The Best of Arlo Guthrie

The Best of Arlo Guthrie

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Though several of Guthrie's records contain hidden gems well worth seeking out, his best-known songs are fairly obvious and easy to assemble on a single greatest-hits package. A hefty chunk of this record is taken up by the epic "Alice's Restaurant," which clocks in at 18-and-a-half minutes. Yet--while it's a definitive element of late 1960s counterculture--it's not his best song, either as writer or as performer. For the latter, his version of Steve Goodman's classic "City of New Orleans" remains the pinnacle of his career; among his own songs, it's hard to surpass the somewhat lesser-known but equally beautiful "Darkest Hour." Other highlights here include the rockin' "Comin' into Los Angeles" and the comedic "Motorcycle Song." --Peter Blackstock

Tracks:

Alice's Restaurant Massacree
Gabriel's Mother's Hiway Ballad #16 Blues
Cooper's Lament
Motorcycle (Significance Of The Pickle) Song
Coming Into Los Angeles
Last Train
City Of New Orleans
Darkest Hour
Last To Leave

Amazon.com

Though several of Guthrie's records contain hidden gems well worth seeking out, his best-known songs are fairly obvious and easy to assemble on a single greatest-hits package. A hefty chunk of this record is taken up by the epic "Alice's Restaurant," which clocks in at 18-and-a-half minutes. Yet--while it's a definitive element of late 1960s counterculture--it's not his best song, either as writer or as performer. For the latter, his version of Steve Goodman's classic "City of New Orleans" remains the pinnacle of his career; among his own songs, it's hard to surpass the somewhat lesser-known but equally beautiful "Darkest Hour." Other highlights here include the rockin' "Comin' into Los Angeles" and the comedic "Motorcycle Song." --Peter Blackstock

Customer Reviews:

Needs discography.......2006-09-23

This album is a good collection of the best of his early work. However, I do have one big complaint about this album - it provides almost no discography. At the very least it should list the recording date for each song (or at least the release date), along with which album it is on.

You Can Get Anything You Want..............2006-08-15

Years in the wilderness looking for the Best of Arlo Guthrie. Education is incomplete without "Alice's Restaurant" and "City of New Orleans". Those, and many more, delivered with expedition and forensic professionalism by the good Amazon. A brilliant album, especially for those embarking on a mid life crisis, or a la recherche des temps perdu........

Arlo's BEST stuff!.......2006-02-02

Brings back memories, Boomers! Received this CD in perfect condition, thanks to seller. Music crisp & clear,10 times better than the old LP's we used to depend on. Good selection of Guthrie classics. Best track is CITY OF NEW ORLEANS. Guthrie fans won't be disappointed by this recording.

The Best Of Arlo Guthrie.......2005-08-31

The best of Arlo works and enjoyed it throughly !

I love Arlo, wished I liked the album better..........2004-12-22

but the truth is, "Alice's Restaurant" is only fun to hear once or twice at 18 minutes long, even though I have a special relationship with the saga (explained down below.) This 1977 release should be called "Arlo's most popular songs from the first decade of his career." Several of his albums are more satisfying overall than this one, including "Amigo" and "Washington County" and "Mystic Journey." Other than "Alice" the most enduring track here is "City of New Orleans." I've always thought Arlo's version of this Steve Goodman lyric was just about as good as Willie Nelson's and ahead of anyone else's cover. I like "Gabriel's Mother's Hiway Ballad" but never cared for "Coming into Los Angeles" or "Cooper's Lament" at all. The remaining tracks are just OK.
Now about "Alice's Restaurant." No one who came of age after the military draft was not a threat can possibly like this story song as much as the men my age, who were drafted. I heard this on the radio, of all places, on a cold winter's day early in '68 while walking to the service men's club at Fort Bragg. A drafted U.S. Army private, #51979411, (I had to say the number once or more each day for 719 days. I'll have to die to forget it) I had received my orders for Vietnam only a week earlier. I was riveted by Arlo's tale of his own Selective Service physical and his details are mighty close to the truth. I had to go to Fayetteville the next weekend on the bus and buy the damn record, even though I did not own a turntable, and play it for my friends, some of whom lived off base and thus had a speck of privacy in their lives. It seemed delightfully subversive and gave me great pleasure during a lonely and scary time. But it is now dated badly, although many of the 18 minutes still make me laugh. I just purchased this CD, and I doubt I'll play it much at all, but to be true to my younger self and my history, I had to own a copy again, the LP having disappeared from my collection 25 years ago or so. If you are a long-time Arlo fan you may want this disc, but for newcomers to the life work of Woody's son, I think you should sample and buy some of his later albums instead. He is still making good music, more than 35 years farther on than his "Alice" days.

