Library of Congress Recordings, Vols. 1-3 [Box set]

Library of Congress Recordings, Vols. 1-3 [Box set]

Track Listings
Disc: 1

1. Lost Train Blues [Instrumental]

2. Railroad Blues [Instrumental]

3. Rye Whiskey

4. Old Joe Clark

5. Beaumont Rag [Instrumental]

6. Texas Oil Fields

See all 11 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Hard Times

2. Pretty Boy Floyd

3. They Laid Jesus Christ in His Grave

4. Jolly Banker

5. I Ain't Got No Home

6. Dirty Overhalls

See all 10 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Going Down the Road Feeling Bad

2. Dust Storm Disaster

3. Foggy Mountain Top

4. Dust Pneumonia Blues

5. California Blues

6. Dust Bowl Refugee

See all 8 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
In was in March 1940 that Alan Lomax, then a young folklorist at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., brought Woody Guthrie into a recording studio at the Department of the Interior. What emerged from three days of sessions is one of the purest documents of Americana ever released. Originally appearing as a three-LP set, this collection of "songs and conversation" features Guthrie classics such as "Do Re Mi," "Pretty Boy Floyd," "They Laid Jesus Christ in His Grave," and "I Ain't Got No Home." Interspersed are autobiographical reminiscences of his boyhood in Oklahoma and his freight-train-riding hobo days as well as his biting, wry observations of the effects on the common man of everything from the Depression to crooked politicians. That the U.S. government paid for this is as ironic as it is miraculous. --Billy Altman

Library of Congress Recordings, Vols. 1-3,Woody Guthrie,Rounder / Pgd,Folk,Folk & Traditional,Pop,Traditional Folk

Average customer rating:

bound for glory

I would NOT begin with this set

Library of Congress Recordings - Woody Guthrie

Library of Congress Recordings, Vols. 1-3 Woody Guthrie

Library of Congress Recordings

Library of Congress Recordings, Vols. 1-3
Woody Guthrie
Manufacturer: Rounder / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music
Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
Rounder Records | Specialty Stores | Music
Folk | Box Sets | Stores | Music
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The Asch Recordings, Vol. 1-4

Dust Bowl Ballads

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Columbia River Collection

Woody Guthrie - This Machine Kills Fascists

ASIN: B0000002QZ
Release Date: 1992-02-14

Tracks:

Lost Train Blues
Railroad Blues
Rye Whiskey
Old Joe Clark
Beaumont Rag
Texas Oil Field
Greenback Dollar
Boll Weevil Song
So Long, It's Been Good To Know You
Talking Dust Bowl Blues
Do-Re-Mi

Tracks:

Hard Times
Pretty Boy Floyd
They Laid Jesus Chjrist In His Grave
Jolly Banker
I Ain't Got No Home
Dirty Overalls
Chain Around My Leg
Worried Man Blues
Lonesome Valley
Walking Down That Railroad Line

Tracks:

Goin' Down That Road Feeling Bad
Dust Storm Disaster
Foggy Mountain Top
Dust Pneumonia Blues
California Blues
Dust Bowl Refugees
Will Rogers Highway
Los Angeles New Year's Flood

Amazon.com essential recording

In was in March 1940 that Alan Lomax, then a young folklorist at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., brought Woody Guthrie into a recording studio at the Department of the Interior. What emerged from three days of sessions is one of the purest documents of Americana ever released. Originally appearing as a three-LP set, this collection of "songs and conversation" features Guthrie classics such as "Do Re Mi," "Pretty Boy Floyd," "They Laid Jesus Christ in His Grave," and "I Ain't Got No Home." Interspersed are autobiographical reminiscences of his boyhood in Oklahoma and his freight-train-riding hobo days as well as his biting, wry observations of the effects on the common man of everything from the Depression to crooked politicians. That the U.S. government paid for this is as ironic as it is miraculous. --Billy Altman

Customer Reviews:

bound for glory.......2006-04-02

This review is being used to describe several of Woody Guthrie's recordings. Although I have listened to most of his songs and recordings these represent those that best represent his life's poltical and musical work.

My musical tastes were formed, as were many of those of the generation of 1968, by `Rock and Roll' music exemplified by the Rolling Stones and Beatles and by the blues revival, both Delta and Chicago style. However, those forms as much as they gave pleasure were only marginally political at best. In short, these were entertainers performing material that spoke to us. In the most general sense that is all one should expect of a performer. Thus, for the most part that music need not be reviewed here. Those who thought that a new musical sensibility laid the foundations for a cultural or political revolution have long ago been proven wrong.

That said, in the early 1960's there nevertheless was another form of musical sensibility that was directly tied to radical political expression- the folk revival. This entailed a search for roots and relevancy in musical expression. While not all forms of folk music lent themselves to radical politics it is hard to see the 1960's cultural rebellion without giving a nod to such figures as Dave Van Ronk, the early Bob Dylan, Utah Phillips, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie and others. Whatever entertainment value these performers provided they also spoke to and prodded our political development. They did have a message and an agenda and we responded as such. That these musicians' respective agendas proved inadequate and/or short-lived does not negate their affect on the times.

