Customer Reviews

Library of Congress Recordings

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's one thing to hear Woody Guthrie perform his songs. His impromptu style (wherein he delays a few entries while he plays, seemingly because he's forgotten the words for a bit) belies his genius...or maybe even showcases it. Guthrie is one of a handful of musicians who can compose music--and perform it--on a moment's notice. If you're interested in this work, though, understand that the other aspect you get here is some detailed interviewing by folklorist Alan Lomax--which sets this recording apart. I myself stared at the speakers like radio listeners of the '20s and '30s, transfixed, like I was listening to stories told to me from a spiritual grandfather I never had known. His stories are alternately hilarious, wise, painful, and tragic--and utterly fascinating. The recording is not the best. The third CD in particular wavers due to an unevenly played vinyl or wax record, from which this set was recorded. However, the whole set does full justice to an American genius and an underappreciated musician. (Also recommended, if you enjoy these recordings: Bound for Glory, Guthrie's incredible autobiography.)

I have owned these recordings for nearly five years and I have yet to grow tired of hearing Woody speak and sing. While the recordings document his music, they also illuminate a significant moment in American history. Woody Guthrie both witnessed and validated the myth propogated by Steinbeck in "The Grapes of Wrath." Gurthrie's commentary is as rich with red politics as his music; and while he speaks without pretention, his ideas are sophisticated and his deliverery is calculated and genius. I have probably listened to these recordings a hundred times, each time another layer of Woody's mind and era is exposed.

As a historical document, indispensable. Woody's first recordings! As a listening experience, sometimes a little tough going, sometimes even frustrating. Poor micorphone placement compromises clarity of Woody's voice, both speech and singing. Sometimes a bad room echo obscures it even more, Woody doesn't always seem to be next to the microphone. Sound levels not adjusted when he's speaking as opposed to blowing harp and stumming away. Etc.

These also are much looser performances than "Dust Bowl Ballads" (his seminal album, recorded a month after this Library Of Congress recording) or the amazing 1944-49 recordings for Mose Asch (the Asch Recordings box set)-Woody is mellow and laid back, frequently blows guitar chord changes to some of his best songs....no big deal! We still love him! But the versions of most songs are better on "Dust Bowl Ballads" (exception: Talkin' Dust Bowl) and especially the Moe Asch recordings (which is what I recommend starting out with). It's great-fascinating-hearing long extended conversations with Woody Guthrie and Alan Lomax (even though it's not exactly loose conversation....it was intended to be broadcast as a radio series) It's conversational.....long and drawling. It's beautiful. Woody suddenly and unexpectedly describing his childhood tragedies is riveting.

Three discs of loose version of song, followed by 5 minutes of conversation-sometimes it requires concentrated attention to really get the most out of. Sometimes Alan himself joins in and sings with Woody.....it's that loose.

If you've never gotten the Asch Recordings four disc set, that's the one I'd start with, unbelievable. All 4 discs are indispensable. Woody with Cisco Houston is one of musics great rewards, and he's on a lot of that set. Add to that the equally indispensable Dust Bowl Ballads and you have the absolute essential Woody Guthrie. After you've got those two under your belt, then I would pick up these Library of Congress recordings, I place it as number 3.

A side note, Woody's harp playing is beautiful, I never see anyone mention that.

Also, you can't program out the interviews So each track starts with a song and has up to 6 minutes of conversation.

PS-I hope this doesn't sound like a bad review, because it's not! It's an amazing documentary.

This is a great CD as far as the music and Woody's comments about his life and his songs. The interviewer, Alan Lomax, is difficult to hear, probably due to the placement of the microphone. I am glad that I bought the CD.

