String Alchemy: From Eclectic to Electric (2000)

About this title: What do Larry Coryell, Oregon, Sandy Bull, John Fahey, and Mimi & Richard Farina all have in common? Aside from playing stringed instruments and sharing a certain "eclecticism," not an enormous amount. They did all record for Vanguard Records between 1963 and 1996, the time span covered by this anthology, though. So this 68-minute, 18-song compilation -- which also has tracks by the more obscure Peter Walker and John McEuen -- is really an excuse to gather some instrumental odds and ends from the Vanguard catalog together. The premise is slight, and even the title is kind of a faux pas in ... read more

Tracks:

1. You Don't Know What Love Is [DePaul/Raye]
2. The Restful Mind [Coryell]
3. Rene's Theme [Thomas]
4. Improvistation on Vila-Lobos (Prelude No. 4 in E Minor] [Coryell]
5. Ann Arbor [Coryell]
6. Serenade [Towner]
7. Manha de Carnaval [Bonfa]
8. Non Nobis Domine
9. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) [Lennon/McCartney]
10. Bianca [Walker]
11. April in Cambridge [Walker]
12. Miles [Farina]
13. Tommy Makem Fantasy [Farina]
14. Dopico [Farina]
15. Andante [Bach Duet for Guitar and Banjo]
16. Keep Walikng
17. Moonlight Dancing [McEuen]
18. Dance of the Inhabitants of the Invisible City of Bladensburg [Fahey]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.