Ballad For Americans and Other American Ballads

Infobox Album |
Name = Ballad For Americans and Other American Ballads
Type = studio album
Artist = Odetta


Released = 1960
Recorded =
Genre = Folk, blues
Length =
Label =Vanguard
Producer =
Reviews = * Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3pftxqwgldke link]
Last album = "My Eyes Have Seen"
(1959)
This album = "Ballad For Americans and Other American Ballads"
(1959)
Next album = "Odetta at Carnegie Hall"
(1960)

"Ballad For Americans and Other American Ballads" is an album by American folk singer Odetta, first released in 1960. It is now out of print.

The title song was written by Earl Robinson who had been blacklisted during the Red Scare in the US.

Allmusic states "Odetta's rendition has a vitality and immediacy that puts it squarely in the thick of 1960, in the middle of the civil rights movement's heyday, at a time when Paul Robeson, because of age and infirmity, and years of fighting the government's efforts to silence him, was in eclipse as an artist."

"Ballad For Americans and Other American Ballads" was re-released on CD along with "Odetta at Carnegie Hall" on the Italian label Universe. It is difficult to locate as an import. [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:knfexqy0ldte Allmusic entry for compilation of Ballad for Americans & At Carnegie Hall.] ]

Track listing

#"Ballad for Americans" (Earl Robinson)
#"This Land" (Woody Guthrie)
#"On Top of Old Smokey" (Traditional)
#"Hush Little Baby" (Traditional)
#"Dark as a Dungeon" (Merle Travis)
#"Great Historical Bum"
#"Payday at Coal Creek"
#"Going Home"
#"Pastures of Plenty" (Woody Guthrie)

Personnel

*Odetta – vocals, guitar
*Bill Lee – bass
*Fred Hellerman – guitar
*Robert De Cormier – chorale arranger, conductor

References