Looks at Life
Looks at Life | ||||
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Studio album by John Hartford | ||||
Released | 1967 | |||
Genre | Folk, country, novelty | |||
Label | RCA Victor | |||
Producer | Felton Jarvis | |||
John Hartford chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
Looks at Life is singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist John Hartford's debut album. It essentially set the pattern for all of his RCA albums over the next four years: a combination of dry wit and superb musicianship, delivered with a warm conversational baritone. This, along with the next five albums, were repackaged in three "twofer" CDs on BMG's Camden Deluxe label in 2002, immediately following his death.
Reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
Allmusic | [2] |
Music critic Richie Unterberger, writing for Allmusic, wrote "Though occasional songs skirted commercial country-pop ("Like Unto a Mockingbird," "Minus the Woman") and novelty tunes ("I Shoulda Wore My Birthday Suit" and the kazoo-laden "Jack's in the Sack"), usually they fell somewhere between the normal and the silly. It wasn't quite as good as the best of his subsequent RCA albums of the late '60s and early '70s, though, as the melodies weren't quite as strong and the production not as elaborate. "The Tall Tall Grass" does give a hint of what was to come..."[1]
Track listing
- All songs written by John Hartford.
- "I Reckon" – 1:21
- "Today" – 3:16
- "A Man Smoking a Cigar" – 2:04
- "Untangle Your Mind" – 2:03
- "Like Unto a Mockingbird" – 2:53
- "I Shoulda Wore My Birthday Suit" – 1:51
- "The Tall Tall Grass" – 2:26
- "Front Porch" – 2:00
- "Eve of My Multiplication" – 1:49
- "When the Sky Began to Fall" – 3:51
- "Corn Cob Blues" – 2:36
- "Minus the Woman" – 2:57
- "Jack's in the Sack" – 2:09
References
- ^ a b Unterberger, Richie. "Looks at Life > Review". Allmusic. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- ^ Lankford, Jr., Ronnie D. "Looks at Life/Earthwords & Music > Review". Allmusic. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- v
- t
- e
- Looks at Life (1967)
- Earthwords & Music (1968)
- The Love Album (1968)
- Housing Project (1968)
- John Hartford (1969)
- Iron Mountain Depot (1970)
- Aereo-Plain (1971)
- Morning Bugle (1972)
- Mark Twang (1976)
- Nobody Knows What You Do (1976)
- All in the Name of Love (1977)
- Headin' Down Into the Mystery Below (1978)
- You and Me at Home (1980)
- Catalogue (1981)
- Gum Tree Canoe (1984)
- Annual Waltz (1986)
- Down on the River (1989)
- Cadillac Rag (1991)
- Goin' Back to Dixie (1992)
- The Walls We Bounce Off Of (1994)
- No End of Love (1996)
- Wild Hog in the Red Brush (1996)
- The Speed of the Old Long Bow (1998)
- Good Old Boys (1999)
- Hamilton Ironworks (2001)
- Steam Powered Aereo-Takes (2002)
- Glitter Grass from the Nashwood Hollyville Strings (1977)
- Slumberin' on the Cumberland (1979)
- Permanent Wave (1980)
- Vassar Clements, John Hartford, Dave Holland (1985)
- Hartford & Hartford (1991)
- Old Sport (1994)
- The Fun of Open Discussion (1995)
- The Bullies Have All Gone to Rest (1998)
- Retrograss (1999)
- Live at College Station Pennsylvania (1995)
- Live from Mountain Stage (2000)
- Gentle On My Mind and Other Originals (1968)
- Me Oh My (1982)
- A John Hartford Collection (1987)
- RCA Country Legends: John Hartford (2001)
- Natural to be Gone 1967-1970 (2002)
- Good'le Days: Essential Recordings (2009)