hypersongs

Steam Powered Aereo Plane

Hartford's whimsical track from Aereo-Plain.
John Hartford & Mark Howard, from Aereo-Plain (1971)

Hartford is the sole writer, and it runs 3:43 as track eleven on Wikipedia's list; another source places it on side two of the LP. The words are playful, a dream of flying in a steam-powered plane, though we found no comment from Hartford. We could not establish a recording date or studio.

Kathy Mattea recorded it as the first single and video from Julia Belle: The John Hartford Fiddle Tune Project Volume 2, announced on December 20, 2024, with Sierra Hull, Alison Brown, Brittany Haas, Megan Lovell and Missy Raines in the video band; she said Aereo-Plain finally got her to Nashville. The Pipi Pickers of New Zealand covered it on With a Spade (October 25, 2017). Our upload's version is unidentified, and the song carries no Mark Howard credit.

Covers and versions

  • Kathy Mattea (2024) From the Julia Belle project.
  • The Pipi Pickers (2017) On With a Spade.

Sources

  1. Aereo-Plain, Wikipedia
  2. Kathy Mattea releases John Hartford cover, Bluegrass Today (2024-12-20)
  3. John Hartford's Aereo-Plain, Saving Country Music