John Hulburt - Leap Frog (2018)

Guitarist and singer-songwriter Ryley Walker discovered John Hulburt's 1972 private press LP, Opus III, in a Chicago record store, loved what he heard, and teamed with Tompkins Square to produce a reissue in 2015. Ryley co-conspirator Bill MacKay then released a tribute album to Hulburt.

Now, John Hulburt's sister has located lost tapes from the late guitar master. Recorded in 1998, Leap Frog is a beautiful companion piece to Opus III.

John Hulburt (1947-2012) was a member of legendary mid-60's Chicago garage rock band The Knaves, whose records were reissued by Sundazed. Opus III showcases his exceptional talent on the acoustic guitar, proving somewhat of an anomaly in a city not known for its solo guitar recordings during this era.

Ryley Walker writes in his liner notes, "Solo acoustic guitar music was adopted by several in the Berkeley school and the ever-expansive roots fanatics in the South, but here in the middle of the country with harsh winters and the landlocked prison of corn fields, it was almost destiny that the amplifier assault of electric blues and controlled chaos of dance music came from the South Side."

"Hulburt’s gentle, somber plucking is more than enough to capture the soul like Nick Drake would." - Stereogum

"Within these forty minutes, Hulburt makes a case for inclusion alongside the better-known names of the time." - PopMatters


1.01 - John Hulburt - After the Storm (1:58)
1.02 - John Hulburt - Metric Joy (2:16)
1.03 - John Hulburt - Lazy Afternoon (2:49)
1.04 - John Hulburt - Happy Fingers (1:20)
1.05 - John Hulburt - Oh Yeah (1:47)
1.06 - John Hulburt - Movin' On (2:23)
1.07 - John Hulburt - For the Love of Almcrantz (3:42)
1.08 - John Hulburt - Breathe (2:10)
1.09 - John Hulburt - 1:17 (1:17)
1.10 - John Hulburt - Waltz de Jacquemont (3:17)
1.11 - John Hulburt - Til We Meet Again (4:36)