Guitarist, singer and songwriter, Dave Van Ronk was one of the greatest figures in folk music. He also inspired, aided, and promoted the careers of numerous singer/songwriters, most notably Bob Dylan. Dylan's guitar style was, in great measure, inspired by Dave's. Van Ronk's recorded output was prolific, although he never wrote as many songs as his friends Dylan or Tom Paxton. Van Ronk's genius, however, derived from his flawless execution and rearranging of classic acoustic blues tunes. Presented here in its entirety is his third LP, Folksinger, which contains, among others, the hits "He Was a Friend of Mine" and "Hang Me, Oh Hang Me". DAVE VAN RONK, vocals & guitar Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, New Jersey, April 1962. Original sessions recorded by Rudy Van Gelder & supervised by Shel Kagen. *BONUS TRACKS: Dave Van Ronk, vocals & guitar. New York, July 1961. "Many die-hard folkies consider Dave Van Ronk in a class apart from his contemporaries - such as Bob Dylan, Eric Von Schmidt, or Jean Ritchie. Likewise, when asked to pick their favorite of his recordings, Folksinger is likely among the first mentioned. The original LP features a baker's dozen of Van Ronk's most memorable performances, presented in the intimate context of his own solo guitar accompaniment." (Lindsay Planer - AllMusic))
