Sunday Street Jonesboro GA

Sunday Street

Dave Van Ronk

Philo Records, 1976

REVIEW BY: Christopher Thelen

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 04/29/1999

Ah, now this is more like it!

After a day of listening to studio-polished musicians andmachines that are programmed not to play a single wrong note, it'srefreshing to pull out an album that glorifies in a bit ofgrit.

Dave Van Ronk was one of the leading musicians of the folk musicrenaissancein the '60s and '70s. After growing disillusioned withthe commercialization of the scene, Van Ronk tried his hand atretirement - something which didn't last too long. Almost as a slapin the face to what he saw as a decline in the folk scene, Van Ronkput out Sunday Street - an album of only acoustic guitar and vocals- in 1976. (The album has been re-released by Philo.)

Van Ronk is a singer who sounds like he gargles with batteryacid - and I wouldn't want his voice to change one iota. It is thatgritty, take-it-as-it-is sound that really captures his true magic.He also is one hell of a guitar player - more on that in a minute -who makes me want to smash my guitars in frustration, knowing I'llnever play like he does. Simply put, Sunday Street is one outstanding album.