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This riveting bottleneck guitarist is yet another old-time musician rescued from obscurity by the 1960s folk revival. On these 1965 recordings--his first in more than 30 years--Tarlton displays an eclectic mix of hillbilly folk, Hawaiian ballads, and African American blues. As remarkable as his distinctive bottleneck work is, his moaning, groaning, weary vocal delivery is equally as telling. After all, Tarlton had rambled far and wide--from New York to Texas to California and back to his native South Carolina--before making his first commercial records in 1927. He had jammed with folks such as Jimmie Rodgers, the Delmore Brothers, the Skillet Lickers, and even a young Hank Williams. In this context, his blend of styles, his diverse repertoire, his unique interpretations of traditional songs, and his heartfelt delivery all make perfect sense. --Marc Greilsamer