Dave Van Ronk: ...And the Tin Pan Bended and the Story Ended...

Reception

Writing for Allmusic, critic Steve Leggett noted Van Ronk's illness and wrote of the album "Van Ronk's deliberate jazz phrasing is still there, as are the signature guitar skills, but the gruff power in his voice is all but gone, replaced by a soft, hoarse whisper, and there are many times when you can hear his difficulty drawing breath in the spaces between singing. All of this brings a tremendous intimacy and poignancy to several of the songs here... Newcomers to Van Ronk's music should probably sample his earlier albums first, since they give a clearer version of this performer in his prime." Critic Luke Torn of No Depression wrote of the album "This remarkable recording of Van Ronk’s last concert (recorded in October 2001) is the fondest of goodbyes. Generous of spirit, with lots of crazy stories and a full repertoire played with verve and passion, Van Ronk touches on the full spectrum of the American songbook."

Track listing

1. "Down South Blues" (Traditional) – 4:20
2. "Dave Speaks" – 7:34
3. "You've Been a Good Old Wagon" (Henry) – 2:04
4. "Dave Speaks" – 2:28
5. "Don't You Leave Me Here" – 3:18
6. "Dave Speaks" – 1:53
7. "Did You Hear John Hurt?" (Paxton) – 2:34
8. "Dave Speaks" – 5:21
9. "Green, Green Rocky Road" (Chandler, Kaufman) – 3:42
10. "Dave Speaks" – 0:28
11. "Jelly Jelly" (Eckstine, Hines) – 2:49
12. "Nobody Knows You (When You're Down and Out)" (Cox) – 3:58
13. "Dave Speaks" – 4:41
14. "One Meatball" (Singer, Zaret) – 1:56
15. "Buckets of Rain" (Bob Dylan) – 4:01
16. "Dave Speaks" – 1:31
17. "Sometime (Whatcha Gonna Do)" (White) – 2:37
18. "Sportin' Life Blues" (Brownie McGhee) – 4:07
19. "Dave Speaks" – 3:29
20. "Ace in the Hole" (Dempsey, Mitchell, Van Ronk) – 4:17
21. "Dave Speaks" – 2:57
22. "St. James Infirmary" (Primrose, Traditional) – 3:50
23. "Thank You" – 0:21
24. "Urge for Going" (Joni Mitchell) – 4:29

Personnel