Of course, these recordings come from a time when artists approached things differently. Woody would probably have been glad to put down some of his bestknown songs as a way of spreading the political word, with little idea of how much he was to influence later, far better-heeled chaps.
The key songs here are All You Fascists and Better World AComin’, where he sets out his stall: it’s everybody’s personal responsibility to be part of the move towards better times. But if you think this is just a collection of earnest ballads, try his cheerful dancer Buffalo Gals, or his happy take on Leadbelly’s Take A Whiff On Me. Dust Bowl Blues, Hard Travelin’ and Hard, Ain’t It Hard are all central to his cause of giving more power to working people through action, unification and education, which was why he was singing in the first place. Important music that reached further than he would have expected.