This will knock the socks of any Woody Guthrie fans..Guaranteed!! Woody himself is an American treasure;and any folk or traditional music lover will know that he was one of a kind and one of the best.
Woody was born on June 14,1912.Many think he came from a poor background,but that was not the case.He was part of a large family and his father was quite well to do.His father had just built a large 16 room house .Shortly after, the house caught fire and burned to the ground.His father and a sister died in the fire.The mother never got over it and died later.The family was in ruins and the children were all put up for adoption.After living with a couple of families;Woody "hit the road" in 1927 at the age of 17.He wandered around the Southwest and was in Texas when the Great Depression and the Dust Storms hit in 1934.He did a lot of odd jobs in the oil fields,farm laborer,etc;but developed a love of music which he applied to the hardships being experienced by people out of work,forced migration because of the Dust Storms and the Depression,travelled and lived the life of a hobo.His music was all about how the people srruggled to survive. In 1940,Woody was making a name for himself as a singer and songwriter of the music of the people,or Folk Music.
Alan Lomax,was collecting Folk Music and working with Woody recorded his music.But these recordings are much more than a simple recording of his songs.There are about 3 hours on these 3 CD's but approximately half of the recordings consists of Alan and his wife Elizabeth interviewing Woody about his songs and his life on the road.From the discussions,it is apparent that Woody's reason for writing and singing these songs was not done for any commercial reason;but to make known to the country ,the problems that were being experienced throughout the land,and the need to change things.The technical quality of these recordings appear amateurish compared to today,but they are still very clear and this shortcoming only adds to the authenticity of Woody's music and what he was trying to do.
Even if you already know much of Woody's music;you are in for a real treat if you have not heard these recordings.I have the the 4-Volume CD collection of "ASHE
Smithonian Folkway Recordings" which is also excellent (See My Review).It is a huge collection of 99 songs.;however only 2 of the songs on this Library of Congress are also on the ASCH collection.
If you are a fan of Folk Music,and Woody Guthrie in particular,you don't want to miss this collection.

This review is being used to describe several of Woody Guthrie's recordings. Although I have listened to most of his songs and recordings these represent those that best represent his life's poltical and musical work.

My musical tastes were formed, as were many of those of the generation of 1968, by `Rock and Roll' music exemplified by the Rolling Stones and Beatles and by the blues revival, both Delta and Chicago style. However, those forms as much as they gave pleasure were only marginally political at best. In short, these were entertainers performing material that spoke to us. In the most general sense that is all one should expect of a performer. Thus, for the most part that music need not be reviewed here. Those who thought that a new musical sensibility laid the foundations for a cultural or political revolution have long ago been proven wrong.

That said, in the early 1960's there nevertheless was another form of musical sensibility that was directly tied to radical political expression- the folk revival. This entailed a search for roots and relevancy in musical expression. While not all forms of folk music lent themselves to radical politics it is hard to see the 1960's cultural rebellion without giving a nod to such figures as Dave Van Ronk, the early Bob Dylan, Utah Phillips, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie and others. Whatever entertainment value these performers provided they also spoke to and prodded our political development. They did have a message and an agenda and we responded as such. That these musicians' respective agendas proved inadequate and/or short-lived does not negate their affect on the times.

As I have noted in my review of Dave Van Ronk's work when I first heard folk music in my youth I felt unsure about whether I liked it or not. As least against my strong feelings about the Rolling Stones and my favorite blues artist such as Howling Wolf and Elmore James. Then on some late night radio folk show here in Boston I heard Dave Van Ronk singing `Come All You Fair and Tender Ladies' and that was it. From that time to the present folk music has been a staple of my musical tastes. From there I expanded my play list of folk artists with a political message.

Although I had probably heard Woody's `This Land is Your Land' at some earlier point I actually learned about his music secondhand from early Bob Dylan covers of his work. While his influence has had its ebbs and flows since that time each succeeding generation of folk singers still seems to be drawn to his simple, honest tunes about the outlaws, outcasts and the forgotten people that made this country, for good or evil what it is today. Since Woody did not have a particularly good voice nor was he an exceptional guitar player the message delivered by his songs is his real legacy.

Woody's relationship with the American Communist Party while no secret is not widely known. Even Bob Dylan, a worshipper of Woody's in his youth, was not aware of it. What is interesting is that the subjects of his songs fairly closely reflect the party line as it changed to reflect the winds blowing from Moscow. Woody's best work is reflected in the Popular Front style of ` This Land is Your Land' when the party developed its class collaborationist policy with the Rooseveltian Democratic Party and accordingly all liberals were good fellows and true. The Hitler-Stalin Pact was not good news for his style. Political differences between us aside, listen to his recordings and learn about hard times and struggle in an eraly period.

A good set if you wish to listen to a person question Woody.
Because of Arlo, 20 years ago I went to see a 1 man show of Woody Guthrie. The person that did the 1 man show did a great job. I say this because he made me want to know Woody's songs.
This set was okay. I got to listen to Woody speak some of his thoughts.
But for Woody music --- The Asch Recordings are excellent!