Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues
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Article ImagesOdetta Sings Ballads and Blues is the debut solo album by American folk singer Odetta. It was released in November 1956 by Tradition Records.[1]
Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | November 1956[1] | |||
Recorded | San Francisco, California, September 1956 | |||
Genre | Folk, blues, vocal, calypso | |||
Length | 45:14 (reissue) | |||
Label | Tradition TLP 1010 (LP) | |||
Producer | Dean Gitter | |||
Odetta chronology | ||||
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Original cover (1956) | ||||
The vinyl cover of Ballads and Blues |
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
Like much of Odetta's early work, Ballads and Blues combines traditional songs (e.g. spirituals) with blues covers. Some songs on this album were also recorded for Odetta & Larry's 1954 album The Tin Angel.
The initial vinyl release has tracks 1-8 as side A, then tracks 9-16 as side B (the "Spiritual Trilogy" being counted as one track, a medley). The "enhanced" CD version of this album, released in 2005, contains four bonus tracks and has a slightly different cover with a different photo of the singer. Some tracks are included on the Collectables re-release The Best of Odetta.
Bob Dylan singled this album out as one of his favorites by Odetta; indeed, it was albums like this that inspired him to play folk music instead of rock 'n' roll.[3]
In 2021, the album was selected by the US Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry.[4]
- "Santy Anno" (Traditional) – 1:55
- "If I Had a Ribbon Bow" (Huey Prince, Lou Singer) – 2:42
- "Muleskinner Blues" (Jimmie Rodgers) – 2:51
- "Another Man Done Gone" (Traditional) – 2:11
- "Shame and Scandal" (Sir Lancelot) – 2:23
- "Jack o' Diamonds" (Traditional) – 3:15
- "'Buked and Scorned" (Traditional) – 2:40
- "Easy Rider" (Traditional) – 5:06
- "Joshua" (Traditional) – 1:53
- "Hound Dog" (Traditional) – 3:50
- "Glory, Glory" (Traditional) – 2:12
- "Alabama Bound" (Huddie Ledbetter) – 1:42
- "Been in the Pen" (Traditional) – 2:32
- "Deep Blue Sea" (Traditional) – 3:00
- "God's Gonna Cut You Down" (Traditional) – 1:51
- Spiritual Trilogy: "Oh, Freedom", "Come and Go With Me", "I'm on My Way" (Traditional) – 6:06
2005 CD bonus tracks
- "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" (Traditional)' – 1:53
- "Take This Hammer" (Ledbetter) – 3:27
- "Deep River" (Traditional) – 3:00
- "Chilly Winds" (Traditional) – 2:41
- Odetta Holmes – vocals, acoustic guitar, hand claps
- ^ a b Zack, Ian (2020). Odetta: A Life in Music and Protest. Boston: Beacon Press. pp. 56–59. ISBN 978-080703532-0.
- ^ Allmusic review
- ^ Playboy interview with Bob Dylan, 1978
- ^ "National Recording Registry Adds 'Rhythm Nation' Among 25 New Selections". Library of Congress. Retrieved 10 April 2021.