Customer Reviews

A Vision Shared: A Tribute to Woody Guthrie & Leadbelly

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

To my mind, the problem with many 'tribute' albums revolves around the selection of particular musicians to perform particular songs. They often do not match well. In this case, the selections were excellent. The result is a wonderful CD that brings out not only the best of Guthrie and Leadbelly but also of the artists covering their songs. Sweet Honey in the Rock open with a warm, evocative rendition of Sylvie. Bob Dylan's Pretty Boy Floyd is as good as Dylan has ever sounded. It is reminiscent in tone and content to his own Hurricane Carter. Little Richard's Rock Island Line was terrific as was U2's Jesus Christ. Springsteen, Taj Mahal, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris and Arlo Guthrie round out the CD with other excellent tracks. It evokes the era in which the songs were written. The CD is well worth buying.

I borrowed this album from my Father-in-Law for a Folk music show I was preparing. After raving about how much I enjoyed it I shouldn't have been surprised when my own copy showed up at Christmas.

This album pays tribute to two great pioneers who truly paved the way for Rock and R&B. The blending of Folk and Blues is easy to listen to and the stories are tremendously compelling.

If you have any interest in Folk or Blues, pick this up.

Can't stand tribute albums. Hate 'em! But this little beauty really shines. The secret is in the wide-open, folksy nature of Woody Guthrie's and Ledbelly's work--they wrote songs that are *made* to be sung by other folks, made to be reinterpreted and resung by new generations. The other secret is in the line-up here: great talents, from top to bottom.

When this lp came out in the late 1980s I bought it on a whim. I was in my late teens, and didn't know much about the music. I don't even know why I bought the album. But time and time again, I played it instead of my rock and punk albums. I really endured for a couple of years. I don't play it so often anymore, so I had to give it four stars.

Not much to criticize here: Little Richard//Fishbone's tune is out of place--it's kind of a sour moment in an otherwise sweet ensemble. Willie and Emmylou shine, as do U2. But the album's true gem is by Bruce: "Vigilante Man." It's one of the best recordings the Boss has ever set to vinyl.

Fans of folk, folk-rock, country-rock, southern-fried rock, and alt.country should line up for this one, but even a teen like me who was into punk rock can saddle this horse up for a good long ride.

I can't think of many tribute albums that work great, but I thoroughly enjoy this tribute to Woody Gutherie and Leadbelly aka Huddie Ledbetter. If you aren't familiar with their music, just listen, you will feel the presence of these musical greats. They had powerful lyrical ballads. And what they had to say is clearly from different cultural backgrounds. Woody Gutherie's folk ballads told of the depression and the journeys traveling across the country heading west to escape the Dust Bowl, while Leadbelly's music reflected on the work songs of poor farmers and immigrants.

Musical superstars are featured here, recorded in 1988, and featured are some wonderful music and captivating stories like the a capella rendition of Leadbelly's "Sylvie" by the beautiful harmonies of Sweet Honey in the Rock. Dylan's "Pretty Boy Floyd"; John Mellencamp "Do Re Mi"; Bruce Springsteen sings "I Ain't Got No Home". Equally entertaining are Willie Nelson singing "Philadelphia Lawyers" and Arlo Guterie's "East Texas Red". Emmylou Harris with her perfect sweet voice is mesmerizing in "Hobo's Lullaby" ....can't you hear the steel rails humming?"

A booklet comes with this CD, and read about Bob Dylan's encounter with Woody Gutherie. Dylan passionately studied who Gutherie was and learned the songs. Dylan said when Gutherie's health was failing he met him and sang Gutherie's own songs to him. Dylan called himself a "Woody Gutherie jukebox."

This is a tribute album that is very entertaining with informative historic storytelling songs and music you can sing along with. I love it. MzRizz

I initially bought this cassette back in the 1980s simply because I was (and still am) a huge U2 fan. But, this would still be one of my favorite albums even without U2. First it features a wonderful variety of artists. I love the harmonies of Sweet Honey in the Rock. And, to my surprise, I particularly enjoy the contributions by John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson and Emmylou Harris. The climatic "This Land is Your Land" is great. Another great thing about this album is that it transports you to a different era--that of the depression, the Grapes of Wrath, hoboes on boxcars, etc. I get a similar vibe from the Cowboy Junkies' Trinity Session album and works by some of the folk/alternative country groups such as the band Felix Wiley. This is a CD you'll listen to again and again.

I must have bought this on cassette back in the late eighties out of a bargain bin, a bargain bin! It would hve been a bargain at full price. I played the cassette to death and now I've bought the CD.

Almost every song has life to it, not one a simple re-singing. Sweet Honey in the Rock's "Sylvie" still gives me pause after all these years. Lovely. The U2, the Emmylou Harris and the Springsteen also rank high and I'm not a rabid fan of any of those people.

The album is a wonderful pairing of musicians with timeless work of two masters. I have MANY CD's but I only keep a handful next to the player at all times and this is one of them.

this is a great albulm and i listen to it often and drift away with the depth of the music. I am actually trying to find a video of this. I saw on TV in NZ 10 years ago but can't find any sources please help by emailing me @ saxman111@hotmail.com

I enjoy all the cuts on this compilation. It is fun to hear the variety of artists perform their works. A rockin' version of Rock Island line from Little Richard that is worth the whole album. Funny how the Bourgeois Blues still seems relevant.........

I received this album in 1989 and I am very impressed by all the songs on the album. The album is a great tribute to Woodie Guthrie who wrote some great songs. As I no longer have a record player, I have been trying for a long time to get it on cd. Overall an excellent recording and one of my all time favourites.

I was fortunate to find this CD while at the local library with my son. One after another great rendention of songs I had never heard by some of my favorite artists. I also got to turn-on my Bruce and Bob fan friends, who thought they had everything, to a couple unfamiliar songs - nice!
I believe Woody and Leadbelly's sympathy for those in need is as necessary today as it was in their time.