Mississippi John Hurt - Last Sessions (1971)

Recorded in New York during February and July of 1966, the 17 songs on this collection represent Mississippi John Hurt's final studio efforts. It is astonishing that this man, in the final months of his life, could do 17 songs that were the equal of anything he had done at his first sessions 45 years earlier, his playing (supported on some tracks with producer Patrick Sky on second guitar) as alluringly complex as ever and his voice still in top form. Hurt is brilliant throughout, his voice overpowering in its mixture of warmth, gentleness, and power, and in addition to the expected crop of standards and originals, he covers songs by Bukka White ("Poor Boy, Long Ways from Home") and Leadbelly ("Goodnight Irene") -- all of it is worthwhile, with some tracks, such as "Let the Mermaids Flirt with Me," especially haunting.

Tracklist:
1.01 - Mississippi John Hurt - Poor Boy, Long Ways From Home (2:15)
1.02 - Mississippi John Hurt - Boys, You're Welcome (3:01)
1.03 - Mississippi John Hurt - Joe Turner Blues (3:30)
1.04 - Mississippi John Hurt - First Shot Missed Him (1:44)
1.05 - Mississippi John Hurt - Farther Along (3:44)
1.06 - Mississippi John Hurt - Funky Butt (1:58)
1.07 - Mississippi John Hurt - Spider, Spider (1:33)
1.08 - Mississippi John Hurt - Waiting For You (3:37)
1.09 - Mississippi John Hurt - Shortnin' Bread (2:16)
1.10 - Mississippi John Hurt - Trouble, I've Had It All My Days (3:04)
1.11 - Mississippi John Hurt - Let The Mermaids Flirt With Me (3:22)
1.12 - Mississippi John Hurt - Good Morning, Carrie (1:57)
1.13 - Mississippi John Hurt - Nobody Cares For Me (3:43)
1.14 - Mississippi John Hurt - All Night Long (2:44)
1.15 - Mississippi John Hurt - Hey, Honey, Right Away (2:02)
1.16 - Mississippi John Hurt - You've Got To Die (3:28)
1.17 - Mississippi John Hurt - Goodnight Irene (2:25)