Released December 1969 Artist Country Joe McDonald Producer Samuel Charters | Length 32:24 Release date December 1969 Label Vanguard Records | |
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Recorded August 1969
Bradley's Barn Studios,
Nashville, Tennessee Thinking of Woody Guthrie
(1969) Tonight I'm Singing Just For You
(1969) Genres Country music, Rock music, Folk music, Country rock Similar Country Joe McDonald albums, Folk music albums | ||
Country joe mcdonald thinking of woody guthrie 1969 full album
Thinking of Woody Guthrie was released in 1969 by Vanguard Records and is the debut solo album of Country Joe McDonald, best known for his work with Country Joe & the Fish. It was a different approach by McDonald to release a folk music and country album in the style of Woody Guthrie. Prior to this solo release, he was known to make albums in a psychedelic style with his band. The album was a tribute to the work of Woody Guthrie, a country and folk musician who died two years earlier. All of the tracks on the album were either composed or performed by Guthrie. McDonald was heavily influenced by Guthrie since he was a child. McDonald could recall his interest of Guthrie came first when his parents played Guthrie's first album, Dust Bowl Ballads. Even though McDonald has issued several albums in his career, he looks to this album as the piece he is most proud of.
Contents
Pastures of plenty country joe mcdonald tributo a woody guthrie
Background
McDonald had signed on to Vanguard Records as a solo performer and went to Nashville with Sam Charters to record his first solo album in a small studio known as Bradley's Barn. McDonald and his band were still together, but the relationship was faltering, and they would breakup soon after CJ Fish was released. McDonald was backed by well-regarded country musicians like Grady Martin in recording sessions for the album. Songs included were Guthrie favorites like "Tom Joad" and "This Land is Your Land". Although the studio musicians did not know the compositions McDonald wanted, they learned incredibly fast. Recording for the ten tracks took only a day to complete. With the spare recording time, more country standards were completed for McDonald's next album, Tonight I'm Singing Just For You. The tracks were meant to retain the spirit of Guthrie's recordings so the songs were only adjusted to compliment McDonald's own style.
Release
The album's release in December 1969 brought critical acclaim for McDonald, and in 1975 McDonald was present at the Hollywood Bowl with other contemporaries to partake in a celebration of Guthrie's career, thanks in part to the album. In homage to his inspiration, McDonald performed "Woman At Home", a Guthrie track that was previously unreleased at the time. Country Joe McDonald continues to create tributes for Guthrie, all starting from this album, and Billy Bragg is noted as saying:
Like no one of his generation, Country Joe McDonald carries on the mission of Woody Guthrie.
The original compact disc release of the album was on May 13, 1989. It was distributed by Vanguard Records.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Woody Guthrie; except where indicated
Personnel
Production
Songs
1Pastures of Plenty2:17
2Talkin' Dust Bowl2:21
3Blowing Down That Dusty Road2:34