Woody Guthrie Centenary

[Graham]

I suppose that his most famous song is "This Land Is Your Land", and a good song it is too, but numbers such as "Billy The Kid" and "Cocaine Blues" still do it for me. Dylan covered a lot of Woody's numbers early in his career.

Does anyone recall a movie called "Alice's Restaurant" starring Arlo Guthrie, which came out around 1967? Probably a bit quaint by today's standards, but a 'must' for Guthrie fans.

Graham.

[Limehouse]

I suppose that his most famous song is "This Land Is Your Land", and a good song it is too, but numbers such as "Billy The Kid" and "Cocaine Blues" still do it for me. Dylan covered a lot of Woody's numbers early in his career.

Does anyone recall a movie called "Alice's Restaurant" starring Arlo Guthrie, which came out around 1967? Probably a bit quaint by today's standards, but a 'must' for Guthrie fans.

Graham.

Hi Graham,

Yes, 'This Land' is a wonderful song - much loved by many like-minded performers such as Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Peter, Paul & Mary, Joan Baez and of course our own Billy Bragg. I also love the idea of people like yourself performing his songs for the love of them and taking them to a whole new audience.

Last year, my husband and I went to see 'Woody Sez' at the Arts Theatre in London. It was a play about his life and work and was full of his songs - well known and more obscure. When I got home, I just had to dig out my copy of 'Bound for Glory' and start reading it again.

A few weeks ago, I saw Bruce Springsteen live at the Isle of Wight festival. Springsteen was much inspired by the spirit of Woody's songs, if not his style, and he is a friend of Pete Seeger - who in turn was great friends with Guthrie. I believe that Springsteen's performance at Hyde Park yesterday was going to include a tribute to Guthrie.

Pete Seeger is, of course, still going strong at the age of 93 or so. God Bless him.

[Hatchett]

I have an old record of Arlo Gurthrie in concert with Pete Seger and he does The City Of New Orleans. He does it very well too.

It is true that most if not all of Woody's are somehow deeply ingrained in all of is. There are so many like that. For instance, "So Long It's Been Good to Know you." and "Ramblin' Round Your City."

I used to perform a lot of Woody Guthrie songs when I was younger. Now the ones I do are "Pretty Boy Floyd" and "Ludlow Massacre." Although if I was pushed I could still do the others ... they are part of my being in a sense ... the same as the Bob Dylan and Robert Johnson ones.

Now you can't say that about many singer/song writers.

[Archaic]

My mother loved 'This Land Is Your Land', and taught it to me when I was quite small.

We used to go on long family car trips, like from California to Yellowstone National Park to New York City, and I remember us belting out 'This Land' in the car as we rolled across America, taking in all the wonderful sights.

We probably gave our poor dog a headache, but it was fun.

Archaic

[Rubyretro]

http://youtu.be/E4XfWk1Ct18 (feeble, but I enjoyed the canned laughter).

I feel gutted now...I had tickets for a Bob Dylan concert tonight (already seen him -he was memorable). I flogged them on the internet, it just wasn't the moment.

I notice that the 'Columbia' song was to the tune of 'Goodnight Irene'....I liked Woody, but I much prefer Ledbetter (I probably shouldn't say that here !).

[Limehouse]

http://youtu.be/E4XfWk1Ct18 (feeble, but I enjoyed the canned laughter).

I feel gutted now...I had tickets for a Bob Dylan concert tonight (already seen him -he was memorable). I flogged them on the internet, it just wasn't the moment.

I notice that the 'Columbia' song was to the tune of 'Goodnight Irene'....I liked Woody, but I much prefer Ledbetter (I probably shouldn't say that here !).

I love Ledbetter (Leadbelly) too! I adore 'Goodnight Irene' and love cruising You Tube for different versions. The Weavers, of course, made it famous but Tom Waits and The Pogues have done good covers. When my children were small I taught them 'Pick a Bale of Cotton' and they sang it with all the actions. When they were older, I told them why the song was written to give them a perspective on its origins.

