Customer Reviews

The Asch Recordings, Vol. 1-4

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Most listeners approaching Guthrie for the first time from more than a casual perspective will likely debate purchasing the Asch recordings or the Lomax archive recordings, a three-CD set. Both offerings are superb in their own right. The Lomax set contains some insightful banter between Lomax and Guthrie which gives you a good feel for the nature of the man and provides excellent context for the music.

This set, however, covers more groud musically. And while the production quality of virtually all of Guthrie's work is lacking by today's standards, this set is arguably superior to others.

If you are going to buy a Guthrie set (an indespensible part of any collection of American music) this is the best on the block.

Woody Guthrie is not only one the greatest American songwriters ever, but one of the most influential. His simple, yet emotionally complex songs have touched almost every facet of American Music, from the protest songs of the 1960's, to country music. This is by far the best way to become familiar with Woody because it covers so much. Which is also its only problem: there is so much music (near 30 songs on each of the four CDs at almost 75 minutes a piece), it can be tough listening. But that is only a minor quibble because it is far better to feel overwhelmed by Woody's genius than feel cheated. The sound quality is almost flawless, and the liner notes are amazing reading explaining each song in detail (which is great when the songs are about historical events that most listeners will not be familiar with). Anyone serious about American music or history (Woody's songs are more informative, and more pleasant than most history books) should buy this set immediately.

This collection is definitely a must have for persons who love Woody Guthrie's music. Folk hounds in general will appreciate this collection. These CDs cover a wide range of Guthrie's music. Many of his signature songs are included with some of his lesser known tunes.

Guthrie, famous for the "three chord theory," plays human experience and emotions like a virtuoso. He ranges in all feelings from the lighthearted, almost silly "Car Song" to the sad, serious "Deportee" and "Reuben James."

The sound quality on these CDs is of extremely high caliber like the music. Woody Guthrie has raised the bar; he set new standards in folk music. If you're a folk hound like me, you will LOVE this collection.

Woody Guthrie-The Asch Recordings, Vols 1-4

Try naming just one singer/songwriter who doesn't owe something to the dusty little guy with the fascist killing guitar. You'll die trying. As the first comprehensive Woody Guthrie collection ever assembled, `The Asch Recordings, Vols 1-4' painstakingly collects all the known songs Woody recorded for visionary Moses Asch's Folkways label. Primarily recorded while on shore leave from the Merchant Marines in 1944, the keen observations of this tireless traveler are laid down as the talking blues, topical songs, gospel, traditional and children's songs that Guthrie's in-exhaustible spirit always seemed to be writing or singing. Program this set on full random and listen as the mottled history of the 1900's vibrantly comes to life through the simple hobo poetry of this "great historical bum".'`Deportee', `Pastures Of Plenty', `Do-Re-Mi', ("If you ain't got the do-re-mi boys, if you ain't got the do-re- mi"). "They say America first but they mean America next" Woody recites in `Lindbergh' an informed, bitingly off the cuff, truer than today's headlines commentary that's only Track 6 of the 105 songs gathered here. `The world is diggin' Hitler's grave and that'll be the greatest thing that man has ever done'. . .Can you imagine how the lawyer's would heatedly huddle if that one got by the censors today? `Volume 1' presents us with many of Woody's best-loved originals, including `Hobo's Lullabye' `Jesus Christ' and `Philadelphia Lawyer'. The 25 tracks on `Volume 2' concentrate more on the traditional folk canon recorded with Cisco Houston: `Bed On The Floor', `'Keep My Skillet Good and Greasy', `Muleskinner Blues' and `Stackolee'. `Volume 3' focuses on the topical songs espousing union membership, the war effort, labor strife, and the woes of the Depression and those souls fleeing the Dust Bowl: `Hard Travelin'`, Miner's Song', `I Ain't Got No Home', `Vigilante Man', `Talking Columbia' and `Sally Don't You Grieve'. `Volume 4' traces Woody's western themes and Oklahoma roots, featuring six previously unreleased songs and more duets with Cisco Houston: the wise `Pretty Boy Floyd', `Froggy' Went A-Courtin'`, `Poor Lazarus', and `Stewball'(with Houston and Lead Belly). These songs all sound familiar because they are that seminal to our perception of our country, and in turn, ourselves. We've heard the strains of these songs in our nightmares (`Hard, Ain't It Hard') and daydreams (`This Land Is Your Land'); our churches and classrooms (`Car Song', `Why Oh Why?'); parties (`So Long, It's Been Good To Know Ya'), weddings and funerals. Those who haven't paid attention have become the bane of any civilized society, namely, politicians, admen, and Wall Street watchers. Those who have only half listened have only half a chance. Those of us who have, or who take the opportunity now by listening to the brilliant documentation of `The Asch Recordings, Vol. 1-4', can only go forth and educate our errant brethren.

