Living Country Blues Vol.3 - Flora Molton and the Truth Band ( Full Album)

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CDLR 712928: Living Country Blues USA, Vol.3 — Flora Molton
and the Truth Band from Washington, DC, USA

“That sounds beautiful !” said the black lady, a booking agent, after Flora and her group had played a down-home “Cryin’ Holy Unto The Lord”. The lady had come around to listen to Flora and her band in order to secure some bookings for them.
“Do you know what kind of music you’re playing, other than Gospel ?” she asked. “I'm talking about the style”. Everybody in Flora’s living room hesitated for a moment, trying to phrase a reply. “You’re actually playing Country Gospel Rock ?” “Well,...” Flora seemed puzzled and didn’t really know what to reply. And indeed, it is difficult to determine Flora Molton’s musical categories, and the
release of this, her first album, in a series of “Living Country Blues USA” will probably irritate 100% purists. Flora herself calls it “Spiritual And Truth Music”. All her songs contain a spiritual message, and her repertoire is a unique mixture of traditional songs and those dealing with her own personal experiences. The late Reverend Gary Davis called his music “Holy Blues”, and when I suggested this term to Flora, she did not hesitate to admit that “there is some Blues in it too, because it sounds lonesome”. Mrs. Molton has not sung the “Devil’s music” since she joined the church, but her guitar playing takes us back to the beginning of Country Blues guitar. Her Technique is very limited and only serves as a simple background for her vocals. This effect is reached
by sliding a metal ring across the strings, producing a moaning, whining sound that resembles the human voice. She uses “Open D” (also called “Vastepol”) tuning, and being unable to transpose keys, her music clearly shows its African roots. Her work with bands ranges from a strictly down-home sound to a more sophisticated style (as it can be heard on this album), varying with the line-up of musicians. (These have to be the first recordings of traditional black music featuring a dulcimer).
Life for Flora Molton has been a constant struggle. She was born in Louisa County, Virginia, in 1908. Partially blind from birth, her vision was only slightly improved when, at the age of 8, she had the cataracts removed from her eyes. Her mother played the organ, and Flora began her musical career by playing her father’s instrument, the accordion. Her father was a preacher, and at the age of 17, Flora began preaching herself, and a few more years later she joined the Holiness Church and held mission services in her own home. Flora switched to guitar in 1943, after she had moved to Washington D.C. in the late 1930s. Classified by the government as blind, there was no chance for Flora to get a job that would support her daughter and son. Thus she was forced to secure her living by playing in the streets, and somehow managed
to survive off the tiny offerings that were placed in her tin cup by passers-by.
In the late 1950s, Flora joined a six week training program that promised a job and stable income at its completion, but nothing happened. It was not until 1963 that the situation changed. Ed Morris, a white guitarist and avid Blues‘ and Folk scholar, happened to hear her, understood Flora’s form of expression‎ and began working with her. It was the beginning of the Blues and Folk Revival
and soon appearances at local clubs, coffee houses and festivals followed, and Mrs. Molton became a popular figure among aficionados in the Washington, D.C. area. To give.her music wider exposure, Flora saved a couple of hundred dollars to have two 45s recorded and pressed for her own “Molton’s Records” label (“The Sun Will Shine In Vietnam One Day” / “I Heard It Thru The Truevine” and “ I Can’t Stand It” / “Rejected Stone”). Both discs were meant
for local sales and airplay, but are unobtainable now.
[...]
After almost 40 years of singing and playing in the streets of America’s capital, Flora Molton has remained relatively unknown.
[...]
Axel Küstner, 1981

01. Last Words My Mother Said To Me
02. I Can’t Stand It
03. Mean Old World
04. My Mother Left Me Standing On The Lonesome Highway
05. Bye And Bye I’m Going To See The King
06. Your Enemy Can‘t Harm You
07. Louis Armstrong
08. Get Right With God
09. The Trainsong
10. Vacation In Heaven

Back-up musicians: Ed Morris, Vgo (Phillip McTerry), Larry Wise, Phil Wiggins