Customer Reviews

Singing Through the Hard Times: A Tribute to Utah Phillips

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Bruce Phillips became known to me back in the late 1960's when I became friends with a New Jersey folk singer and newsman named Jim Labig. Jim has been dead quite awhile, but in his mostly amateur singing career he put out one record for a Vermont label. He was a friend of Utah's, and asked him to contribute the liner notes. Mr. Phillips turned in the funniest version of liner notes I have ever seen on an LP or in a CD booklet in my life. Reading that piece made me want to meet him and I got my chance at the 1969 Philly Folk Festival. If memory serves, he played before a small audience on a Sunday afternoon in a farm field, right after Jean Ritchie. I do not recall what songs Utah chose, but I have never forgotten his guitar, with "I.W.W." taped or painted on it, for Industrial Workers of the World, a.k.a. The Wobblies, one of the more radical labor unions ever created, and by that time, one with a tiny membership compared to most. Utah was known as a left-leaning social justice kind of guy, a fine storyteller, and better at writing songs than performing them. On this tribute two-CD set, you will find a variety of performers, a few famous, a few with "authentic" vocal talent rather than smooth, and a range of songs that reflect Utah's interests. He was anti-war, sometimes anti-clergy, occasionally anti-capitalism, anti-authoritarian, and anti-urban renewal projects which chased out the hoboes and down-and-outers and free spirits from city streets. While these songs are often interesting and clever, and less dated than I expected, his love songs, whether about people or places, are the ones I think will endure. Some of his early songs were championed by the likes of Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, John Denver and other artists with mass popularity. This category includes "Starlight on the Rails" and "The Telling Takes Me Home" and "Goodnight-Loving Trail" along with "I Remember Loving You" and "Hood River Roll On", "Rock Salt and Nails" and my favorite of all, "Daddy, What's a Train?" This set is worth the purchase just for those, but there are several other lesser-known compositions which are also quite nice. There are 39 songs on this set, and I will enjoy repeated plays of at least 30 of them. Other souls will have different favorites. This may not suit the tastes of the more conservative music fans, politically and socially, but sadly it can be hard to find a conservative with an appreciation for made-in-America folk-flavored writers. Even if one does not agree with Utah Phillips' political positions, this tribute shows off his talents with a phrase and a musical idea.

"Singing Through the Hard Times" has been nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Traditional Folk Album. That nomination is well deserved. 29 songs, all but three written by Utah are sung by a variety of artists, some very famous, some known regionally, and some completely unknown to the general public, who collectively represent the many voices of American folk music. This tribute CD is a labor of love, and it shows in both the song selection and the voices of the singers. As others have noted already in their reviews, Utah was a songwriter of the people. Love songs. Labor songs. Hobo songs. Train songs. Social commentary. Simple, pithy, passionate and compassionate.

I don't get tired of listening to this CD. And the more I listen, the more I sing along.

If you haven't heard the music of Bruce "Utah" Phillips, this is a wonderful introduction. You won't hear his voice but rather the voices of others who clearly loved both the music and the man. Utah Phillips was a man of the common man. He understood living through hard times, life on the road and on the rails: the pleasures, hardships, sacrifices and losses. If you already know his music you will love this tribute. You'll hear a variety of interpretations from like-minded performers. It's a CD you will likely listen to many times.

James Morgan
an old activist, present musician and a friend of traditional folk music

utah phillips was the most famous of wobblies that i know of..that iconic group of international labor organizers during the late 1920's...that organization and the group of artist on this cd have quite a bit in common...both seem to have had a short burst of popularity than slowly fizzeled ...out of sight to the mainstream...that doesn't mean this is a disappointing album... contraire ...it's wonderful....the musicians read like a who's who of the folk world of the late 60's and early 70's......but they sound as fresh as the newly falling snow that has blanketed the east coast the past week(2 10 10}"singing through the hard times" is a labor of love from artist who loved and respected utah phillips for his music and his genuine commitment to his music and his ideals of making the world a better place for the working person...if this cd suffers from anything its that it reminds us how much we will miss the"voice of the great southwest"

This album has nearly everything Bruce ever recorded on it. it's a great anthology of his life also. it's a great album from one of america's greatest folk song authors - railroad bums. I knew him personally and consider him one of the greats of the 20th century. the world has lost a great and wonderful person but this record may help preserve his work for others to enjoy. There aren't very many people like him anymore. He will be truly missed...

What a genius, I keep finding out that songs that I've loved for years were composed by Phillips.

This collection has some truly great renditions, very few duds. Outstanding are Ed Trickett's version of "Telling Takes me Home", so moving, and Emmy-Lou Harris & Mary Black on "Green Rolling Hills", and Gordon Bok on "Goodnight-Loving Trail".

On the other hand, I am completely missing what Taylor Whiteside is trying to do with "Rock Salt and Nails". It's a pedestrian boring rendition, and worse he misses some of the melodic subtlety that makes this song unique. I've heard amateurs do a far better job. I've never heard of Whiteside - maybe that's not surprising. This is a great song and deserves better; please seek out other artists' versions and don't judge the song from this collection.

Everything else is, in Garrison Keillor's phrase, "above average".

I have heard Utah live every place I lived, from Colorado to Alaska to Kansas to Pennsylvania. My kids grew up on his music and the picture of he and I taken in Denver several years ago is on my office wall. He was a real character, his human frailities right out for all to see, his truly brilliant mind and a so-so voice that suceeds due to passion for his craft -- and this album is a tribute from all of his musician friends. A "must buy" for any Utah fan.

What a terrific album this! I haven't come across anything so good in a long, long time. Frankly, some of the renditions are even better than Utah Phillips's originals.

This is an excellent album. If you are a fan of good old, down to earth folk music, this the album for you.

I listened to this two disc collection as I drove out to the Colorado high country for a vacation. What a perfect choice for listening pleasure on a road trip to the wide open spaces! Perhaps a few too many IWW/union songs in preference to more lyrical folk songs, but then again, giving voice to the working men and women of our country was the heart of Utah Phillips music and life. And we are in the midst of the "hard times" again! I highly recommend this double album to anyone who is thinking about getting it. Especially powerful for me is the final cut, "Hymn Song", which I heard Fred Holstein sing in Chicago many years ago but have never heard recorded anywhere. Although the only time I actually heard Utah in person he said he couldn't remember "Hymn Song" he DID write it and it IS inspiring music truly from the heart. Any true folkies will love this album!