Best of the Vanguard Years
Odetta is one of the last American folk singers with ties to the authentic folk tradition. Mentored in the early '50s byWoody GuthriecroniesRamblin' Jack ElliottandPete Seeger(whose "If I Had a Hammer" is covered here in a strangely unmelodic manner), as well asHarry Belafonte, Odetta is easily identified by her husky voice--a strong influence on bothJoan ArmatradingandTracy Chapman. While with Vanguard, she made a spiritual claim to tunes already associated withLeadbelly("Midnight Special," "Cotton Fields"), not to mention slave spirituals, pop gospel ("He's Got The Whole World"), and even "Battle Hymn of the Republic." Classic rock fans will recognize "Down on Me," which was later electrified byJanis Joplin. The best tracks here, however, are the four unreleased gems that close the CD, running from terrific jazzy blues and R&B; (including the great standard "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out") to her take on "House of the Risin' Sun."--Bill Holdship