Woody Guthrie Album: “Proper Introduction to Woody Guthrie: This Land Is Your Land”

Woody Guthrie has become an indelible part of 20th century American history. Many probably romanticize his story well beyond the realities of his life, but Guthrie's influence remains strong and unyielding. Many also know of the mesmerizing effect Guthrie's music had on the young Bob Dylan (see Dylan's "Chronicles, Vol 1"). Others soon jumped on the wagon, and Guthrie ended up speaking to subsequent generations long after his death in 1967.

Guthrie sang folk songs. Some he wrote himself, some he borrowed from others. Doing this today would result in heavy brickbat throwing along with accusations of "rip off!" But in Guthrie's day folk music meant borrowing. Times have changed. Long before constrictive copyright laws and the bizarre idea that artists must possess 100% originality to have relevance songs roamed the land in many forms. Folk songs came with a collective license (somewhat similar to today's Open Source software movement). It was not unusual for a singer to take another singer's music and put it to his or her own use. Guthrie did this. In fact, even Bob Dylan did this here and there on some of his earliest albums and in his Gaslight shows. That was folk music then. So some of the melodies on this CD may turn up on other folk singer's albums of the day. But that's okay.

Nonetheless, Guthrie was a songwriter of startling orginality. His lyrics alone comprise one of the most impressive collections in popular music history. Their themes and subjects trace back to the themes of early American folk music. Guthrie sat comfortably in this tradition. But Guthrie stuck mostly to his times, and he absorbed the times and the people, especially the disenfranchised, and the legends of his own time. He wrote about the down and out, about scandals, about tragedies, and human nature.

This CD showcases Guthrie's amazing versatilty and range as a folk singer. Many of the recordings date from the 1940s (though for sme no recording date exists). Three versions of Guthrie's most famous song, "This Land is Your Land" sit between some two dozen of Guthrie's best and well known songs. The second version includes the "Private Property" lyrics (they weren't included in the original release of the song and they rarely get sung in contemporary performance). There are also songs for children ("Car Song", "Why, O Why?"), songs about World War II, Hitler, Charles Lindbergh (particularly his infamous visit to Hitler and the "America First" organization), the Spanish Civil War ("Jarama Valley"), American landmarks and landscapes ("Grand Coulee Dam", "New York Town", "Pastures of Plenty"), working (the hilarious "Talking Hard Work"), legends ("Jesse James"), lonliness ("Hobo's Lullaby", "I Ain't Got Nobody", "Hard, Ain't it Hard"), tragedies (specifically sunken ships; "When That Great Ship Went Down", "Sinking of the Reuben James"), and even Jesus Christ. Nothing from Guthrie's time seems out of his scope.

Guthrie's voice may not appeal to everyone. But it contains a drawl and an accent that speaks directly to the themes he sings about. Guthrie would not have "worked" as a swooning crooning nightingale (a similar argument stands for Bob Dylan's voice). His voice contains grit, experience, and unpolished raw personality. These aren't Broadway songs and Guthie was no Broadway singer. His songs spoke to the average person (and also to the Smithsonian Institution's Moses Asch who recorded these tracks).

Guthrie told it as it was. The song "Why, Oh Why?" says it best. In response to the impossible questions the song poses, Guthrie sings simply "Because, because, because, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye." Things are the way they are, but work and songs can act as a vehicle for change. Guthrie stands as a symbol of the meaning music can have for a person, a country, and a world.

This is a wonderful collection of Guthrie's most recognized songs. As a whole this is a powerful collection of American popular culture. The enclosed booklet and narrative of Guthrie's life and career and descriptions of each song provide a detailed context for each song as well as the man. A must have for any lover of American folk music, popular culture and recent US history.

A superb collection of songs from the greatest songwriter to ever live. From Woody's national anthems, "This Land Is Your Land, and "Pastures of Plenty", to his childrens songs "The Car Song ", and "Why Oh Why", this album is classic. I'd even go as far to say that this is the greatest collection of music ever to be put together.

I am impressed by this CD. It contains the Asch Recordings of the great American Folk Singer Mr Woodrow Wilson Guthrie (1912-1967). To my ears, these are distinctly American in flavour. This collection includes a large variety of his songs including social protest, songs written for the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), college drinking songs, cowboy songs, sentimental parlour songs, talking blues and Southern African-American blues. My favourites are the ones which betray a sense of humour. "Talking Hard Work", "Talking Fishing" and "The Biggest Thing Man Has Ever Done" are bragging songs sung tongue in cheek. The children's songs, "Car Song" in which Mr Guthrie imitates the sounds of an automobile, and "Why, Oh Why" are delightful. Smithsonian Folkways has maintained its reputation with thorough notes which span more than 30 pages. Mr Guy Logsdon writes about Moses Asch, Folkway Records, and annotates each song with meticulous detail. Of particular interest to me is the song "Jesus Christ". Mr Logsdon writes, "Woody was a religious man, but not in the conventional sense". Mr Guthrie may not have been conventional, even so, his observations are poignant. He tells that his inspiration for the song came when "I saw how the rich folks lived, and the poor folks down and out and cold and hungry..." He sings that the working men believed what Jesus said while the rich and powerful fought against it. "If Jesus was to preach as he preached in Galilee, they would lay him in his grave." In an honest expression, Mr Guthrie is preaching the gospel message. Namely, the good news of salvation. He is also identifying an age old truth. The gospel proclaimed meets a two-fold response, (1) some believe and dedicate their life, while (2) others reject it and those who preach it. I am impressed with the brilliance of Mr Guthrie as he combines so much into a simple song. If you are interested in songs by a musician who "played a major role in developing the foundation for the song and social movement" or in fun songs that are distincty "American", this CD will interest you.

I bought this CD because I was very tired of the same old kids music as we traveled. This is a nice collection of songs. Some of them are upbeat, some of them are nice even tempo and some of them are slow. There is a nice combination of songs. My children (ages 2 and 4) have really enjoyed the music. I will admit it's not their favorite CD, but they enjoy it and will sing along with some of the songs. Woody is truly a classic in music and well worth introducing children to and well worth revisiting as an adult.

Enjoy.