Woody wrote "This Land is Your Land" on 23 February 1940.It is his best known song and one of the most widely sung songs in the United States.Woody's stated reason for writing it is possibly open to criticism--he said he was tired of hearing Kate Smith,one of the nation's most popular singers during the 1930's,sing "God Bless America".So he voiced a different perspective on the United States,ending each verse with "God blessed America for me".Later he changed the last line to "This land was made for you and me".
Woody wrote six verses,of which two were about Great Depression
experiences and were not heard when the song was first issued in 1951.
They were:
Was a big high wall there that tried to stop me
A sign was painted said:Private Property
But on the back side it didn't say nothing-
God blessed America for me.

One bright sunny morning in the shadow of the steeple
By the Relief Office I saw my people-
As they stood hungry,I stood there wondering if
God blessed America for me.

A seventh verse was added in 1945;the verse is:

Nobody living can ever stop me
As I go walking my freedom highway
Nobody living can make me turn back
This land was made for you and me.
This set of four discs contains 105 of Woody's songs.Each disc is accompained by a 36 page booklet giving all sorts of information and background on the songs and the people Woody worked with.There are many super photos of Woody and others.As an example,one of Woody,Fred Hellerman,Jean Richie and Pete Seeger in the recording studio.Then,how about one of Woody,'s pen and ink drawings from April 23,1946;"Hang down my head and cry".
This fantastic recording was put together by Smithonian Folkways Recordings and no matter how much you try you won't find anything else that comes close to it.
What's your favorite Woody song?
Hobo's Lullaby
Hard,Ain't it Hard
Picture from life's other Side
Going Down the Road Feeling Bad
Worried Man Blues
I Ain't Got No Home in this World Anymore
Pretty Boy Floyd
Blowing Down that Old Dusty Road

Whatever it is,You'll find it here in this collection.
If you like Folk music,and Woody in particular,this is for you.If you have a friend who knows some of Woody's songs,this will make a gift that will be highly treasured.
By the way,if you get it ,never lend it;you'll never see it again!!!

This is my intro to Guthries lesser known works. Like good Dylan (Bob) or Hemingway, it's storytelling at its finest. In addition to the dark and blue songs, you'll find funny ones...reflecting all aspects of the complex human character of common people. Guthrie's consistent cadence throughout this large volume of work can grate at you if you don't listen to it among other music. Among other music, it is refreshing in its underproduction. But, the sound re-mastering still leaves the quality with much to be desired. Overall though, a fine musical set. No regrets here. I recommend it.

I chose this boxed set over the Library of Congress Collection because the latter did not list "This Land is Your Land." The re-mastered recordings are of good quality and the collection is comprehensive. Each of the four CDs contains a booklet of information about the songs and surrounding events.

The real motivation to own this set is, of course, Woody's songs. Using familiar melodies combined with wry narratives and heart-breaking stories, Woody paints a portrait of America from the turn of the century, through the depression and dust bowl years, to WWII and after. The songs are haunting while being deceptively complex and simple at the same time. In this collection, the gravity of his more serious work is artfully countered by his very funny narrative and nonsense songs (one of my favorites in the latter category is "Mean Talking Blues"). Folk music aficionados or not, this collection will contain that will touch everyone's heart.

A final note: Woody Guthrie is perhaps one of the most under-rated guitar players in the genre. The recordings don't do justice to the subtly of his picking style. The same can be said of his abilities with the harmonica.

This is a MUST in everyone's collection of music that changed the world. This is music that transcends genre's, age groups, nationalities and races. There will never be another Woody Guthrie to archive in song the history of our people, our sorrows,our joys, our victories, our losses. Stop and listen to Woody's words, this is just as relevant today as it was in the 40's when Woody composed and recorded them. Start here and then go straight for the Folkways 3CD set with Lomax interviewing Woody as he plays,sings and tells stories about the times that were a changing. In Steve Earle's immortal wordcraft "So come back Woody Guthrie
Come back to us now
Tear your eyes from paradise
And rise again somehow
If you run into Jesus
Maybe he can help you out
Come back Woody Guthrie to us now".

