Uncut - p.92
4 stars out of 5 - "[I]mpeccably crafted....A warm dovetailing of jazz, country, swing and bluegrass...""
Dirty Linen - p.45
"'Talking to Casey' is an instrumental that features son Merle's prowess on slide guitar, accompanied by a full rhythm guitar-harmonica-fiddle-bass-drums ensemble."
Living Blues - p.58
"Doc's fingerpicking and Merle's slide work are exemplary, and Doc's voice retains the same warm, distinctive approach across the selections. Strongly recommended."
Mojo (Publisher) - p.130
3 stars out of 5 - "[T]he very stuff of rainy nights and slow trains."
Doc Watson's warm baritone, flat-picking guitar style, and facility with an enormous catalogue of American country, blues, and folk songs have made him a popular and significant performer. His large discography contains solo outings and collaborations alike, including numerous recordings accompanied by his son Merle on guitar. SITTIN' HERE PICKIN' THE BLUES is a Rounder collection that features the duo's 1985 release PICKIN' THE BLUES plus eight additional tracks from 1979-1983.
As usual, the emphasis here is on traditional material. Tracks such as "Freight Train Blues," "Deep River Blues," and "John Henry" (performed as a medley with "Worried Blues") receive rhythmic treatments by the Watsons. Also included are renditions of several Jimmy Rodgers tunes, including "Any Old Time" and "California Blues," and blues classics by Barbecue Bob, Sleepy John Estes, and W.C. Handy. Musical guests add fiddle, harmonica, bass, background harmonies, and occasional percussion to the performance, but the focus never strays from Merle's deft slide work or Doc's beautiful, heartfelt interpretations.
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