John Hartford "Steam Powered Aereoplane" 

This makes me cry. There has never been any music so passionate, sophisticated, and naive at the same time. I cannot get enough of Aereo-Plain.

We smoked bales of weed and drank three rivers of beer spending time with John Hartford riding the river boats and having a damn good time. One day we'll all be up on the hill where they do the boogie looking back thinking the one thing that brings us all together is music. I tip my hat to one of the greats, Mr. John Hartford!

Thank You Billy Strings and Billy Failing and boys for bringing this song back for a new generation of fans.

John Hartford died in '01... however, his music will never die!

This is "Real American Music". Thank you John Hartford.

john was sick here...you can hear it in his voice. he had just over six months to live when thsi was recorded. what a courageous man he wa -- commited to his beloved music almost to the end. this breaks my heart.

Saw him play in Chapel Hill, NC and got him to autograph this album. I had his autograph on another album, and I told him that I was an Elementary Teacher. I said that I used his autograph as an example of great cursive writing. He looked up at me, blushed and said, "why thank you". That's my story.

Always makes me cry. Something about him singing this song. He was an amazing performer!

We've lost an encyclopedia of American music when we lost John. Although... Seeing this here he is not lost. Thank you John Hartford... You have me forever in the "Goodle Days".

This makes me happy. Music is a wonderful thing.

More than an artist-a force of nature

As a teenager in Scotland, I became acquainted with the Dillards, then John Hartford. Always wanted to see them all playing live. John was so talented and he lived the life which I would have loved. I’ll be listening to his music forever.

What a lovable person. His soul was angelic, filled with honesty, talent and charm. So humble and brilliant. John Hartford deserves a place on Mount Rushmore. He is pure American. All the good of a nation is who he was.

John Hartford is FOREVER in our hearts! :)

My dear friend, John Hartford died 15 years ago today. Not a day goes by that I don't miss him. This was from an appearance just about 6 months before John passed. He loved performing and he did it until close to the end. John appears here as a shadow of his former self. He was so brave. This breaks my heart.

Norman is the only Aereoplane Band member still with us. RIP, John, Tut, Vassar and Randy Scruggs. Although Randy wasn't an official member of the touring band, he played bass on the record.

Dont what it is about this album but it makes me cry... it embodies everything I love about americana

Unbelievable. What a performance. And knowing he’d be gone in. A years time makes this one bittersweet. Rest in picking John Hartford 🎻🪕

John gave his all to the music! Everyone reveres Bill Monroe for good reason, but along with Flatt and Scruggs, Hartford really introduced bluegrass music to the masses (in areas outside the South) back in the 60's. He loved performing and showed up on TV a lot where he injected great energy, and humor into his music. He had a great appreciation for talent, as displayed by his backup members. Plus he respected old American history, and brought back-popularized old songs and a unique old-time style of playing!

This little clip is the essence of what great Country, Bluegrass & Folk is all about - none of the old "Coward of the County"-style preachy moralising. I want good music, not a lecture! And great music is exactly what J H gave us. John Hartford (RIP) was plainly quite ill at this late stage in his life, his voice was failing, but his instrumental prowess was undimmed. He drew other super talents around him like Vassar Clements, the elderly Dobro player and all the others - not one average musician among them. Living in Ireland as I do, I'm afraid I cannot name them all. It is a pure joy to be able to enter RU-vid and access such magnificent gems as this. Whoever it is who does this, please keep on doing it!

Something about watching John lovingly surrounded by all his friends in the final months of his life is utterly heartbreaking and profoundly beautiful at the same time. I hope he's found a nice deck-chair to sit on, high up over Kansas City.

This was at the great Troy Savings Bank Music Hall on November 18th, 2000. Troy is across the river from Albany. There are several similarly mis-dated clips out there on the ‘tube. And there are many properly dated full show audio recordings floating around. I just found my program from the show today! It was, by far, the most bittersweet musical event l’ve ever attended.

