Mississippi John Hurt Reissue Brings Us Closer to The Legendary Bluesman

Mississippi John Hurt first recorded in 1928 for the blossoming Okeh label, but his music didn’t catch on like his contemporaries. Maybe his voice didn’t have the same grittiness that early blues listeners craved. Hurt seemed content working on the farm and providing for his 14 children. He continued to play guitar and sing around his home in Mississippi at local juke joints and town dances.

Then, in 1963, at the heart of the 1960s folk revival, he was rediscovered and performed high-profile gigs at Carnegie Hall and Newport Folk Festival. Hurt recorded his second studio album, Today!, for Vanguard, a collection of country blues, standards, and originals. His masterful fingerpicking style and smooth voice are fully displayed; the legendary bluesman is its sole performer.

Craft Recordings and Bluesville Records have reissued legendary bluesman Mississippi John Hurt‘s 1966 album, Today!. Remastered by Grammy-nominated engineer Mathew Lutthans, the record is pressed on 180-gram vinyl in authentic jackets. Scott Billington, Grammy-winning producer, writer, and musician, provides insightful liner notes. The audio is also available across digital platforms.

Today! opens with “Pay Day”, an original tune that showcases his guitar playing with a short introduction. His thumb alternates back and forth on the low strings, emulating a stride piano style. He plays a syncopated melody in the high strings. Just one guitar, Hurt conducts an orchestra with his fingers, achieving a full sound that seems impossible for one man. However, his brilliant guitar playing accompanies the main feature: his voice.

“I’m Satisfied” is another original tune, this time about marriage prospects. Hurt’s voice is silky smooth, a contrast to his grittier contemporaries. His delivery is matter-of-fact and honest, and sincerity is his calling card. Seemingly content to live a simple life as a farmer, he has nothing to prove. “Candy Man” is another spidery fingerpicked song with syncopated melodies that would have been perfect for dancing in another time.

“Make Me a Pallet on Your Floor” is a traditional song about courting. His voice resembles a poor, toothless Nat King Cole. The description might seem like an insult, but it speaks to the authenticity Hurt injects into these tunes. Mississippi John Hurt embodies the spirit of rural Mississippi, capturing the essence of honest hard work and using stories to entertain workers after a long, hard day. There isn’t much sadness and pain in his voice, expressing that grief would make those feelings too real. Instead, perhaps it’s escapism, but Hurt’s good-naturedness is uplifting, even when he aches over a lover like in “Corina, Corina”.

“Coffee Blues” is an earnest love letter to the morning brew. The topic is just as you would expect from a simple, honest man—the tiniest delights mean the world. “Spike Driver Blues” keeps the folklore of John Henry, a mythical railroad worker who died during a competition with a drill machine. “Louis Collins” and “Beulah Land” are traditional gospel tunes.

The sound quality on the reissue is exceptional. Most of the static and fuzziness of outdated recording equipment has been removed. Listeners can feel closer to Mississippi John Hurt, the fidelity of his voice and guitar polished, making the intimate setting even more personal. As one of the most influential bluesmen during the folk revival, Hurt’s innovative guitar playing and down-to-earth vocal delivery are elevated in these updated recordings. The reissue is a must-have for bluesheads, guitarists, and music history buffs.

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