As I have noted in my review of Dave Van Ronk's work when I first heard folk music in my youth I felt unsure about whether I liked it or not. As least against my strong feelings about the Rolling Stones and my favorite blues artist such as Howling Wolf and Elmore James. Then on some late night radio folk show here in Boston I heard Dave Van Ronk singing `Come All You Fair and Tender Ladies' and that was it. From that time to the present folk music has been a staple of my musical tastes. From there I expanded my play list of folk artists with a political message.

Although I had probably heard Woody's `This Land is Your Land' at some earlier point I actually learned about his music secondhand from early Bob Dylan covers of his work. While his influence has had its ebbs and flows since that time each succeeding generation of folk singers still seems to be drawn to his simple, honest tunes about the outlaws, outcasts and the forgotten people that made this country, for good or evil what it is today. Since Woody did not have a particularly good voice nor was he an exceptional guitar player the message delivered by his songs is his real legacy.

Woody's relationship with the American Communist Party while no secret is not widely known. Even Bob Dylan, a worshipper of Woody's in his youth, was not aware of it. What is interesting is that the subjects of his songs fairly closely reflect the party line as it changed to reflect the winds blowing from Moscow. Woody's best work is reflected in the Popular Front style of ` This Land is Your Land' when the party developed its class collaborationist policy with the Rooseveltian Democratic Party and accordingly all liberals were good fellows and true. The Hitler-Stalin Pact was not good news for his style. Political differences between us aside, listen to his recordings and learn about hard times and struggle in an eraly period.

I would NOT begin with this set.......2005-10-09

As a historical document, indispensable. Woody's first recordings! As a listening experience, sometimes a little tough going, sometimes even frustrating. Poor micorphone placement compromises clarity of Woody's voice, both speech and singing. Sometimes a bad room echo obscures it even more, Woody doesn't always seem to be next to the microphone. Sound levels not adjusted when he's speaking as opposed to blowing harp and stumming away. Etc.

These also are much looser performances than "Dust Bowl Ballads" (his seminal album, recorded a month after this Library Of Congress recording) or the amazing 1944-49 recordings for Mose Asch (the Asch Recordings box set)-Woody is mellow and laid back, frequently blows guitar chord changes to some of his best songs....no big deal! We still love him! But the versions of most songs are better on "Dust Bowl Ballads" (exception: Talkin' Dust Bowl) and especially the Moe Asch recordings (which is what I recommend starting out with). It's great-fascinating-hearing long extended conversations with Woody Guthrie and Alan Lomax (even though it's not exactly loose conversation....it was intended to be broadcast as a radio series) It's conversational.....long and drawling. It's beautiful. Woody suddenly and unexpectedly describing his childhood tragedies is riveting.

Three discs of loose version of song, followed by 5 minutes of conversation-sometimes it requires concentrated attention to really get the most out of. Sometimes Alan himself joins in and sings with Woody.....it's that loose.

If you've never gotten the Asch Recordings four disc set, that's the one I'd start with, unbelievable. All 4 discs are indispensable. Woody with Cisco Houston is one of musics great rewards, and he's on a lot of that set. Add to that the equally indispensable Dust Bowl Ballads and you have the absolute essential Woody Guthrie. After you've got those two under your belt, then I would pick up these Library of Congress recordings, I place it as number 3.

A side note, Woody's harp playing is beautiful, I never see anyone mention that.

Also, you can't program out the interviews So each track starts with a song and has up to 6 minutes of conversation.

PS-I hope this doesn't sound like a bad review, because it's not! It's an amazing documentary.

Library of Congress Recordings - Woody Guthrie.......2005-09-19

This is a great CD as far as the music and Woody's comments about his life and his songs. The interviewer, Alan Lomax, is difficult to hear, probably due to the placement of the microphone. I am glad that I bought the CD.

Library of Congress Recordings, Vols. 1-3 Woody Guthrie.......2002-02-20

A good set if you wish to listen to a person question Woody.
Because of Arlo, 20 years ago I went to see a 1 man show of Woody Guthrie. The person that did the 1 man show did a great job. I say this because he made me want to know Woody's songs.
This set was okay. I got to listen to Woody speak some of his thoughts.
But for Woody music --- The Asch Recordings are excellent!

Library of Congress Recordings.......2000-05-03

I have owned these recordings for nearly five years and I have yet to grow tired of hearing Woody speak and sing. While the recordings document his music, they also illuminate a significant moment in American history. Woody Guthrie both witnessed and validated the myth propogated by Steinbeck in "The Grapes of Wrath." Gurthrie's commentary is as rich with red politics as his music; and while he speaks without pretention, his ideas are sophisticated and his deliverery is calculated and genius. I have probably listened to these recordings a hundred times, each time another layer of Woody's mind and era is exposed.

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