and has not been re-issued on CD.

Track listing (with Kottke's notes)

ide one

# "If Momma Knew" – 2:08 ("One of the first songs I wrote. The second actually, around 1962. At the time I considered evil the only virtue worth cultivating.")
# "So Cold in China" – 4:06 ("The title lyric and, consequently, the idea for the song were stolen from somebody who sang at the Ontario Place in Washington when John Hurt worked there.")
# "Furry Jane" – 2:01 ("There's not much to say about this one. Its origin was in a couple of nightmares, one of which nearly got me.")
# "Circle 'Round the Sun" – 3:03 ("The majority of the lyrics are traditional. Another early song.")
# "Sweet Louise" – 3:17
# "The Prodigal Grave" – 3:01 ("This was written in a fit of terror while trying to calm down. It originally contained many more verses which later served only to confuse, so they were discarded.")

ide two

# "Easter and the Sargasso Sea" – 2:28 ("Columbus got stuck in this sea of weeds. There was no wind. Johnny Quest often goes there on business. Consequently resurrection here is not only promising but necessary.")
# "Sunrise" – 2:37
# "Living in the Country" (Pete Seeger) – 1:21 ("Seeger's great contribution to the 12-string. Originally recorded as a guitar duet with Frank Hamilton. Later recorded at high speed with accompanying whistle.")
# "Sail Away Ladies" (John Fahey) – 1:47 ("This is John Fahey's arrangement done on Vol.4, Takoma, with Al Wilson and his Veena.")
# "The Last Steam Engine Train" (John Fahey) – 1:38 ("Fahey's contribution to steam engines. (Vol.3 Takoma) somewhat augmented and re-arranged.")
# "You Left Me Standing" – 2:29 ("In A.")
# "Mary Mary" ("I sometimes think people like to hear this song for the same reason they like to watch accidents.")

All songs by Leo Kottke, except as noted

Personnel

*Leo Kottke - 6 & 12-string guitars, vocals

Cover design by Annie Elliott (who also did 6- and 12-String Guitar)

Copyright Symposium Music, BMI 1969

External links

* Read some contemporary and retrospective views: [http://leokottkeconnection.bravehost.com/circleblues.html "Out of Oblivion"]
* [http://www.leokottke.com Leo Kottke's official site]
* [http://www.guitarmusic.org Unofficial Leo Kottke web site] (fan site)