John Fahey - On Air

Splendid, long live set from tour including Germany and Australia

Given the vast catalog of John Fahey recordings now available in wonderful CD reissues, it's hard to believe I'm the first reviewer for this, but it was released relatively recently (2005).
The recording quality is fine. The performances are generally stellar, and John Fahey is absolutely in top form-as he is on the other live recordings now available from that time in his life. (His much-later, live electric excursions are another thing entirely!!). These include "Live in Tasmania" from the same tour as this set, according to the liner notes here by Henry Kaiser, and "The Great Santa Barbara Oil Slick", from an earlier time, I believe.
In the On Air concert, occasionally the pace of a piece feels hurried but this also produces some stunning cascades of beautifully articulated playing. The titles are not entirely accurate, and there are a few medleys not described by the titles. The track titled 'In Christ There Is No East Or West' begins with that song, done thoroughly and beautifully- but then he segues somewhat abruptly into Beverly (elsewhere, Fahey titled this: Indian Pacific Railroad Blues). These are standard-tuning songs. Incidentally, this live recording of Beverly (Indian Pacific Railroad Blues) is the only one I know of apart from the [...] film clip of Fahey at the Rockpalast, which is a stunner.
On the "Live in Tasmania" CD, what is presented as if it were a live Beverly, and part of the Tasmania show (complete with applause) ISN'T; it's the same studio track from one of his recordings, with applause dubbed in. (The liner notes on the Tasmania CD indicate this in less direct terms.)
Back to On Air: the following track is titled 'Beverly' but is really a slide medley, in an open tuning, which includes 'Dance of the Inhabitants of the Palace of King Phillip XIV of Spain'. On Air offers many opportunities for Fahey to stretch and tweak the timing and feel of some songs, particularly Beverly, and this is quite exciting to me. If you already are quite familiar with Fahey's earlier studio recordings, you'll be highly aware of and appreciative of these improvisations.
I often read customer reviews which suggest that "if you had only one record..." and I'll throw in that if you had only one John Fahey recording, this would be a wonderful selection. Also, it is absolutely 'value for money', if that is a consideration- a very long record.
Briliant stuff. And thanks to Henry Kaiser for his notes. He emailed back to me to indicate that the track-labeling error re: Beverly, noted above, wasn't presented to him to review and correct- and he didn't even get a final copy of the recording from the issuing company!
The Tasmania recording is excellent as well, but several songs shorter, despite the 'fake-live' Beverly.
The Great Santa Barbara Oil Slick another must-have, also a long CD with many selections. Which would be a favorite is a personal choice. I'd have guitar players interested in hearing or learning Fahey's music hear On Air, especially. October 12, 2007

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