Average customer rating:

The indications of growth are there...
A Truly Great Album
Wonderful CD.

Amigo
Arlo Guthrie
Manufacturer: Rising Son
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Hobo's Lullaby
Last of the Brooklyn Cowboys
Running Down The Road
Washington County
Outlasting the Blues

ASIN: B0000030NA
Release Date: 1994-02-28

Tracks:

Guabi, Guabi
Darkest Hour
Massachusetts
Victor Jara
Patriot's Dream
Grocery Blues
Walking Song
My Love
Manzanillo Bay
Ocean Crossing
Connection

Album Description

"Amigo" was recorded in North Hollywood in July of 1976. Amigo was the name of the recording studio and the record was named to honor the great musicians and talented crew who worked on the project. Arlo and family along with producer John Pilla moved into a house nearby and spent about 2 months recording and mixing the tracks. It was a very happy time, as Annie, Arlo & Jackie's third child was born during the recording. Arlo, John and co-producer, Lenny Waronker had worked together on all the recordings starting with "Running Down The Road" each record improving and evolving - With "Amigo" they really hit their stride.

Great musicians, great engineering, great songs, all converging at a good and happy time make this recording what it is.

Customer Reviews:

The indications of growth are there..........2005-10-12

...in his earlier '70s albums, but with Amigo, Arlo Guthrie entered the songwriting pantheon with the big boys. His songs here are as good as anything his big influence, Bob Dylan, had written up to that point (listen to "Victor Jara" and tell me that it's not better than Dylan's "Hurricane" from the same time period), his political sensibilities would have made his father proud, his sense of humor is still delightfully intact and his choice of cover tunes shows some real imagination.

Hard to say which songs I like best here--"Guabi Guabi" is unbelievably stupid but I love it! "Darkest Hour," "Massachusetts," "Ocean Crossing" and "Grocery Blues" are all wonderful. So too, is his cover of the Rolling Stones' "Connection," with Linda Ronstadt singing background on it.

A Truly Great Album.......2005-10-03

I found this album at the Roseville Library (MN) in the mid 80's and found it to be a quite remarkable creation of true excellence in terms of creativity, depth of feeling, thoughtfulness and content. There are fun songs (Guabi Guabi), and some very poignant moments, especially the sequence from Darkest HOur to Patriot's Dream. Lyrics are great throughout... but this album has that "something more" that elevates it. Don't know why it's so overlooked and forgoten. It deserves a very high place in the panoply of music for/from our generation. (Disclaimer: I am from the Boomer gen)

Enjoy!

Wonderful CD. .......2005-08-25

Many 60s-refugee types (such as myself) may not be aware of the heartfelt, progressive folk music recorded by Guthrie after Alice's Restaurant. More's the pity. The songs on Amigo demonstrate a humanity sorely needed in 2005.

Average customer rating:

Best of (Ocrd)
Arlo Guthrie
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000R7I3IW
Release Date: 2007-07-17

Tracks:

Alice's Restaurant Massacree
Gabriel's Mother's Hiway Ballad #16 Blues
Cooper's Lament
Motorcycle (Significance Of the Pickle) Song
Coming Into Los Angeles
Last Train
City Of New Orleans
Darkest Hour
Last To Leave

Average customer rating:

Seventies Feelings
James Taylor , The Captain & Tennille , Maureen McGovern , Olivia Newton-John , Harry Chapin , Melissa Manchester , Beverly Bremers , Rupert Holmes , Carly Simon , and Ambrosia
Manufacturer: Mystic Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000MZW2LS

