Roving Gambler - Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Hubbard, Jerry
Will the Circle Be Unbroken - Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Public Domain [1]
Diamond Joe - Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Dylan, Bob
Guabi Guabi - Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Elliott, Jack
Sowing on the Mountain - Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Traditional
Roll on Buddy - Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Traditional
1913 Massacre - Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Guthrie, Woody
House Of The Rising Sun - Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Traditional
Shade of the Old Apple Tree - Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Traditional
Black Snake Moan - Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Ledbetter, Huddie
Portland Town - Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Adams, Derroll
More Pretty Girls Than One - Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Guthrie, Woody
Danville Girl [#] - Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Traditional
John Hardy [#] - Ramblin' Jack Elliott,
Dark as a Dungeon [#] - Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Travis, Merle
Hard Ain't It Hard [#] - Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Guthrie, Woody
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right [#] - Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Dylan, Bob
I Got A Woman [#] - Ramblin' Jack Elliott,
Railroad Bill [#] - Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Traditional
I Never Will Marry [#] - Ramblin' Jack Elliott,
At My Window [#] - Ramblin' Jack Elliott,
Blue Eyed Elaine [#] - Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Tubb, Ernest
Wildwood Flower [#] - Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Carter, A.P.
Ranger's Command [#] - Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Guthrie, Woody
Willie Moore [#] - Ramblin' Jack Elliott,
First it was Woody Guthrie who cast a shadow over Ramblin' Jack Elliott's art. "He sounds more like me than I do," Woody once quipped. Now Elliott's own legend threatens to obscure his fine music. This 25-song set shows ho... more »w forceful, even peerless (at least among the folkies), his singing and guitar playing could be. Because Elliott released only one album on Vanguard, this "best-of" includes the whole of that 1964 debut plus 13 previously unreleased tracks, making for less of a useful introduction and more of a fan's dream come true. Unreleased tracks include old folk songs such as "Danville Girl," "Diamond Joe," and "Blue Eyed Elaine." Elliott's ultratwangy, unapologetically aggressive style lends the stories a cinematic intensity--and a delightful, cutting humor. This set also reveals just how much Elliott shaped the repertoire, flatpicking, and vocal style of the young Bob Dylan (who, in the guise of Tedham Porterhouse, lends harmonica to Elliott's frenzied version of "Will the Circle Be Unbroken"). As a portrait of the artist, these Vanguard recordings make clear just why Elliott remains so influential and revered. --Roy Kasten« less
First it was Woody Guthrie who cast a shadow over Ramblin' Jack Elliott's art. "He sounds more like me than I do," Woody once quipped. Now Elliott's own legend threatens to obscure his fine music. This 25-song set shows how forceful, even peerless (at least among the folkies), his singing and guitar playing could be. Because Elliott released only one album on Vanguard, this "best-of" includes the whole of that 1964 debut plus 13 previously unreleased tracks, making for less of a useful introduction and more of a fan's dream come true. Unreleased tracks include old folk songs such as "Danville Girl," "Diamond Joe," and "Blue Eyed Elaine." Elliott's ultratwangy, unapologetically aggressive style lends the stories a cinematic intensity--and a delightful, cutting humor. This set also reveals just how much Elliott shaped the repertoire, flatpicking, and vocal style of the young Bob Dylan (who, in the guise of Tedham Porterhouse, lends harmonica to Elliott's frenzied version of "Will the Circle Be Unbroken"). As a portrait of the artist, these Vanguard recordings make clear just why Elliott remains so influential and revered. --Roy Kasten
CD Reviews
A Bit Less Than the Best
Mark Oliva | Muenchsteinach Deutschland | 02/25/2003
(3 out of 5 stars)
"One disagrees only reluctantly with another reviewer, but it simply is not true, that this CD offers "a great rare look at unreleased songs that Jack wrote while rambling around with Woody Guthrie!" There are, in fact, no songs at all that Ramblin' Jack wrote on this CD. RJE claims the authorship of precisely three numbers in the more than 50 years of his career: "912 Greens," "Cup of Coffee" and "Bleeker Street Blues." None of them are songs; all three are talking pieces. What is on this CD is a collection of traditional folk songs and works by such disparate folk, country and even rock musicians as Woody Guthrie, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Derroll Adams, Merle Travis, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, A.P. Carter and Ernest Tubb, all Vanguard studio recordings from 1964. The first 12 were released in the same year on vinyl on the LP Vanguard simply called "Jack Elliott." These same 12 songs also are available on Vanguard's "The Essential Ramblin' Jack Elliott," which is a better buy at a lower price. Please see my review of that album for my comments on these songs. The remaining 13 are outtakes from the same studio session, songs that Vanguard had not released until now. Of the 13, the highlights are Guthrie's "Hard, Ain't It Hard," Dylan's "Don't Think Twice," the Traditional "Railroad Bill," and Ray Charles' rock 'n' roll hit "I Got a Woman," also made famous to a certain extent by Elvis Presley. The first three of these four songs are the kind of solid music one expects from RJE, but all three are available in better performances on other RJE CDs. "I Got a Woman" is fun and interesting, but Ramblin' Jack's version is unlikely to add anything to the song's legacy or RJE's. In essence, one understands why these 13 first time releases were outtakes in 1964. They're all fine but as a whole, just a bit duller than most of his other vinyl work from these years. Of course, I wouldn't personally want to do without this CD, but then again, there are but a few RJE recordings I'm willing to have outside of my collection. If your interest is more casual, skip this CD and order "The Essential Ramblin' Jack Elliott" instead. It includes the best of this CD, and it goes one better by giving you the best of RJE's superlative April 30,1965 concert at New York City's Town Hall as well - at a better price."
"The Lost Songs Of The Ramblin' Man"
Mark Oliva | 07/03/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Take a trip with me in 1913! For those new to RJE or looking for rare Ramblin' tunes, well look no further! This is a great rare look at unreleased songs that Jack wrote while rambling around with Woody Guthrie! This is such a great find and proud to own it! This completes my Ramblin' collection. Stay away from The Essential Ramblin' Jack Elliott CD! It only has 1/4 of what this CD offers! As Jack says, "I've got's to ramble!""
Great and Great Fun
Eclectic | Bend, OR United States | 03/01/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you want the genuine article in folk singers, Elliott's your man, and these are some of his best. He'll also make you laugh - "I Got a Woman" is worth the price of the album if you've got a sense of humor. As you can tell from that statement, Elliott doesn't necessarily confine himself to the folk genre. When you're the best there is at what you do, you can afford the risks. Don't pass up a chance to see him perform in person if he comes your way. If you're not familiar with him, watch "The Ballad of Rambling Jack" before you go so you have an appreciation for his place in the history of folk music in this country and an understanding of the man himself."
Jack
James E. Hackney Jr. | Thonotosassa, FL United States | 03/28/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Jack Elliott is the last American troubador and this compliation shows why. He only wrote a few songs: his artistry -- live performance by performance -- is what sets him above all others. Mr. Zimmerman is a very good song writer... Jack, on the other hand, not only gave Woody Guthrie all of the credit, but also everyone else who's work he covered. The body of his work is a treasure beyond compare. (If only he could have consistenly showed up on time, perhaps he would have been legendary.)"
Track Listings (25) - Disc #1