Personnel includes: Eric Weissberg (fiddle, mandolin); Bill Lee (bass).
Producer: Maynard Solomon, Samuel Charters.
Digitally remastered.
A two-record set released on one CD, this collection of great Woody Guthrie songs performed by some of Guthrie's apostles, as well as by Guthrie himself, serves as a nice overview of his music. From the opening notes of "This Land Is Your Land" and a composite arrangement that starts with Guthrie and his guitar, then folds into the Weavers completing the song, this is very special music. With the mix of performers, it's like a hootenanny featuring some of the top American folk music artists who had fallen under Guthrie's spell. In addition to Pete Seeger's Weavers, longtime Guthrie cronies Cisco Houston and Ramblin' Jack Elliot are featured, along with the next generation's Joan Baez and Country Joe McDonald. Deep-throated Odetta delivers the definitive version of "Pastures of Plenty," and Guthrie is spotlighted solo and with pals Sonny Terry and Houston. A folk-music delight from beginning to end. ~ Jim Newsom
