THOMAS FRASER: Long Gone Lonesome Blues

Thomas Fraser

Long Gone Lonesome Blues

© 2003 Karl Simpson (5050693089528)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

The Thomas Fraser story is remarkable. From 1953 to 1977, a year before his untimely death, Thomas recorded thousands of his favourite country & blues songs at his home in The Shetland Islands using a small reel-to-reel tape recorder

tracks

1 Brakeman's Blues (yodelling the Blues Away)
2 The Mississippi Shore
3 Lonely Boy On the Prairie
4 When Did You Leave Heaven?
5 Long Gone Lonesome Blues
6 Down the Trail of Aching Hearts
7 Loose Talk
8 Star Spangled Waltz
9 Rye Whisky
10 To the East, to the West
11 Don't Be a Baby
12 Peach Pickin' Time in Georgia
13 Tb Blues
14 I Saw Your Face in the Moon
15 Traditional Fiddle Reel
16 Lullaby Yodel
17 My Little Ole' Home Down in New Orleans
18 The Garden of Roses
19 Everyone Is Saying Hello Again
20 Whippin' That Old Tb
21 Waltz of the Wind
22 Palamino, Pal of Mine
23 Hobo Bill's Last Ride
24 Singing in My Last Roundup
25 Over the Rainbow

notes

Thomas Fraser was born in Burra Isle, Shetland (a remote Scottish Island) in 1927. A natural, he quickly learned to yodel, play fiddle and later, the guitar. Funds from his occupation as a fisherman were used to purchase a reel to reel tape recorder shortly after electricity arrived to the isle in 1953. What took place then has since been called one of the most remarkable stories in recording history. Thomas painstakingly recorded thousands of his favourite country, blues, traditional and jazz tunes. His unique vocal style, obvious passion for music and brilliant character was tempered by an intensely shy demeanour. As a result, Thomas's work was largely performed to his immediate family and own four walls.

Working alone in his lobster boat and tending to the croft, Thomas had a typically hard life. During the 1970s, bad luck and ill-health contributed to two accidents at sea. Sadly, Thomas passed away in January 1978 aged only 50. Shortly before his death, Thomas confided that he "did not have long to go" and asked his nephew to look after the reels, remarking in jest, "who knows, maybe someday I will be famous!". Exactly twenty five years later, Thomas's statement was to become strangely prophetic. The CD 'Long Gone Lonesome Blues' was released to great critical acclaim and at last, Thomas got some of the recognition his talent had so richly deserved.

Long Gone Lonesome Blues' was a project three years in the making and a quarter century overdue. The collection of songs, drawing from the true original country & blues styles falls hot on the heels of a resurgence in old-time country music.

What is startling about this collection is it's authenticity and the sheer passion poured into each track. Yet, there is much more to the CD than that. Here is a release with a story to tell - an amazing story of undiscovered talent and long-lost music unearthed in the attics of a remote Shetland island community.

The name Thomas Fraser is steeped in legend. A fisherman, a crofter - ordinary you might say - yet he left a stunning legacy: 1000s of songs recorded at home in his small croft house using a reel-to-reel recorder. Not music traditionally associated with Shetland entirely, for Thomas was an exponent of country and blues styles and his passion was the guitar.

The special limited edition CD is one of the most talked about stories in years.

"I really love it when something comes from way out of left field - something really interesting and quirky. I think the CD is great and I love to imagine the man there in his croft house in Shetland singing the railroad blues into an old Grundig tape recorder for the sheer love and dedication to his music" - Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2

"What a fascinating collection of recordings - close your eyes and you are listening to Thomas's mix of blues & country sung with his unique, clear voice experiencing all the hurt, fun & sentiment of these early songs. Hank William's 'Long Gone Lonesome Blues is so authentic you can feel the hurt. This CD is an important piece of music history. Not only is it a terrific collection of early country songs but to discover that this wonderful talent was hidden away, only known to his local Shetlanders, greatly adds to its importance" - Country Music & Dance Magazine

"His guitar playing swings just like it should and the sound of the big Levin is just right. But his voice is really outstanding. A couple of tracks might even have an expert wondering if they were Jimmie Rodgers outtakes; but he's not a mimic. He performs the songs with immense energy and sounds like he's living every word - FolkRoots Magazine, June 2003

reviews

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  • A Treasure
    author: Rob Seaver

    After stumbling upon Thomas Fraser while browsing CD Baby, I placed my order after listening to just a few tracks. When the CD arrived, I was giddy with excitement, like a child on Christmas morning. Fraser simply "got it." There have been a number of people who have covered Jimmie Rodgers throughout the years. Thomas' ability to capture the spirit of Rodgers would have been a great accomplishment in its own right. Thomas' remote geographic location and the available technology at the time are two ingredients that could elevate him to legendary status. My two favorite tracks are his rendition of "Long Gone Lonesome Blues," and "Whippin' that Old TB"

  • Thomas Fraser brings back the music of a long gone America.
    author: Jan Bossing

    Thomas Fraser was a sponge soaking up yodels and blues and tears from radio music, broadcast in the 1940s and '50s; he returns them to us with his own special touch and feel. The result is eerie and very, very real. He takes us to the American south and the mid-west; you almost believe that he lived the lives he sings about.

  • Wonderfull cd
    author: Bossie

    We have many country cd's but this one is very good. In the Netherlands you can't buy this cd in the music shops and i'm very happy to receive it this way.

  • Fantastic yodel!!!
    author: C. Aaron McNeece

    Thomas Frasier doesn't imitate Jimmie Rodgers, but his rendition of Rodgers' blue yodels is just as authentic - and just as good. Thank God these songs have been preserved! They are so good that you just don't care about a little background noise from the Grundig tape recorder.

  • author: CD Baby

    This fisherman, crofter and humble man left a stunning legacy: 1000s of songs recorded at home in his small croft house using a reel-to-reel recorder. From the rough and rugged Shetland Islands of Scotland, Thomas delivered these favorite counry and blues songs with his light, yodeling voice, heartfelt strumming and quaint delivery shortly before his untimely death in the 70s. It is not only a charming old-timey sound but a step into history as well.

  • NEAR PERFECT OLD TIME SOUND LIKE JIMMY RODGERS ETC
    author: EDWIN SEATTER

    SUNG JUST AS THE OLD MASTERS WOULD HAVE LIKED IT TO HAVE BEEN. A GOOD COMPILATION.

  • BUY THIS......
    author: joe mcAuslan

    If you hear "over the rainbow" It makes you want to cry...

  • A true country/blues root like this is what nourished the first seeds of the gen
    author: Cody Sorensen
  • Fantastic CD!
    author: Hans Akke

    This CD gives me the same feeling as the most early recordings of Louis Armstrongs Hot Five and Hot SEven recordings. The pure feel of pleasure and love for the material and atrue olectors item. Real pureness to the last traack.

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