Good Morning Mr. Walker

by Joseph Spence

Overview

With over 60 minutes and 21 tracks, adding ten to the 1972 release, it would be hard to find a much more definitive collection of Bahamian Joseph Spence. Featuring a deep repertoire of folk songs, hymns, sea chanties, children's songs, and pop tunes, Spence's incredibly intricate, polyrhythmic guitar playing rivals that of the American country-blues greats. His vocal technique has to be heard to be believed, as it comes across as a strange combination of an exuberant grunt, a cough, and a laugh, all serving the purpose of accenting the melody carried by the guitar. Doubtless, Spence was an extremely unique and original artist, but it appears that his singing style was probably formed as much from his admitted lack of familiarity with the lyrics of his material as any visionary innovation, as he usually doesn't include much more than a fragment of a verse and a chorus with the rest being vocal improvisation. Still, Good Morning Mr. Walker, also including seven tracks from a live performance, is the perfect showcase for this rare talent. ~ Matt Fink

Product Details

Release Date:	12/01/1993
Label:	Arhoolie
UPC:	0096297034927
Rank:	183513

Tracks

1. Out on the Rolling Sea
2. I See Mary and Joseph
3. Oh, How I Love Jesus
4. I Bid You Goodnight
5. Comin' in on a Wing and a Prayer
6. Good Morning Mr. Walker
7. The Glory of Love
8. Don't Let Nobody Burn Down Burma Road
9. Bye and Bye
10. If I Had the Wings of a Dove
11. All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name
12. Don't Take Everybody to Be Your Friend
13. Brown Skin Gal
14. Neighbor Gone Home
15. He Walks With Me
16. Will the Serpent Be Unbroken
17. The Lord's My Shepherd
18. Yellow Bird
19. Sloop John B.
20. Be a Friend to Jesus
21. Mary Ann

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Joseph Spence   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals

Technical Credits

Dur G. Gessner   Engineer
Joseph Spence   Arranger
Harold Adamson   Composer
Jimmy McHugh   Composer
Chris Strachwitz   Producer
Dick Waterman   Producer
Jack Viertel   Supervisor,Liner Notes
Elizabeth Weil   Cover Design
Guy Droussart   Photography
Traditional   Composer
Dix Bruce   Copy Editing