1 week ago
15
A new collection of previously unheard Woody Guthrie home recordings will soon see the light of day. Woody at Home – Volume 1 & 2 arrives August 14th on Shamus Records and includes 22 previously unreleased tracks, among them a rendition of “This Land Is Your Land” featuring new verses.
The contents of Woody At Home were recorded from 1951 to 1952 in his Gravesend, Brooklyn home. Of the 22 tracks, 13 of them were only ever recorded at this New York residence. Guthrie employed one microphone and a reel-to-reel tape machine to capture the collected songs.
Steve Rosenthal transferred and produced the album while Jessica Thompson handled mixing and mastering duties. The duo utilized “pioneering software and antique tape machines to de-mix and mix the voice and guitar,” on Woody At Home to achieve a homespun but clearer sound.
“For Woody, to be at home producing his music at his leisure allowed a different focus and sense of safety,” a press release noted. “His inspirations might come from a newspaper article, a movie, a conversation, or just from observing people… Being a songwriter was more a matter of having something to say than developing special skills for Woody.”
Rosenthal noted the politics of our era as a reason for releasing the project now. “With recent advancements in sound restoration technology along with the current political climate, I believe this is the right time to release Woody’s home tapes,” he said. “These are not professional studio recordings, but instead, highlights from Woody’s audio sketchbooks. These are his words and music, shared with his publisher Howie Richmond in 1951, and happily in 2025 with us.”
The compilation is available to buy as a single CD, 1X LP, and digital download. It will also be available on streaming platforms. The release will also be accompanied by family photographs, art, and lyric sheets featuring Guthrie’s margin notes.
Later on July 14th, Woody Guthrie Publications will release “Deportee (Woody’s Home Tape),” (known to some as “Plane Wreck at Los Gatos”) the only known recording of the track, as the collection’s sole single. The song was written in 1948 about a plane crash that killed 32 people, many of whom were farm laborers.
Guthrie passed away in 1967 following a long struggle with Huntington’s disease.
Woody At Home – Volume 1 & 2 Artwork:
Woody At Home – Volume 1 & 2 Tracklist:
Volume 1
Side A
01. This Land Is Your Land (Woody’s Home Tape)
02. Biggest Thing That Man Has Ever Done
03. Howie, I’d Like To Talk To Yuh (spoken word)
04. Deportee (Woody’s Home Tape)
05. Great Ship
06. Pastures of Plenty
Side B
07. Jesus Christ
08. I’m a Child Ta Fight
09. Innocent Man
10. I’ve Got To Know
11. Backdoor Bum and the Big Landlord
Volume 2
Side A
01. I Just Want To Tell You Fellers (spoken word)
02. Peace Call
03. Ain’t Afraid To Die
04. Buoy Bells from Trenton
05. Einstein Theme Song (with spoken word)
06. One Little Thing An Atom Can’t Do
Side B
07. Forsaken Lover
08. My Id & My Ego
09. Lifebelt Washed Up
10. Funny Mountain
11. You Better Git Ready
English (US) · 