AMG Review of Live at College Station Pennsylvania

Brian Beatty
All Music Guide

It's John Hartford's casual charm -- not his substantial instrumental, vocal, and writing talents, which he makes sound tossed-off, too -- that puts this album's 17 solo performances over, even when his impromptu clogging throws off his playing. Expected favorites like "Gum Tree Canoe" and "Gentle On My Mind" sound as fresh as pleasant surprises like "I Would Not Be Here" and "The Girl I Left Behind Me." His banjo rendition of the R&B staple "Piece of My Heart" inspires many in the audience to clap and sing along. Whether plucking his banjo, sawing away on his fiddle, or strumming his guitar, Hartford sounds happily at home throughout this entertaining set. All that's missing is a tall tale or three and a good view of his beloved Big Muddy.