Larry Jon Wilson: Canoochee Revisit/Ohoopee River Bottomland

Larry Jon Wilson, a singer/songwriter somewhere between Tony Joe White and Jim Croce, cut four LPs in the second half of the 1970s, none of which sold many copies (New Beginnings, Let Me Sing My Song To You, Loose Change, Sojourner). It's hard to understand why, because he's simply great.
Luckily enough director James Szalapski filmed him doing the self-penned "Ohoopee River Bottomland" in a recording studio in 1975 for his movie "Heartworn Highways", a must-have for any fan of the mid-seventies new country scene. Other performances include singer/songwriters Townes van Zandt, Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, Johny Hiatt, David Allan Coe, a very young Steve Earle, Charlie Daniel Band and Barefoot Jerry with "Two Mile Hike", yet another hard to get piece of great music. The movie is available on a 2003 dvd in an extended version.
Larry Jon Wilson still performs occasionally and cut two great songs for the album "The Country Soul Revue - Testifying", produced by Dan Penn.
PS: Somehow the sound wasn't on the clip, so I edited it from the soundtrack.

Update: The new cd "Larry Jon Wilson" was released on 1965 Records in July 2008.
James Endeacott, proprietor of eclectic record label 1965: We've just signed a guy who's 70 years old -- Larry John Wilson -- who was mates with Kris Kristofferson in the '70s. He's not made a record in 28 years and he's just made one for us, just him and a guitar recorded in a room overlooking a beach in Florida, and it's heartbreaking.

FAN WEBSITE: www.larry-jon-wilson.com

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Category:

Music

Tags:

• Larry
• Jon
• Wilson
• Ohoopee
• River
• Bottomland
• Canoochee
• Revisited
• New
• Beginnings
• Tony
• Joe
• White
• Townes
• Van
• Zandt
• Country

[opurkert]

Update:

There is a new Larry Jon Wilson release on the way on 1965 Records, release date in June 2008

James Endeacott, proprietor of eclectic record label 1965:

We've just signed a guy who's 70 years old -- Larry John Wilson -- who was mates with Kris Kristofferson in the '70s. He's not made a record in 28 years and he's just made one for us, just him and a guitar recorded in a room overlooking a beach in Florida, and it's heartbreaking.

[eyerish]

I think Larry Jon Wilsons legacy is the knowledge that every new person who discovers his music instantly realises they've missed something important all these years. That legacy will flow onwards through generations of true music lovers. RIP LJW - you didn't receive the recognition you deserved during your lifetime - but your music will eternally be one of the worlds great gifts. Thank you.

[larrylunchbox1]

Loved Heartworn Highways, it changed my life, still changing it! You gotta see it if you haven't! Larry Jon really rocked it! Glad to know he's still doin' it!!!

[meathead4]

Gonna miss you. Larry Jon. I cannot begin to express how much your music has enriched my life or how much of an adventure it has been to find your music. Rest in Peace, Larry Jon. You will be missed.

[ga6strings]

Great friend, gonna miss him.

[Aubr3yxox]

he died yesterday, :(

[wajames123]

Pardon me- But for the past 20 years the only Larry Jon I could get was from China, Japan, Italy or other non-US sources!! Now it seems he's everywhere, and then some. I have always admired LJW's musical integrity, but from where I am, it's sad of you(have to be, so-called fans/friends) to come out of the musical woodwork and immediately try to .... !!

[thundernels]

RIP Larry Jon. Where To?

[tameradbrown]

I just heard Larry Jon is very sick. Everyone please pray for him! He is a true southern treasure!!!!!

[wrighb1708]

Hi Zizi, managed to get the computor goin!!

lol, bxx