Coal Tattoo [Johnny Staats/Jim Hurst cover]

Описание: Recorded by Jules Pellatt using a Zoom Q2n recorder, 22 December 2020.

Johnny Staats is a virtuoso mandolin player. 'Coal Tattoo' appeared on the Johnny Staats Project 'Wires and Wood' album in 2000. The guitar player on the album is the phenomenal Jim Hurst, whose guitar lead break I have more or less captured here - though not as smoothly! Like with so many songs, performing this solo is a big challenge as one has to compensate to a degree for the fuller accompaniment of the album recording which included mandolin, bass and vocal harmonies in addition to Hurst's guitar work.

The song was written by Billy Ed Wheeler about the Kentucky coalfields and was first released by the Kingston Trio in 1963. There version was a slightly frantic performance with a different chord sequence, though it was nevertheless a great recording. It has been covered a various artists, including a terrific version by Larry Groce. However, I reckon the Johnny Staats cover is the best of the lot!