Product Description

MYSTIC MUSIC presents Seventies Feelings, a 2 CD set w/ 40 of the best soft rock songs from the 70s. AS SEEN ON T.V. Disc 1 01. FIRE AND RAIN JAMES TAYLOR 02. IT'S A HEARTACHE BONNIE TYLER 03. DANCE WITH ME ORLEANS 04. DO THAT TO ME ONE MORE TIME THE CAPTAIN & TENNILLE 05. YOU AND ME ALICE COOPER 06. GET CLOSER SEALS & CROFTS 07. LONG LONG TIME LINDA RONSTADT 08. LONELY PEOPLE AMERICA 09. MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS MARIA MULDAUR 10. HOW MUCH I FEEL AMBROSIA 11. THAT'S THE WAY I'VE ALWAYS HEARD IT SHOULD BE CARLY SIMON 12. DON'T GIVE UP ON US DAVID SOUL 13. THE TIMES OF YOUR LIFE PAUL ANKA 14. I HONESTLY LOVE YOU OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN 15. SOLITAIRE NEIL SEDAKA 16. THE MORNING AFTER MAUREEN MCGOVERN 17. JOANNE MICHAEL NESMITH 18. LOVIN' YOU MINNIE RIPERTON 19. FOR THE LOVE OF HIM BOBBIE MARTIN 20. DREAM WEAVER GARY WRIGHT Disc 2 01. TIME IN A BOTTLE JIM CROCE 02. DON'T CRY OUT LOUD MELISSA MANCHESTER 03. DIARY BREAD 04. SEND IN THE CLOWN JUDY COLLINS 05. RAINDROPS KEEP FALLING ON MY HEAD B.J. THOMAS 06. DEJA VU DIONNE WARWICK 07. SUSPICIONS EDDIE RABBITT 08. LOOK WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO MY SONG MA THE NEW SEEKERS 09. HOBO'S LULLABY ARLO GUTHRIE 10. AIN'T NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY HELEN REDDY 11. VINCENT DON MCLEAN 12. GOOD TIME CHARLIE'S GOT THE BLUES DANNY O'KEEFE 13. OH ME OH MY (I'M A FOOL FOR YOU BABY) LULU 14. COME SATURDAY MORNING THE SANDPIPERS 15. IF YOU LEAVE ME TONIGHT I'LL CRY JERRY WALLACE 16. DIAMONDS AND RUST JOAN BAEZ 17. REMEMBER WHEN THE MUSIC HARRY CHAPIN 18. DON'T SAY YOU DON'T REMEMBER BEVERLY BREMERS 19. AFTER THE LOVIN ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK 20. ESCAPE (THE PINA COLADA SONG) RUPERT HOLMES

Average customer rating:

The Best Of Arlo Guthrie

Manufacturer: Warner Brothers
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0008ESNUM

Product Description

The tracks are: 1. Alice's Restaurant Massacree, 2. Gabriel's mother's hiway Ballad #16 Blues, 3. Cooper's Lament, 4. Motorcycle (signifigance of the Pickle) Song, 5. Coming Into Los Angeles, 6. Last Train, 7. City Of New Orleans, 8. Darkest Hour, and 9. Last to Leave.

Folk Favorites of the '60s and '70s (Reader's Digest Music)

Average customer rating:

Folk Favorites of the '60s and '70s (Reader's Digest Music)
Harry Chapin , Jim Croce , Carly Simon , Melanie , James Taylor , The New Seekers , Trini Lopez , The Mamas and the Papas , Burl Ives , and Sailcat
Manufacturer: Reader's Digest Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000MEUUFO

Product Description

4 CD set released by Reader's Digest Music in 1996. Contains 80 of the greatest folk songs from the 1960s and 1970s! 1. Taxi - Harry Chapin 2. I Got A Name - Jim Croce 3. That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be - Carly Simon 4. Brand New Key - Melanie 5. Blue Bayou - Linda Ronstadt 6. Say You Love Me - Fleetwood Mac 7. You've Got A Friend - James Taylor 8. I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony) - The New Seekers 9. Reuben James - Kenny Rogers And The First Edition 10. Catch The Wind Donovan 11. Reverend Mr. Black - The Kingston Trio 12. Wichita Lineman - Glen Campbell 13. If I Had A Hammer - Trini Lopez 14. Rain On The Roof - The Lovin' Spoonful 15. I Got You Babe - Sonny And Cher 16. Ebony Eyes - The Everly Brothers 17. Windy - The Association 18. Turn Around - Jimmie Rodgers 19. I Saw Her Again Last Night - The Mamas And The Papas 1. Both Sides Now - Judy Collins 2. Everything That Touches You - The Association 3. The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) - Harpers Bizarre 4. Time - The Pozo-Seco Singers 5. Lemon Tree - Trini Lopez 6. Classical Gas - Mason Williams 7. Lazy Day - Spanky And Our Gang 8. A Little Bitty Tear Burl Ives 9. Walk Right Back - The Everly Brothers 10. Sweet Memories - Mickey Newbury 11. Never My Love - The Association 12. Creeque Alley - The Mamas And The Papas 13. Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind - The Lovin' Spoonful 14. Galveston Glen Campbell 15. Leaving On A Jet Plane - The Mitchell Trio Featuring John Denver 16. Greenback Dollar - The Kingston Trio 17. All I Really Want To Do - The Byrds 18. Alice's Rock & Roll Restaurant - Arlo Guthrie 19. Long Time Gone - Crosby, Stills & Nash 20. The Beat Goes On - Sonny And Cher 21. Child Of Clay - Jimmie Rogers ...and 40 more songs!

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