North Carolina Picking
There is something about these North Carolina style guitar pickers that is very appealing. And here I am thinking not only of the artist under review, the legendary Elizabeth Cotton, but also another female picker extraordinaire Etta Baker, as well. It is different from the Delta pick, for sure. They pick cleanly, simply but with verve. Ms. Cotton shows here stuff here on her first album from Folkways. Here we have the classic, no super-classic, Freight Train that was a rite of passage for every one from Peter, Paul and Mary to Dave Van Ronk to Tom Rush to record in the early 1960's. Along with that tune we have some nice renditions of I Don't Love Nobody and a few medleys like Sweet Bye and Bye combined with What A Friend You Have in Jesus (that I believe Blind Willie Johnson first recorded or variation it at least). Listen away but also save your money up to get the album with Shake Sugaree (get the one with her granddaughter singing along). on it. That's the ticket

Love it!
Just buy this CD. You will love it, guaranteed. Even my punk-rock friends who don't like folk and/or ballads love this Elizabeth Cotten CD. Check out Shake Sugaree too.

great
I really enjoy this cd. It's doesn't have a lot of singing, and the songs do still sound like they were the original recordings. If you don't like songs that sound like that this isn't the cd for you. If you are an Elizabeth Cotten fan, then this is a great cd for you.

An American Treasure
What can I say? Elizabeth Cotten was one of the best guitar players of all time and almost no one knows about her.I have enormous respect for all the great guitarists from all genres of modern music and to my ears no one comes close,except maybe Mississippi John Hurt, to her fluid and gentle approach to the guitar.Even the great John Fahey was in awe of her natural talent on their shared instrument.
And to think this was recorded in her bedroom instead of a studio gives this disc a refreshing sound,just like she was sitting on her bed and playing just for you.Great just to listen to and essential to anyone who is a fan of acoustic guitar playing at its finest.
Freight Train is not just a classic song but it sounds like it has always been here like the mountains and the sky.There are stories of the Grateful Dead whenever they were passing through the area she lived in always making it an essential stop to visit her to talk and play with this mostly unknown treasure.I love this disc and everything about it.Essential and highly recommended.

Gotta love it.
Elizabeth does a wonderful job here. Don't expect a lot from the recording itself but the songs are great American History. Great background music.