We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago…..
I’m betting that many of you have heard of Leo Kottke but how many of you have listened to his records? Today we visit his 1972 release ‘Greenhouse”. For those of you new to the Kottke party, he is without doubt, one of the best finger picking acoustic guitarists in modern popular music. I saw him live at the Sentry Theater in Stevens Point a few years ago and although tendinitis has robbed him of some of his power, he can still pick and weave a bizarre story with the best of them.
In fact, I’m thinking that other guitarists can appreciate what he does more than those of us who can’t play.
The LP is truly a solo record with nothing but Kottke on all the cuts except the last one in which Steve Gammell adds a second guitar. And it includes some really nice covers including “In Christ There is No East Or West” written by another acoustic great, John Fahey…
He also plays and croons a bluesy version of Paul Siebel’s “Louise”…a track that was also ably covered by many including Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt and Jerry Jeff Walker.
The LP also includes versions of traditionals like the whimsical “The Spanish Entomologist” and a bluegrass jumper called “Last Steam Train Engine” Those are two of my favorite tracks on the LP along with a Kottke original called “Owls”.
He does a song by Al Gaylor titled “Tiny Island” that I’m told was a tribute to Jimi Hendrix.
One thing that sets this apart from his other LPs is he sings on four of these tracks. His singing is fine…but we all know we’re here for the tasty pickin!
Comments