This Land Is Your Land: The Asch Recordings, Vol. 1

by Woody Guthrie

Overview

You'd think the last word in Woody Guthrie reissues would have appeared before this. After all, the legendary folksinger recorded most of his best work nearly 60 years before this was released, and the bulk of it has been regularly reissued in fine collections on Folkways, Rounder, and other labels. So this CD is as surprising as it is welcome. What makes it probably the single best Guthrie disc you can own? For one thing, the compilers had total access to the archives of Folkways Records founder Moses Asch, for whom the singer made the lion's share of his most important recordings. And they picked for this package 27 songs that showcase the incredible range of his writing and performing talent -- everything from children's ditties ("Car Song") to social commentary ("Do-Re-Mi") to historical tales ("End of the Line"). Then there's the title track -- Guthrie's most famous tune -- which was only sporadically available until this CD. It's here in two versions, including one that features the famous yet previously unreleased "private property" verses. The sound quality is as notable as the program. The compilers went back to the master recordings and did a magnificent job of cleaning things up without altering what Guthrie waxed. The result sounds pure and intimate -- as if the singer were right there in the room with you. Finally, there's a superb 36-page book with all sorts of fascinating detail on Asch, Guthrie, and every track. The best news: This is only the first volume in a four-CD series. ~ Jeff Burger

Product Details

Release Date:	02/18/1997
Label:	SMITHSONIAN FOLKWAYS
UPC:	0093074010020

Tracks

1. This Land Is Your Land
2. Car Song
3. Ramblin' Round
4. Talking Fishing Blues
5. Philadelphia Lawyer
6. Lindbergh
7. Hobo's Lullaby
8. Pastures of Plenty
9. Grand Coulee Dam
10. End of the Line
11. New York Town
12. Gypsy Davy
13. Jesus Christ
14. This Land Is Your Land
15. Do-Re-Mi
16. Jarama Valley
17. The Biggest Thing Man Has Ever Done
18. Picture From Life's Other Side
19. Jesse James
20. Talking Hard Work
21. When That Great Ship Went Down
22. Hard, Ain't It Hard
23. Going Down the Road Feeling Bad
24. I Ain't Got Nobody
25. Sinking of the Reuben James
26. Why, Oh Why?
27. This Land Is Your Land

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Woody Guthrie   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Mandolin,Harmonica,Lead Guitar,Lead Vocals
Cisco Houston   Guest Artist,Guitar,Vocal Harmony,Featured Artist,Guitar (Rhythm)
Sonny Terry   Guest Artist,Harmonica
Bess Hawes   Vocal Harmony

Technical Credits

Pete Seeger   Composer
Huddie Ledbetter   Composer
Guy Logsdon   Liner Notes
Goebel Reeves   Composer
Almanac Singers   Composer
Woody Guthrie   Arranger,Composer
Peter Seitel   Editing
Michael Maloney   Production Coordination
Seema Weatherwax   Photography
Carla Borden   Editing
Anthony Seeger   Project Director
Alan Lomax   Composer
Amy Horowitz   Project Director
Charles E. Baer   Composer
Lee Hays   Composer
Mary Monseur   Production Coordination