Old Fashioned Love
John Fahey · 1975
39 min · 8 tracks · blues
A tapestry of intricate fingerstyle guitar woven with elements of folk, blues, and world music influences.
Top tracks — play these first
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In a Persian Market — This track exemplifies Fahey's ability to merge Eastern musical themes with his signature fingerpicking style, creating an evocative soundscape that transports listeners.
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Old Fashioned Love — The title track encapsulates the essence of the album with its nostalgic melodies and lyrical reflections on love, highlighting Fahey's storytelling prowess.
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Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning — This song showcases Fahey's deep roots in traditional spirituality, blending blues elements with a sense of reverence that resonates throughout the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong guitar composition and unique arrangements, though it may not resonate widely today.
What we noticed
- The album features intricate fingerstyle guitar work that varies in tempo and complexity across tracks.
- Several tracks incorporate non-traditional structures, such as 'Jaya Shiva Shankarah', which blends Eastern influences with blues.
- The running time is balanced, with no track exceeding five minutes, allowing for concise musical statements.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- intricate fingerpicking detail hunting
- evocative melodies for introspection
- rainy afternoon reflective moments
- short tracks for quick enjoyment
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy party vibes
- prefer straightforward song structures
Where this album fits
- Career context
- By 1975, John Fahey had already established himself as a prominent figure in American folk and blues music, following his influential albums like 'The Transfiguration of Blind Joe Death' (1965). 'Old Fashioned Love' marked a creative resurgence after several years of fluctuating commercial success and personal struggles, showcasing his evolving style that embraced more diverse musical influences.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Leo Kottke· Bert Jansch· Nick Drake
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Old Fashioned Love
The narrative shifts from personal reflection to communal memory, evoking shared experiences of love through vivid imagery.
This shift creates a bridge between individual emotion and collective nostalgia, enhancing the song's thematic depth.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 In a Persian Market 7:43
- 2 Jaya Shiva Shankarah 5:01
- 3 Marilyn 6:36
- 4 The Assassination of Stephan Grossman 2:13
- 5 Old Fashioned Love 3:33
- 6 Boodle Am Shake 3:19
- 7 Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning 3:08
- 8 Dry Bones in the Valley 7:54
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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