John Fahey - Voice Of The Turtle

John Fahey
America 1971

[@robertfox8806]

One of the greatest American originals and masters, and widely unrecognized by the public. This album was a relevation as a high school kid in 73.

[@MrWeezer55]

I had heard a little Fahey and I bought the original album of this in the early 70's. Voice of the Turtle and Mark 1:15 have sunk deep into my mind. These pieces are prayers, meditations. Listening to them is a way to see how to live, breathe, percieve, and exist.

[@GiuseppeDongo]

One of the heaviest and saddest songs in American history. Fahey truly was a genius. Always thought his tip of the hat to Robbie Basho in this song was very touching and respectful as well. Although knowing Fahey it could have been a joke.

[@johnmiller7453]

No way to describe this. Beautiful isn't enough.

[@marylyncoffey3527]

Reading his biography now, called "Dance of Death." When I was young I carried an album of Fahey's around with me in case I needed it (Vol.4 San Bernardino Birthday Party). But I hadn't listened to much beyond that album. Now I'm trying to catch up at this late date...

[@Celandine2]

Every Thanksgiving dinner all through 60’s& 70’s & onward into the fog!😌

[@Majnun74]

Found out about Fahey through Robbie Basho!

[@Ma_rkw589]

same here . hail the kings!

[@mkfilmgrain6095]

And funny how Fahey covers a tiny phrase of Basho in this piece at 12:45. He really loved the Bardo Blues and he can't deny.

[@joehiggs100]

Thanks for posting, he was an inspiration for many guitar pickers and listeners as well as an archivist and researcher. A troubled man, repudiated his early material. A great legacy.

[@xrxs1020]

My buddy and I went to see him at the Tractor Tavern in Seattle many moons ago. John showed up sans guitar. Someone at the club sped off to find an electric guitar for John to play. We waited for a while but eventually got our money back. Even so, John Fahey had a creative spirit but like a lot of people may have hurt himself with drugs, or possibly there were mental health issues. Rest in peace John. See you on the other side.

[@jrw344]

By this time, we'd be anxiously awaiting John's latest album , as well as getting ready for his next visit to Seattle. Saw him in concert half dozen times between '69 & '92. Always had the "soda bottle" at his side....

[@madvail]

The part at 0:43 might just be the strongest emotional moment I've ever felt through music.

[@tomrott5333]

This is fuckin' amazing !!! Ryley Walker told me to find it !!! The guy is the unsung here of the guitar !!! Thanks for posting!

[@simonpenny2564]

unsung? you haven't been listening

[@duckface524]

6:20 that's some of the heaviest shit played on any guitar ever, electric OR acoustic

[@bimwopbarn47]

7:06 makes me cry every time

[@MrWeezer55]

I know what you mean. It's like part IIb of the Koln concert, you're setting out on a journey, unsure of your destination.

[@bimwopbarn47]

@@MrWeezer55 thank you for this great insight. I always vaguely knew there was a connection between this album and the koln concert, but I never quite articulated it. like many brilliancies, now that you've mentioned it, it's obvious!

[@joybrucebruce3377]

To really get Fahey you have to be staring into the face of the grim reaper.....

[@joybrucebruce3377]

.....and smirking!

[@joybrucebruce3377]

And flipping it the bird!

[@marklozano8388]

always loved this album cover

[@dianewestfahl3148]

One of my favorite vinyl LP experiences, listening to it while looking at the cover art, a couple of years after the first Earth day. It all fits so well.

[@user-rx3js1no3s]

hurr durr look at me I have vinyl in 2016?

[@zachshuler1143]

+michael Vinyl was the predominant way to listen to audio in the early seventies. Very wrong-headed comment.

[@ironmaz1]

how bout if i use it to also bridge a generational gap by listening to all the forgotten records at home? would it be acceptable then to you? or do i have to refrain from buying all vinyl pressed after cassettes... :P. The only one allowed to go against me on this hobby is my wallet thank you. And no I am not a 'hipster' I just like damn good music. I also do not use vinyl 'ironically' or 'to make a statement' etc

[@dingoswamphead]

... and reading the bizarre sleeve notes while bathing in the waves from the turtle's flippers. Time stood still back then.

[@TheNeverposts]

you people all went insane for a bit there. It was pretty entertaining... I own vinyls and mp3s and I know of obscure bands people refer to as hipster music, all of which I listen to unironically.. DANCE FOR ME! (I mean, they're not obscure, but people think they are - for some reason)

[@jimsteele2072]

Wow, I just listened to that through my Studio Monitor headphones. What a ride.....👍✌

[@anthonybabich1454]

++ Love this one. Top 3 favorites to play on guitar (all 3 John Fahey ofc).

[@ipa0001]

me too...since the 70's

[@apes4days254]

You guys need to listen to Robbie Basho at his best me thinks

[@dogsmeasuredogs]

tuning pls

[@declanstevenson5682]

@@dogsmeasuredogs Celtic Tuning ( DADGAD)

[@MrJohnnydownunder]

Transcendental music

[@kit500100]

This is the thing. ♥️

[@allbums7038]

The band Slint might have been inspired by 6:20, among other Fahey passages

[@opisthokonta]

Masterpiece!

[@simonpenny2564]

There's way that John Faheys guitar playing isn't even music anymore. He's abandoned the simple idea of a tune. There's no singing along, no foot tapping, The sound goes straight to the soul. Deep mournful soul song.

