Eric Andersen
"Come Runnin' Like A Friend"

Eric Andersen is one of those immortals from the 60s who has continued writing great songs and playing through the decades, oblivious to the relative obscurity he's been showered with. Despite some fabulous releases in recent years - Ghosts Upon the Road is a standout - only Europe has embraced him with enthusiasm and so he has spent a lot of time abroad.

Here's a rare live track of Eric and his folk-rock band at the 1982 Philly Folk Festival. Sounds like the recording was made by someone out in the audience, because conversations and audience noises sometimes move into the foreground. Still, it gives you the feeling of being there. To put 1982 in context, Fast Folk Musical Magazine had started a year before and the Greenwich Village scene was just starting to revitalize after years of neglect (and disco). Christine Lavin hit the road full time about 1984. Suzanne Vega didn't break until 1985 or so. John Gorka - circa 1986. And still, it's been nearly two decades since Andersen's "Thirsty Boots." You'll find the MP3 here - the second of two tracks listed. The first is the emcee introducing him.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/152/eric_andersen.html

You can find more about Eric at:
http://www.ericandersen.com/

Hugh Blumenfeld, Editor
hugh@balladtree.com