The Bottom Line
From that period came some of the most timeless songs in American folk music, and Smithsonian Folkways managed to gather an incredible catalog of songs and artists for their recent release, Classic Railroad Songs.
- "Linin' Track" - Leadbelly
- "The Train That Carried My Girl From Town" - Doc Watson
- "John Henry" - Woody Guthrie & Cisco Houston
- "Way Out in Idaho" - Rosalie Sorrels
- A little long for a single disc
Description
- Woody Guthrie, Rosalie Sorrels, Doc Watson, Leadbelly, and more
- Some of the most memorable, poignant songs from American history
- An important collection of timeless music
Guide Review - Various Artists - Classic Railroad Songs
Over the course of the 29 tunes on Classic Railroad Songs, Smithsonian Folkways catalogs one of the most remarkable journeys and periods in American history. What started in the late 1800s and continued through the Depression was a mass exodus of, particularly, immigrant workers.
Most of them headed west to the boomtowns and empty promises of jobs in California and Oregon. When they got there, many were cheated out of pay, or just turned away from the job altogether. So they'd set out again, riding the rails in search of a new town and another promising prospect.
The songs on this record capture the spirit of the railroad years with a tenacity and spirit that is lacking in so many compilations of traditional songs. In this case, though, it's no wonder. After all, some of the best folk artists ever to have lived are featured on this record.
If you're looking for a great introduction to a folk-centric legacy, this would be an incredible compilation to start with.
