Odetta - Sings Ballads and Blues (1956)

Artist: Odetta
Album: Sings Ballads and Blues
Genre: Blues
Released: 1956 [1996]

 

***

Odetta's debut album was a strong, confident effort featuring just her and her guitar on 16 tracks, most of which were traditional in origin. In its day, it was quite an influential recording; Bob Dylan, in fact, once cited this record in particular as the one that made him decide to trade in his electric guitar and amplifier for an acoustic guitar. Several of the songs would find their ways into the repertoires of subsequent folkies, and even some folk-rock bands. There's no way of knowing whether they heard the tunes first on this release, but it's entirely possible, as it was one of the first strong traditional folk LPs. It's now been reissued on CD, and retains a lot of its original appeal in the power and emotional depth of the performances.

AllMusic Review by Richie Unterberger

Tracklist
01.Santy Anno
02.If I Had a Ribbon Bow
03.Muleskinner Blues
04.Another Man Done Gone
05.Shame and Scandal
06.Jack O' Diamonds
07.'Buked and Scorned
08.Easy Rider
09.Joshua
10.Hound Dog
11.Glory, Glory
12.Alabama Bound
13.Been In the Pen
14.Deep Blue Sea
15.God's Gonna Cut You Down
16.Spiritual

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