Album: Old Fashioned Love

Introduction
"Old Fashioned Love" is an album by American fingerstyle guitar player and author John Fahey, released in 1974. It was his 20th record and marked a departure from his previous speculative method, including more straightforward performance and plans of folk, blues, and early jazz tunes. The album holds an unique place in Fahey's discography as it showcases his extraordinary talent as a guitar player and his deep understanding of American standard music.

Background and Recording
Leading up to the recording of "Old Fashioned Love", Fahey had been exploring various progressive and experimental styles in his previous albums. However, with this album, he picked to go back to his musical roots and focus on the traditional elements of American music that at first motivated him. Fahey picked a mix of original structures and arrangements of timeless tunes to develop an album that is abundant in fond memories and history.

"Old Fashioned Love" was tape-recorded in 1974 at Blue Rock Studio in New York City. Fahey was accompanied by a number of renowned artists, consisting of well known pianist and arranger Dick Hyman, bassist Bill Takas, and jazz drummer Dannie Richmond. The mix of skilled artists and Fahey's fascinating guitar playing leads to an album that is both interesting and classic.

Album Composition
The album consists of 10 tracks that showcase Fahey's experienced guitar playing while paying homage to the roots of American standard music. The tracklist presents a diverse series of designs, including early jazz, blues, and folk tunes. It includes four Fahey-penned originals (" Some Summer Day Part 2", "Old Fashioned Love", "Dixie Pig Bar-B-Q Blues", and "Worried Blues") alongside 6 arranged covers of timeless songs from artists such as Scott Joplin, W.C. Handy, and Furry Lewis. Some prominent tracks on the album consist of:

1. "Some Summer Day Part 2": A rollicking and positive initial structure by Fahey that showcases his complex fingerpicking alongside Hyman's piano.

2. "Old Fashioned Love": The title track and another Fahey initial, this tender and classic ballad functions Fahey's delicate and elaborate guitar playing linking wonderfully with Hyman's piano.

3. "Maple Leaf Rag": A cover of Scott Joplin's timeless ragtime piano piece, Fahey and the band offer a dynamic and dynamic rendition that highlights Fahey's skilled fingerstyle playing.

4. "St. Louis Blues": A smooth, swinging handle W.C. Handy's timeless blues tune, Fahey's meaningful guitar playing includes depth and emotion to the familiar melody.

5. "Worried Blues": A haunting rendition of the traditional folk tune, Fahey's detailed selecting and melancholic slide guitar stimulate a feeling of yearning and fond memories.

Legacy and Reception
"Old Fashioned Love" was well-received by critics and fans, both at the time of its release and in retrospective reviews. The album is often praised for Fahey's outstanding guitar work and his capability to evoke sensations of nostalgia and heat through his playing. It holds a special location within Fahey's huge discography due to its emphasis on traditional American music, which works as a reprieve from his more speculative work.

In spite of various lineup and stylistic changes throughout his career, John Fahey remained a prominent figure in the world of American acoustic guitar and roots music. "Old Fashioned Love" is a shining example of his extraordinary musical skill and his respect for the abundant history of conventional American music.