Dust Bowl Ballads

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.com essential recording
"If you'll gather 'round me children, a story I will tell," sings Woody Guthrie in "Pretty Boy Floyd." Children of all ages have never stopped gathering 'round Woody Guthrie since he recorded these songs in the spring of 1940, and that most-famous line tells us a lot about his approach: his songs are for all people, simple and direct enough to be understood by young ones, irresistibly catchy, yet devilishly clever and cutting. His ability to boil down complex emotions and issues to their very core has rarely been matched. "So long it's been good to know yuh," he sings in "Dusty Old Dust," and its childlike sing-along quality only serves to reinforce his very serious points. Across these 14 songs, Guthrie recounts and relives his experience as an Okie forced from his home by the Depression and drought of the 1930s, chronicling the arduous journey in brilliant, sometimes hilarious, sometimes horrifying detail. The characters that inhabit his stories are sincere, sympathetic, and brutally alive. Originally released in 1940 on two albums, and again in 1964 for the benefit of salivating folk revivalists, Dust Bowl Ballads returns once again in 2000 freshly remastered, full of new photos and boasting one alternate take. If there is one album of modern American folk music that deserves to be reissued for the benefit of each generation, it is this collection. In terms of the singer-songwriter concept, it is truly the river's source; in historical terms, it's to the New Deal what the Declaration of Independence is to the American Revolution. --Marc Greilsamer

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Customer reviews

review by: mole in the ground date: 2008-05-09 rating:
Timeless
As good as anything I've heard but Dylan, Guthrie connects us to the soil, the weather, God's seemingly absent mercy.

Love thy neighbor (you may need them someday!)

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review by: date: 2007-04-13 rating:
my favorite woody guthrie disc.
this is my favorite woody guthrie disc. the entire asch recordings series is wonderful, as well, but this cycle of short stories told through the medium of the folk song, about the Oakie migration during the great depression, is simply a riveting work of americana music. "tom joad - part 1 & 2," is my all-time favorite guthrie performance. its rhythmic drive, intensity, devotion to detail, and grand narrative structure make it one of the finest achievements in all of american folk music. this whole album is a stark and glorious achievement. mr guthrie's voice was singular, a voice with personality, full of feeling for the downtrodden, for the victims of unrestrained capitalism. no music collection should be without a healthy dose of woody guthrie. if yours has a hole in it where mr guthrie should be, this album makes for a perfect introduction to his work.

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review by: date: 2007-04-01 rating:
Dust Bowl topics
I am a sixth grade teacher who is doing a novel with my class that is set during the Dust Bowl. So many of the songs deal with topics in this book and I have been amazed how responsive my students are to this music. It is requested everyday during work time.

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review by: Chucks date: 2007-01-24 rating:
Woody Guthrie, Dust Bowl Ballads
This is one fantastic album, assuming you like folk music. It's now one of my favorites


review by: whofan60sfan date: 2007-01-18 rating:
Hard times great man greatsongs
Woody Guthrie Dustbowl ballads is a historic folk classic. Woodys playing is good on gutiar and harmonica his voice is steady the songs are real good for the time. Woddy tells the story of the dustbowl with a keen sense of humor mostly. Pretty boy floyd Blowin down the road vigalanteman and the TomJoad songs show some anger. but Dirty old dust Dustpneumonia blues and Talkin dustbowl blues are funny. I aint got no home is my favorite. The booklet really is interesting Woody tells his story. im glad i got this.Great way to get to know Woody Guthrie.

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