Truer words were never spoken.

Like countless others, I started listening to Woody Guthrie's recordings as a fan of Bob Dylan. I'm happy to say that listening to Woody has enhanced my appreciation for him as a singer and songwriter, and also has made me appreciate Dylan more once I was aware with what elements of Guthrie's influence he incorporated into his art and which he expanded upon. I highly recommend purchasing this entire collection (rather than just one or two discs, since they're available individually) along with the essential Dust Bowl Ballads as a strong foundation for a Woody Guthrie collection (not to mention his amazing autobiography, Bound for Glory).

What can you say about a 4-disc retrospective of such a prolific, improvisational songwriter? In my reviews I generally talk about some specific songs, but there are so many here that I'll try not to get boring and long-winded with too many details. The discs are each loosely-based on a different theme and are named (1) "This Land is Your Land," (2) "Muleskinner Blues" (3) "Hard Travelin'" and (4) "Buffalo Skinners." Although the track sequencing isn't too strict, the songs on each generally do fall in the categories of patriotic, interpretive ballads (mostly classic folk covers), topical/working class ballads, and cowboy ballads. As you'll find out, though, these labels aren't too exclusive, and Woody writes and sings about pretty much anything you could imagine, and he sure was good at it.

As the legend goes, Woody wrote on anything he could get his hands on, and composed songs on the fly (freestyle rap anyone?), so this historical document is also quite amazing considering Asch told Guthrie he could drop by and be recorded whenever he wanted. These off-the-cuff recordings not only represent the broadness of Woody's musical vision, but also a pretty accurate representation of the spontaneous singing he did while wandering the country, living (and hearing about first-hand) the lives of the characters in his songs.

And what great songs they are. The tracks range from classics you may or may not have known Woody wrote and sang; "This Land is Your Land," "Grand Coulee Dam," "Pretty Boy Floyd," "So Long, It's Been Good To Know You," "Hard Travelin'," and "Car song," to name a few. What makes the wealth of music here extraordinary is hearing Woody come up with social anthems, dark ballads, heartbreaking stories, and hilarious blues time and time again. Although folk music is simple (fans of more complex chord changes and instrumentation may take a few listens to appreciate what it is about Woody's music that makes it so classic), the magic is in the storytelling and lyrics. Some of his talking blues like "Talking Hard Work" and "Mean Talking Blues," for example, are laugh-out-loud funny, especially on repeated listens.

Some people have griped about the sound quality, but I personally wouldn't have it any other way. The scratchy, old-timey production fits perfectly, and that analog sound probably accounts for much of Woody's timbre. I'll bet it wouldn't sound half as good if recorded in digital. Woody's signature flat-picked acoustic and occasional harmonica makes most of the accompaniment, although Cisco Houston and a few others make appearances singing and playing acoustic instruments, so there's not really any complex overdubbing that is in danger of being covered up by the quality. As for Woody's voice, it's like a warm blanket or the familiar sound of a grandfather telling a story. Even though it's simple, there's a warmth and magic, subtle wit there all the time that only Woody could pull off so genuinely.

The liner notes only add to the quality of this treasure, providing info for each song, as well as great, informative biographical info. Taken together, this really is an academic historical document both on paper and on CD, but it's also a real pleasure to listen to.

As you might have guessed, I highly recommend this collection, but if you don't have any Guthrie recordings yet, I'd probably recommend the shorter Dust Bowl Ballads first, since it's not as daunting in size or price. Once you're hooked, though, this is the next place to go. I hope you take the time to discover why Woody's such a legend, and treasure this set for years to come.

This just arrived and I'm about half-way through the second disc. Already I'm realizing I have some new favorites. Aside from the music, what's rewarding about this purchase is the song by song write-ups.

This collection is a hum-n-strum history that documents a spirit that seems rare today. It's critical, but optimistic. It's caring, but not saccharin. It has a pride of what we are as Americans, but it's not jingoistic. It's idealistic, but not gullible. It may sound liberal/progressive, but it is not dogmatic. It's intelligent by way of openness, observation, and participation.

I think anyone with an ounce of an historian in them should have this for its academic qualities. And anyone who loves the real music that occasionally comes our way should certainly add this to their collection.