Merle Travis • The Picking Pioneer: 1946-49 LP (vinyl)
The Picking Pioneer: 1946-49 shines a spotlight on the early career of Merle Travis, one of the most influential guitarists and singer-songwriters in American Country music. Travis was the pioneer of the fingerpicking technique that became known as "Travis picking", a distinctive approach to guitar playing whose influence has spread far beyond its Country and Hillbilly roots. These 16 recordings capture one of the most productive periods of his career, combining superb guitar work with strong songwriting and the earthy character of post-war American roots music.
There's an impressive selection of Travis classics here, including No Vacancy, Cininatti Lou, Divorce Me C.O.D., Dark As A Dungeon and Nine Pound Hammer, alongside the enduring Sixteen Tons. The instrumental side of Travis's talent is equally well represented, with Steel Guitar Rag, Merle's Boogie Woogie and Crazy Boogie showing just how effortlessly he could move between Country, Western Swing, Boogie and guitar-led instrumental music. The collection also includes material self-penned by Travis alongside songs arranged from traditional sources, giving a particularly good overview of the breadth of his early work.
For anyone fascinated by the roots of Country, Hillbilly and early Rock 'n' Roll, The Picking Pioneer: 1946-49 is a particularly worthwhile LP. Travis's influence on generations of guitarists makes this much more than a collection of period Country recordings, while the 16-track selection provides plenty of great music in its own right. A fine choice for collectors who appreciate the pioneering musicians whose playing and songwriting helped lay the foundations for so much of the American roots music that followed.