That was a great night. I'll never forget it.

I bought this album [Areoplane] three times gave two away then got it on CD. I have loved his music and him since seeing him on the Smothers Brothers TV show.

" Modern day Mark Twain" is the most apropos term I ever heard applied to John Hartford . Aereo- plain should be in everyone's collection of music .

these guys were & are "the greats" john was so different than the run of the mill. there will never be another john hartford. vassar clements is another one of those different kinds of sweet style fiddlers that could fit with anybody he played with from old & in the way, with gerry garcia, peter rowan , his own cd's and great with anybody he played with. great video, thanks!

Tut Taylor’s dobro picking is classic. He was my sisters father in law and whenever we visited Nashville doors opened.

John Hartford has always been an inspiration to my own music, listening to his records back in the 70's and catching a concert in Toronto in the early 90's with his son on stage playing the mandolin and John waltzing through the crowd playing his fiddle (they both wore derbies) PURE MAGIC and Musical JOY ~eff

How anyone can gives this a thumbs down is beyond me I admit John's voice is not as strong as it was before he was sick but the music is strong sweet and beautiful.

Alls u can say is; The great John Hartford!!!!

It never get's any better.. This song has been going through my mind (some odd 40 plus years later) all week and I ended up here.. Worth the trip.. I'll take one more of those tickets on that ol fashioned steam powered aereoplane.. His music always leaves me in deep yearning mode.. I never know if I feel like I should cry or laugh..

I saw him in Morgantown, WV many, many years ago, in a small venue. I was completely unprepared. The level of talent, the showmanship, the connection with the audience was beyond anything I have ever seen. Even the biggest acts - and I've seen them all - couldn't compare. And never will.

This was the Sat. night before Thanksgiving in 2000 at the great Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, NY. There was a full camera crew on hand, and we've been wondering if this would ever surface. Great work and thanks for posting. Please release this as a concert film, it was incredible!

Oh man, I was at this show. Little did I know it'd be my last time seeingJohn Hartford play. Such fond memories of watching John Hartford play at Grey Fox over the years. One of my favorite songs by him, and I love when Sam Bush plays it too.

So many of this group no longer with us. They will be missed. Had the chance on many occasions to have coffee with John when he would pilot the Julia Belle Swain up the Illinois River to a state park lodge near my town. He would put on a one man show there then head back down to Peoria the next morning. Wonderful man.

Truly one of a kind. RIP John!!

We love him!

what a great performance

Rest in peace Tut. You are one of the best.

Love seeing all the clips of John. Thanks so much for sharing it. I first saw him perform in Cincinnati right after Mark Twang came out. Wow! Blew us away! Miss him a lot!

geez, this is awesome and it breaks my heart at the same time ...

Today I have learned about John Hartford. I never really knew much about him, except, of course, he wrote "Gentle on my Mind" His fansite is good, and thanks to all the youtube uploads. Now I get to have the fun of discovering all that talent he had--things like finding some of his 30 album releases in used record stores (don't we all love that?) Sorry he was gone too soon.

An artist sorely missed. What a talent the man was.

John's music and my family's music was instrumental to my love of music. 15 years since he left us. Thanks for the post... I hope whoever has the full concert share this in some format soon... Saw him many times.... love every second!

This is one of the sacred, seminal albums in my family history and to me, personally. I got here as I was scrolling through the Facebook feed of my father, who passed away this week and it brings me to tears (again). At Merlefest 2001 (maybe 2000), John and some of these folks played this tune and several others from the record. As I inhaled that moment, next to my father and sister, I wanted it to last forever. We all knew John would soon no longer be with us and it was absolutely the most moving live performance I've witnessed. I was hoping someone had posted that on YT but it appears it will only be in my memory. Thanks for the music, John, and thanks for giving me a love of music, Dad. May the Steam-powered Aereo-plain fly you home.

