Bob Desper's Lost Folk Album Gets Reissued

Posted on Jun 24th 2010 11:00AM by Mike Ayers
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Record collectors love stories like this: in 1974, 24-year-old blind musician Bob Desper went into the studio, recorded his first -- and only – album, 'New Sounds,' released a run of 500 vinyl copies and promptly stopped making music. Oh, and each song was the result of one take. Since then, Desper's debut has gone on to fetch upwards of $1,000 by collectors, but for those that can only really afford the normal price of an album, Desper's lost folk gem gets the reissue treatment this week in digital and vinyl form.

Desper lost his sight at the age of 10 in a freak playground accident, but eventually learned to play the guitar. As he entered into his early 20s, he found himself writing material that many describe as a guy dealing with his inner-isolation in a similar way to Nick Drake, but Desper tells Spinner that wasn't necessarily the case.

"I saw it as a joyful little hobby to do," he says. "I saved up some money to do a recording and it went from there. I listen to it [now] and it relaxes me. The words are very enlightening."

Indeed, Desper's work is reminiscent not only of the personal nature that lined Drake's work, but also echoes other British folk luminaries such as Burt Jansch and Jackson C. Frank, as well as more contemporary artists like Vetiver and Jose Gonzalez. Songs such as 'Liberty' and 'To a Friend of Mine' showcase Desper's fast finger-picking guitar style and his lyrical gifts. He references water often, and isn't afraid to call out misguided folks as being metaphorically blind.

These days, Desper is unable to play guitar due to a hand injury a few years back, but that isn't discouraging him from getting back into the studio. He has a new batch of songs ready to go and he's working out the arrangements with a backing band.

As for the original source for 'New Sounds,' that's been long gone. The new, digital transfer was supplied from an unopened copy of the album Desper procured. "I lost the master about 35 years ago," he says. "I left it in an old closet, somewhere up north."

'New Sounds' is available now via iTunes and Desper's website.