[@trship6274]

Epic.

[@richardprofumo7583]

The Master!

[@josephtravers777]

Fahey was a very paradoxical musician, which is rare. Simple & complex simultaneously.

[@torvilasulvstle362]

The MASTER!

[@joeshea1010]

love this

[@fredericksheppard5263]

Note the quality of the instrument. The finest guitar ever made. And I have it !

[@mrnoiz23]

I thought it was a Bacon and Day, is that what you mean?

[@Celandine2]

Wow!

[@xrxs1020]

Do tell what kind of guitar it is.

[@BurningPandama]

I always wonder what John Faheys lyrics would be like if he had sung aswell.

[@Marco_Venieri]

probably like whitman poetry. his music sounds like leaves of grass

[@mishellminamia6028]

i knew some 1 would eventually get this song up :)

[@Marco_Venieri]

in it there's all of America

[@whayneneal]

10 people don't like this? Could you please explain to me what exactly you dislike about this music? I'd really like some insight into your thinking. John Fahey is a musical genius. Obviously this must have just went straight over your head.

[@SimvitTravels]

I'm a huge John Fahey fan, I own his discography and love to learn how to play his songs. However, I am not the biggest fan of this song, for it doesn't really make me feel anything. The tensions and cadences just don't satisfy my neurons, for some reason. It is still a quality song, by a legend of a musician. Some of his other songs, quite honestly, take me to another place. There was nothing like hitchhiking in the back a truck on the Indonesian countryside, while listening to The Dance of Death and Other Plantation Favorites. Music is so subjective. I didn't/won't dislike the video, as that doesn't really accomplish anything.

[@sunrara7133]

Che Sun Ra lo possa illuminare!!!

[@martinmartin8871]

Pharoah Saunder's and drug of your choice. That'll work.

[@Marco_Venieri]

sun ra la perfezione

[@Curtainkob]

john fahey ia great. pink floyd are great too. john fahey could be even much greater if only people just listened without comparing it to pink floyd or whatever. and pink floyd could be even much greater if only people didn't see pink floyd everywhere

[@Hyphaen]

Who compares this to pink Floyd lmao. Completely different style

[@xrxs1020]

John took standard folky finger picking to a classical level, which differentiated him from the crowd. Creative spirit with a taste for more than folk.

[@Dehangus]

Good track

[@edwardv9989]

2:53 is so beautiful

[@Marco_Venieri]

it reminds me my childhood

[@busterwhaley1560]

Could make a whole song out of just that part

[@kiarashforooharpak3332]

Reading the Old Man and the Sea with this!

[@swansinthesea5381]

Ohhh cool.. I was thinking of something of a short... Maybe some day Bradbury also..

[@AlchymicusWizardikus]

Righteous! ;-)

[@anotherbadseed]

In Christ there is No Wank or Drool......

[@nealpomea2836]

Noble!

[@silvia9364]

6.37 e 11.26 cccp

[@mattsimon2646]

Nick Drake sr

[@JohnDoe-gk7ok]

Would Pink Floyd have even known who Fahey was?

[@Musiccazz]

Probably.

[@edrepard]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zabriskie_Point_(album)

[@jont4638]

I think David Gilmour cited Fahey as an influence.

[@bimwopbarn47]

it's an interesting question because I was just musing on the fact that Fahey somehow reminds me of Syd Barrett ...

[@vincenzopanzarino3148]

Eh

[@tmjvtxtmjvtx]

pink Floyd influence?

[@999strider]

Which way? Both had cool album covers, and JF had been releasing stuff in this style since 1965. On the other hand, perhaps you do hear a suggestion of "Interstellar Overdrive" on this track.

[@jrw344]

John came long before P.F. How about, does P.F. sound like J.F.?

[@tmjvtxtmjvtx]

thats what i meant....is this a pink floyd influencer....you must be fun at parties....

[@sacredgeometrymusic3290]

guys , please tell me where you all here pink floyd. I really can't here any similarities. I don't think we can say that pf or jf influenced one with another. I mean,, jf is a solist with his guitar, they are completely different, imo. I don't know, im asking how can you see this similarity, im not saying that my point of view is right, im just explaining it. So , please, tell me why yoou think jf influenced pf or viceversa.

[@matthollandsf]

there is a short bit around 44s that my brain naturally pattern matched to sounding "like pink floyd". it lasts for about 1 second and then subsides. i'm pretty sure my brain thought it was hearing "wish you were here" for a fleeting moment. after that moment passes the resemblance vanishes. Perhaps mr. joulwan heard the same thing, though i wouldn't have gone from there to suggest an influence from jf, it's not outside the realm of possibilities.

[@charlespeterson3798]

Mr. Fahey was sui generis. Forgive my Latin. But the notion that he even listened to pinkfloydisaidthatasfartasican,is idiotic. Not as idiotic as pinkfloydbutclose.

[@anotherbadseed]

The notion is in good company here then.......

[@pch2230]

Jesus wept.

[@charlespeterson3798]

Tautological twaddle.

[@dinospumoni663]

i know you are but what am i

[@martinmartin8871]

hyperbole hirsute horse face

[@ennbee2051]

All right, come on folks. Come on, pull wide. Come on now. Pull wide.

[@josephtravers777]

'I don't enjoy modal music' would be more appropriate. I love modal music, personally