2006 Albums Review folk: anti- bob dylan epitaph flea folk jack elliott leadybelly lucinda williams woody guthrie
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Ramblin’ Jack Elliott – I Stand Alone (Anti, 2006)
(This originally appeared in Impose)
The story is this: While roaming the country playing folk tunes with the venerable Odetta, she and Jack Elliott made a stop one day to see Odetta’s family. Rather taken aback by Elliott’s stories, Odetta’s mother began calling him Ramblin’ Jack. Of course this story must be taken for what it is and considered in light of the source – Ramblin’ Jack himself amidst a show in Cleveland while drinking, telling tales of driving RV’s and recounting history.
Perhaps it’s accurate. Perhaps not, but regardless of that, Elliott’s abilities to interpret folk songs enabled him to tour Europe – even before the folk resurgence of the sixties and influence Dylan. Now, he has released an album on Epitaph subsidiary Anti-.
Through the vast catalog of this man, you won’t find a large number of original songs, but a collection of meaningful folk and blues tunes that speak to the populace at large. This concept actually seems to be missing from a great deal of music today; not everyone can relate to being angry at the government, and not everyone wants to hear about the inequities of the world. Often times, people want to hear simple stories that they understand. There is no shortage of that on I Stand Alone. There are songs about your body aching, there are songs about pets and songs about lost love. Most of the album, Elliott spends alone – just him and a guitar. Occasionally, he is accompanied by Flea and Lucinda Williams which serves to create a fuller sound. Williams seems to have the most incorporation into the album seeing as she and Elliott sing a duet on “Careless Darling.” Again considering Elliott’s catalog is greatly made up of his interpretations of others songs, this album, or any other for that matter, is a good place to discover his work for the uninitiated.
Tracklisting:
01 – Engine 143
02 – Arthritis Blues
03 – Old Blue
04 – Driving Nails in My Coffin
05 – Rake & Ramblin’ Boy
06 – Hong Kong Blues
07 – Jean Harlow
08 – Call Me a Dog
09 – Careless Darling
10 – Mr. Garfield
11 – My Old Dog & Me
12 – Leaving Cheyenne
13 – Remember Me
14 – Willy Moore
15 – Honey, Where You Been So Long
16 – Woody’s Last Ride
If you still have that tape – I’m amazed. I do think that “Pull Down Your Pants” was on the first side of it. And no, I have no idea how I remembered that or what else is on there…Toots?
Some Dropkick Murphys and…dare it I say it, NOFX? (Or were you waaayyy too cool for that?)
And yes, my love of Toots has not yet waned. I do still have that tape, but no tape player with which to play it. Hmm.
I think it’s funny that we’re having this conversation here….I may have been too cool for NOFX, but I’m sure that there’s some skate punk on that tape – Bouncing Souls maybe. You should find a tape player though – mostly ’cause tapes are awesome in general and that one specifically.
It’d probably take you about two minutes to find one on Craigslist. DO IT.
You had me at the Morning Shakes. I like this Ramblin’ Jack of whom you write. Thank you.