Snock, the Snock, Snockman, Elwood Snock, Doc Snock. These are the many names of Michael Hurley. Born just north of Philadelphia in 1941, Hurley began to write and play music at the age of thirteen. He moved to New York City and lived there through the '60s and '70s leaving his impression on the Greenwich folk scene. At the age of twenty-two, his earliest album, First Songs, was recorded on the same reel-to-reel tape player that Lead Belly used to lay down his Last Sessions collection. His blues are warm and highly eccentric, and his off-kilter sound is more than endearing. If you listen closely to his songs, you'll find sweetness and humor within the sadness.
"Trinidad" is the final song from "Hi Fi Snock Uptown", which when finished in 1971 was his third full recording. Hand drums play steadily in the back drop while Hurley whistles and strums bits and ends on the guitar. Odd tips from our outsider tour guide anchor the verse and chorus as we get a glimpse into one man's playful vision of tropic island lifestyles. Who are we to question the advice? Have you ever been down to Trinidad? <TM>
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