Woody Guthrie and Songs of My Oklahoma Home

James Talley | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 27, 1999)
• Original Release Date: February 1, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Cimarron Records
• ASIN: B000034DJ0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,865 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Belle Starr

2. Dust Pneumonia Blues

3. East Texas Red

4. Do-Re-Mi

5. Deportee

6. Vigilante Man

7. I Ain't Got No Home

8. Roll On Columbia

9. Ladies Auxiliary

10. Gypsy Davy

11. Red Wing

12. Pretty Boy Floyd

13. Talkin Dust Bowl

14. More Pretty Gals Than One/Poor Boy

15. Dust Bowl Refugee

16. Pastures of Plenty

17. Oklahoma Hills

18. So Long, It's Been Good to Know You

19. Sinking of the Reuben James, The

20. This Land Is Your Land

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a beautiful surprise, December 22, 1999

By 

Jerome Clark (Canby, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Woody Guthrie and Songs of My Oklahoma Home (Audio CD)

Those of us who know Woody Guthrie's music can be excused for wondering why we should be asked to listen to James Talley's covers rather than Guthrie's readily available originals. The answer is in the listening. Talley's interpretive gifts are such that very soon into the CD the issue fades into inconsequentiality. This is, let there be no mistake, a Talley, not a faux-Guthrie, record. Talley's readings are subtle, nuanced, original, unexpectedly moving. No one -- and I've heard them all -- has done "Deportee" and (especially) "This Land Is Your Land" better. Where the latter is concerned, you'd think you'd never heard this well-traveled song before. Talley reinvents it and goes deeper into its American heart than any artist, including Guthrie, has ever managed to do. If there were any justice in this world, it would be played on every radio from California to the New York island. Talley has blessed us with a very fine record, and if you miss it, it's your loss. My advice: don't.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The greatness of Guthrie in a greatness of Talley, February 20, 2000

By 

Matej Krajnc (Slovenia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Woody Guthrie and Songs of My Oklahoma Home (Audio CD)

I know James Talley by great songs like "I Can't Surrender" and "Working Girl", but nothing knocked me out more than listening to his latest album of Woody Guthrie's songs. It's the most brilliant tribute album of Woody's songs ever and a very subtile, great work of Talley, the work that succeeds to be his best work and probably one of the best albums of the year. I enjoyed the whole album very much, but the three songs that left me completely stunned were "Deportee", "I Ain't Got No Home" and "Dust Bowl Refugee" which is my favorite songs of Woody Guthrie. This album is highly recommended and, sure as hell, you'll enjoy it!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A VOICE FOR EVERYBODY, August 24, 2000

By 

BeatleBangs1964 (United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Woody Guthrie and Songs of My Oklahoma Home (Audio CD)

Woody Guthrie was without a doubt the Godfather of Folk (alongside of Ledbelly, who was also a top contender for the title). This collection of songs will play every possible emotion, from the rousing "This Land is Your Land" to very sad "Pastures of Plenty" and "Deportee." (those two always did bring a lump to the throat -- they are very moving folk ballads).

Woody Guthrie is the voice for everybody, the voice for all issues whether the issue is freedom, fairness in the unions (I thought of Lech Walesa and his successful goal to secure a democratic government in Poland and in the Polish Labor Unions during the 1989-1990 period whenever I heard these rousing freedom songs)or a tragic disaster, like "Reuben James." Guthrie was and remains topical to this day. His songs can be applied to just about any given case or scenario. From the 1930s labor unions to the current union workers' rights in Poland, Woody Guthrie could be counted on to provide the right song. From racial discrimination issues past and current, there is a relevant Woody Guthrie song.

The real gift of Woody Guthrie (he died in 1967) is unity. He has unified generations with his messages and he also called for unity during his life time.

This is such an outstanding collection. It is something to listen to and treasure.