Ani DiFranco conceived this splice and dice pastiche from a 1996 performance at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum when performers as diverse as herself and
Bruce Springsteen gathered for a tribute concert devoted to 20th century political folk pioneer
Woody Guthrie. Spoken word patter by actor
Tim Robbins and activist/singer
Country Joe McDonald, among others, dart in and out between songs by
Guthrie's son
Arlo and protégé
Ramblin' Jack Elliot. Contributions from rock ringers include
Springsteen (he does the apolitical children's song "Riding in My Car" and the migrant worker anthem "Deportee"),
Billy Bragg ("Against The Law"),
Indigo Girls with
DiFranco ("Ramblin' Round"), and
David Pirner (formerly of
Soul Asylum with a highly respectable "Pretty Boy Floyd").
Guthrie's music has clearly touched musicians of every generation and genre and with a little help from
DiFranco and technology, his music is still accessible in the current century. ~ Denise Sullivan