[Rubyretro]

When my children were small I taught them 'Pick a Bale of Cotton' and they sang it with all the actions.

I've done the grape picking, here in France, quite a few times...and I sing 'Pick a
Bale of Cotton' while I'm doing it ! (and Shortnin' Bread..http://youtu.be/fQmSlxWcd-k )...

but back to Woody..

[Hatchett]

I too like Leadbelly. Of course he and Woody were great friends, and Woody lived with Leadbelly and Martha for a while.

Talking about Bob Dylan, on the Bootleg series there is a poem that Dylan had written about Woody and reads out at one of his early concerts. It is worth a listen. I think it is wonderful!

[Archaic]

'Folk America' Documentary

I love Ledbetter (Leadbelly) too! I adore 'Goodnight Irene' and love cruising You Tube for different versions. The Weavers, of course, made it famous but Tom Waits and The Pogues have done good covers.

Hi Julie.

I LOVE the Pogues!! Saw them in concert a couple of years ago, one of the best live shows I've ever seen. (And I've seen a million.) The crowd was super-cool too. Sure hope they'll tour again.

Here's Episode #2 of a 3-part documentary called 'Folk America' which features the music of Woody Guthrie. Ironically, it's a BBC production! It looks good; I'm gonna watch it. (All 3 episodes are available on GoogleVideo)

FOLK AMERICA, Episode 2: http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...27265981711886

The opening scenes contain film footage of the Great Oklahoma Dust-Bowl, which honestly looks like Hell on Earth... post-apocalyptic. Those poor people, they really must have suffered. And of all the awful times to have happened, right in the middle of the Great Depression! There's also terrific footage of Leadbelly and other great American musicians.

Best regards,
Archaic

[Steadmund Brand]

I suppose that his most famous song is "This Land Is Your Land", and a good song it is too, but numbers such as "Billy The Kid" and "Cocaine Blues" still do it for me. Dylan covered a lot of Woody's numbers early in his career.

Does anyone recall a movie called "Alice's Restaurant" starring Arlo Guthrie, which came out around 1967? Probably a bit quaint by today's standards, but a 'must' for Guthrie fans.

Graham.

Alice's Restaurant is a quaint little film as you said, however for Guthrie fans it is a must, especially for the scenes where Arlo visits Woody in the hospital, quite moving.....now I am going to have to watch it again

-- Steadmund Brand--

[Archaic]

Woody's Guitar Sticker

Coolest guitar sticker ever-

THIS MACHINE KILLS FASICSTS!


Archaic

[Limehouse]

I am thrilled with the responses to this thread and, it seems, we have a good few folk fans on the site so perhaps a folk thread - for the discussion and sharing of our favourite folk music (and related music) is the next step?

[Rubyretro]

I am thrilled with the responses to this thread and, it seems, we have a good few folk fans on the site so perhaps a folk thread - for the discussion and sharing of our favourite folk music (and related music) is the next step?

Go on then, Limehouse, I'm a folk fan -although being English my first love is English and celtic folk music. But I'm a huge Dylan and Johnny Cash fan.

[Graham]

The opening scenes contain film footage of the Great Oklahoma Dust-Bowl, which honestly looks like Hell on Earth... post-apocalyptic. Those poor people, they really must have suffered. And of all the awful times to have happened, right in the middle of the Great Depression! There's also terrific footage of Leadbelly and other great American musicians.

Probably more or less forgotten by younger generations, but John Steinbeck's classic novel The Grapes Of Wrath and the movie of the book starring Henry Fonda are about the Dustbowl and one family, the Joads, that it affected. Very moving.

Bob Dylan covers some Woody Guthrie numbers on The Gaslight Cafe Tapes recorded in 1961, along with songs by himself and other artistes including Rev Gary Davis, another particular favourite of mine.

Finally, may I suggest that if you've never heard him, plug into YouTube and listen to some tracks by Brooks Williams, a singer who in my opinion (if not his!) could be described as carrying on where Woody left off. He's American but based in England, and very accessible due to the large number of live gigs he plays.

And Julie - yes, do please start a "Folk" thread!

Graham