Woody Guthrie
Live Wire
Rounder Records
www.rounder.com
By George W. Harris

This cd is sort of like a musical scene from the play Our Town-a sample
of a typical performance of vintage Woody Guthrie. Originally
discovered in 2001 after being hidden in a closet for scores of years,
this 1949 concert from Newark, New Jersey was immaculately restored
from the original wire spools, creating a “you are there” atmosphere.

The concert itself is intriguing in the sense that not only does it
feature some excellent performances, such as “Tom Joad” and “The Great
Dust Storm,” but it also reveals the philosophies of the folk movement.
Long discussions by the emcee and Woody are interspersed between the
musical stories which can be interesting and revealing or a bit feel
good pedantic. The songs themselves are riveting, as Guthrie, the
American minstrel that he was, makes you feel like you’re at a campfire
as he tells stories of injustice in “1913 Massacre.” His progressive
sensibilities are on display on “Jesus Christ” where he sees Him as a
persecuted social reformer instead of God in the flesh, another victim
of injustice. For these reasons alone, the concert is a wondrous time
capsule of an era and world view, setting the stage for artists like
Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.