I also think our ears tell the tale. I have all of the group's Vanguard releases, and I can't think of a single song where Hellerman sounds as if he is doing finger picking. He was creative and tasteful, though, and that flat picking could be as gentle as finger style when it needed to be.
Terry, "Hobo's Lullaby" was written by Goebel Reeves and popularized by Woody Guthrie, who edited the lyrics a bit. The Trio song written by Hellerman (with Fran Minkoff) was "Poverty Hill" on Nick, Bob, John featuring Nick on the lead. It's a really good and pointed commentary, worthy of a former Weaver and one of the few points at which the KT allowed itself to be even tangentially political. Nick's passion in the vocals clearly points to where his sympathies lay.
Actually Glen, now that I "Supposedly" have extra time on my hands, I'd like to check into your query. I have to be honest, I've never seen Fred Hellerman at all. What I do know is that he wrote two (at least) really nice songs "Hobo's Lullaby", Nick Reynolds and "The Honey Wind" Glen Yarborough
BTW, I may have figured out what SMTLSLT means...reminds of a favorite character from days gone by Joe Bltsflx :>)
Did you ever see Fred Hellerman play guitar with anything other than a flatpick?
SMTLSLT!
Regards ........ Glen
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