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John Cowan Hartford (December 30, 1937– June 4, 2001) was an American country and bluegrass composer and musician known for his mastery of the fiddle and banjo, as well as for his witty lyrics, unique vocal style, and extensive knowledge of Mississippi River lore. Hartford performed with a variety of ensembles throughout his career, and is perhaps best known for his solo performances where he would interchange the guitar, banjo, and fiddle from song to song. Read more on Last.fm
“Morning Bugle” would serve as a great introduction to Hartford for a new listener or a pleasurable spin to the most well-versed bluegrass aficionado, providing a brilliant portrait of Hartford’s unique sense of humor and storytelling ability as well as his distinctive, virtuosic picking and fiddling. Though Hartford can’t help but steal the show (I mean shit, just listen to his playing on tracks like “All Fall Down” and “My Rag”), the unheralded star of this album is Dave Holland’s bass, which propels every song forward with a head-nodding stomp.
The album also features one of Hartford’s greatest lyrical compositions with “Nobody Eats at Linebaugh’s Anymore,” a song that truly deserves a place in the Nashville canon. Recommended for anyone with any interest in country music.