Hobo's Lullaby

Arlo Guthrie | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 1, 2004)
• Original Release Date: February 1, 1972
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rising Son Records
• ASIN: B0006GD0W8
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #279,357 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Anytime

2. City of New Orleans

3. Lightning Bar Blues

4. Shackles and Chains

5. 1913 Massacre

6. Ukulele Lady

7. When the Ship Comes In

8. Mapleview (20%) Rag

9. Days Are Short

10. Hobo's Lullaby

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars like father, like son, October 29, 2005

By 

Don Schmittdiel "running_man" (Clinton Twp., MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hobo's Lullaby (Audio CD)

Looking over the setlist for Arlo Guthrie's 'Hobo's Lullaby', most people would not recognize more than two or perhaps three songs, but nearly everybody would recognize one. One of Arlo's few charting songs was his rendition of Steve Goodman's 'The City of New Orleans', which peaked out at number 11 in September of 1968. The first recording Guthrie made of the track (which may still be in existance, and would be a nice alternate track if the disc is ever reissued... hint, hint) was a rock and roll version that never made it to vinyl. Producer Lenny Waronker convinced Guthrie to approach the song as the folk artist he was known as, but when Waronker decided the version to be released was itself too subdued, he artificially sped up the finished product.

It's ironic that Guthrie was hopeful the hit song would distance him from his folk roots as 'Hobo's Lullaby' does much to reinforce that connection. Only two tracks (one an instrumental) are penned by Guthrie, and his selection of covers are drawn from composers such as his own father ('1913 Massacre'), and troubadors Hoyt Axton ('Lightning Bar Blues' and 'Somebody Turn On the Light') and Bob Dylan ('When the Ship Comes In' being lifted from 1964's 'The Times They Are A-Changin'). The title track was a standard in his father's stable of performance tunes, and the opening track, 'Anytime', a Herbert 'Happy' Lawson composition, has been recorded by the likes of Pat Boone, Patsy Cline, Bill Haley, and Leon Redbone. For some reason Guthrie only offers the first two verses of this vibrant country song, yet printing the two unperformed verses in the liner. At 1:46 it's the shortest track, while 'The City of New Orleans' is the longest at 4:30.

As with every Arlo Guthrie album I've heard, every track is entertaining in its own right. The highlights on 'Hobo's Lullaby' would be (aside from the classic title track, written and first recorded by a true vagabond, Goebel 'The Texas Drifter' Reeves), 'The City of New Orleans', the ode to alcoholics everywhere 'Lightning Bar Blues' (which isn't very bluesy), the haunting '1913 Massacre', telling the tragic and true story of 73 children killed during a copper strike in Calumet, Michigan, and the light and lively 'Ukelele Lady', with its wonderful plays on phonics. Guthrie's compositions include the upbeat country charmer 'Mapleview (20%) Rag', and 'Days Are Short'.

While 'Hobo's Lullaby' may not possess the unparalleled beauty of 'Washington County', or the charm of 'Amigo', which may have been Guthrie's best composed work, it is probably the artist's most diverse and polished effort. The cast of prominent contributors is long, featuring among others Flying Burrito Brothers bassist Chris Ethridge, Byrds lead guitarist Clarence White, Hoyt Axton as himself, guitarist Ry Cooder, drummer Jim Keltner, keyboardist Spooner Oldham, singer Linda Ronstadt, and fiddle player Byron Berline. The recording is lush, especially by Arlo Guthrie standards. The digipak version comes complete with lyrics printed on recycled board with soybean ink. Perfect.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Most Whimsical Arlo Strikes Again!, July 26, 2003

By 

Barron Laycock "Labradorman" (Temple, New Hampshire United States) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hobo's Lullaby (Audio CD)

I am often stunned to find how many people are still unfamiliar with Arlo Guthrie and his wonderful music. This collection from mid- stream in his career features a cover photo of the feckless boy himself standing on a pasture hill in the rural town of Washington, Massachusetts, a lovely and perhaps quaint town on the top of the mountain of the same name (and not "the" Mount Washington in northern New Hampshire). This terrific album illustrates what incredible talent, diversity and intelligence this sometimes slapstick and even vaudevillian singer has. Arlo really is one of a kind, a true artist who often covers sour subjects with a sugary satirical style, thus making these bitter pills about life more tolerable and acceptable to discuss and think about.

Here our perpetually young and impish Mr. Guthrie shows all of his sides, sometimes serious, often impish, and always sporting a twinkle in his eyes, from the silly and memorable title tune of "Hobo's Lullaby" to the hysterical "Ukulele Lady"" He shows his more serious side with wonderful entries like the lyrical "City Of New Orleans" and with Bob Dylan's "When The Ship Comes In". Probably the greatest thing about most of these songs is that they weave their way into your subconscious memory, so you may find yourself humming or singing one of them involuntarily next time you're in the shower and feeling pretty good about the world.

This is indeed a wonderful album by someone often assumed to be a lightweight because of his inordinate success with novelty songs like "Alice's Restaurant" and "The Motorcycle Song". But when he wants to be serious, as with a moving interpretation of his father's (Woody Guthrie) song "1913 Massacre", he is as fine a folksinger and troubadour as anyone on the scene. And anyone familiar with Guthrie the man and his continuing good works in rural western Massachusetts as a sort of self-appointed one-man project on helping those in need, he is obviously much more than that, and anyone taking a close listen to this album will discover the true depths of his quite considerable singing and songwriting talents as well. Enjoy.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite!, May 16, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Hobo's Lullaby (Audio CD)

As a long-time Arlo Guthrie fan who's seen him in concert numerous times and even interviewed him for a college newspaper years ago, I have to say this particular collection is my all-time favorite! If you like Arlo, you'll love this CD!