I first heard about John Hartford about 8 years ago from a gentleman giving me Banjo lessons. Lonnie Hoppers, who played with Bill Monroe in 59-60. I am sorry to say that Lonnies teachings didnt go to far with me, Still cant play worth a darn. Just listened to this recording 10 consecutive times sitting in 92 degree heat and as usual I have goosebumps. Love his music and playing style, Sorry I never saw him in person,but sure enjoy him here. Great artists with him and the lap steel in super.

Simply wonderful ........ !

John...thank you

What a line up!

A tear just came to my eye.

Still have this album that was bought at the record exchange on dickson st. in Fayettenam, AR. What a treasure!

WOW. Historic gathering!

A simple "like" button isn't enough!!!

Tutbro is the flatpickin' Dobro MAN!

Miss John a whole lot! R I P John Harford...keep that paddle-wheel chugging!

this is as good as it gets thank you for posting!

This is beyond cool! Thanks for sharing this video!

Thanks for the precious video. That young band helping John and the Aereoplane band was John Hartford's String Band that toured with him for many years and was John's band right before he died. The other banjo player is long time collaborator Bob Carlin. I'm not sure who the bass player is. But I can find out.

@csncsn00 Johny Hartford is tha man! Thank you Claudio from Italy! This video was taken less than a year before he died though...He lives on!

I was at this concert! And I've tried to get a copy of it as I remember it was recorded...this is the first clip I've seen of it. Thanks! I just wish I was listening to "Good 'ole boys".

Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. We were there. We ran into Sam Bush in a bar up the street, after the show. That was a great night. 1:06

RIP John and Vassar

RIP John.

Excellent

Thank you so much for posting this!!

Had the opportunity to talk to John Hartford in Owensboro, Kentucky at length. We we stuck on an elevator. I found that he and I were born on the same day in 1937.

Man this is great

Awesome thank you!

Saw John in May of 2001 at the Grafton Illinois tow boat festival unfortunately he passed soon after. Could see that he wasn't doing very well. such a great talent truly missed

Mike Compton on Mando. Reminds me of college nights at the Station Inn. . . Awwwwwwww, man.

This is a commercial release that is being sold by Tut Taylor. I bought a copy off him personally at Merlefest back in 2004.

very nice indeed!

Morning Bugle was the first album I bought after I got my first banjer 30 some odd years back. I bought Aereoplane a couple of weeks later. I have more John Hartford albums than anyone else. John sounds very weak in this clip, but I still love it.

great stuff/he went before his time/too bad

Everyone is accounted for here except Larry Perkins. He played the bass. He's a hell of a fella.

Tut reminds me of my Professor Lewis E. Anderson

Thank you for posting. It was an amazing evening. History was made. BTW, my concert ticket says November 18th, not 11th.

damn vassar could play

@gibsonrb75vl That's Bob Carlin on the clawhammer banjo. He and John Hartford did a couple of albums together.

Great, but also kinda heart breaking. He passed away the next June.

SWEEEEEEET! verrry good!

I love it how he pronounces it "Aereoplane."

the best

Don't forget Larry Perkins on the bass.

Fck that's real music! Thx for the upload old dude

GOOOOOOOOO

man what a legend. rest in peace buddy. wish i could have shaken your hand

Question: Who would win in a fight between John Hartford and God? Answer: Trick question, John Hartford is God!

norman blake is the man

@gibsonrb75vl Chris Sharp on the guitar. Heck of player himself.

One of his final performances. He died months later.

MO' LAKE !!!

Thanks so much for posting this. This couldn't have been in November 2001 though, Hartford died June 2001.

Happy/sad

Great band! Sam Bush seems to be the only "name" picker, but that's ok too. They all rock!

I see Bob Carlin playing the banjer there too.

Are there any biographies of John on RU-vid or elsewhere?

They changed it after I replied.

I think the other banjo player is Bob Carlin

Great, with Norman, Tut and Vassar. Last time I saw him was at Grey Fox in 2000.