John Fahey - Juana

Album:
Womblife

[@ivanbanovic8977]

Sorry to break it to everyone (I'm as much of a Fahey fan as anyone who ever heard him play), but this is Jim O'Rourke playing. When Womblife was being recorded, Fahey lifted his hands in exasperation and gave the guitar to O'Rourke to play for the album, and this was recorded. That being said, it's a beautiful tune and I think it captures the spirit of Fahey perfectly.

[@kell2640]

Very different even whilst still being of the same ilk of guitar playing. Different technique and style. You can hear it ain't John! Amazing ain't it

[@ovisaurum6358]

The prank is part of the beauty of it. Apparently his chair flew out from under his bulk while trying to play and he just gave up.

[@ivanbanovic8977]

@@ovisaurum6358 Hahahah, well he was a pretty bulky guy, I can see it happening. Where did you hear this?

[@704studio]

great story, I've always liked this song, even though John had someone else play it, it's still his song

[@eldrecko]

Hmm. Fahey did play it live, however.

[@williamdavid1453]

A true ARTIST in the real sense. People that make such an enormous contribution to our cultural landscape should be supported and not f*****g homeless. Problem is most people have such mediocre minds and sensibilities they don't recognize beauty and grace even if it is presented to them. It seems that these days most people don't listen to music ...they look at it instead ....sad. How many musicians transport you to another world....not many but John did just that....a true star. RIP and thank you from the depths of my heart you saved my life and that is the truth.

[@BreakfastInEurope]

Whoa you’re rontanticizing Fahey and his art way too much. Yes he was a talented artist but he also couldn’t cope with life which consequently lead to a very destructive/self destructive path. When fahey wasn’t being brought down by drugs and varying mental malaise he was successful as he allowed himself to be. He made records that sold well, ran a label that had successfully selling artists. He didn’t get to the point of being homeless, which was for a very short period of time, because no one was buying his records.

[@BreakfastInEurope]

Also he didn’t even perform this song, Jim O’Rourke did.

[@lijopunnapra1683]

John's music was truly Spiritual, may be that's why the world did not recognize him

[@alicasoto4497]

@@lijopunnapra1683 what the hell are u talkin about man? people had forgot the moon was there, until John looked up...

[@escalonn]

if this doesn't relax you when you're stressed, what will? this tune is over 12 minutes long but it feels like it's over so soon no matter how many times you listen

[@agaetisbyrjun7]

I love when I can find a song like that, by accident, who makes me feel peacefull for a moment.. and being in another world for few seconds. At 5min43 when it starts, it is sooo good...

[@mcbazzfazz]

So many of his tunes... draw you in... and then... the next part sweeps you further sometimes leaving you with chills... of the good kind and even tears. Transcends the first part and goes to another level. Some are dark and lonely but beautiful and some are just timeless... a place that is and is not... at peace with some lingering sadness that is sweet and strong in a strangely gentle way.

[@JamesScottGuitar]

Well said, +William David !

[@melissaschroeter161]

a party that celebrated ....... the notes played ....

[@SuaveetCaligula]

try this one John Fahey sings! - Poor Boy Blues (Rare Fonotone Recording)

[@paterwillem]

yes he did but he thought he couldn't sing; there are recordings of him singing

[@chrisbreatheslove]

Mary Juana

[@morganswirl]

a long, long time ago

[@1599maybole]

He owed so so so much to Skip James

[@DovidM]

He also learned some things from John Hurt, Charley Patton, Blind Gary Davis and Robert Wilkins (for example, Wilkins’ “That’s No Way to Get Along”). I don’t hear Skip James in most of what he plays.

[@bargolyr8660]

the legacy of the soul

[@reverendbryan]

Doesn't really matter to me

[@YogurtYard]

O'Rouke guitar is also good

[@SuaveetCaligula]

i just got into fahey a little while ago, so im no expert, but im almost positive he didnt

[@tonewall1]

wow.

[@jlc825]

Great piece. Hard to believe he wound up homeless :(

[@wherenextcolumbus666]

Jason Carmichael he didn't really end up homeless so much as he ended up living out of hotel rooms for a long. Of time and pawning his guitars from time to time for cash. Apparently he was diagnosed in the late 70s with Epstein-Barr syndrome also known as chronic fatigue. So he started drinking in order to give him energy and needed more and more overtime and became a serious alcoholic because of it by the time the chronic fatigue went away.

[@obelvs]

in very early recordings, "Your Past Comes Back To Haunt You: The Fonotone Years 1958-1965" box set. seems he quit doing it at the start of his career, wasn't his strong suit. IMHO aint a good place to start.

[@dandrechesterfield5411]

He was doing that as a joke... they were super drunk when they recorded those singing songs. He admitted he was trying to sound like the old black blues guys on those Fonotone recordings

[@trashbirdie]

what tuning is this

[@alaskanbound6842]

open c cgcgce

[@alcoholya]

damn he hadda comb-over even before he went bald!