Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues

Studio album by Odetta

Released

1956 (original),
February 6, 1996,
February 1, 2005 (re-releases)

Recorded

San Francisco, California,
September 1956

Genre

Folk, blues, vocal, calypso

Length

45:14 (reissue)

Label

Tradition
TLP 1010 (LP)
Rykodisc 1004 (1996 CD)
V.I. Music 450661 (2005 CD)

Producer

Dean Gitter

Odetta chronology

Original cover (1956)
The Tin Angel (Odetta & Larry) (1954)	Sings Ballads and Blues (1956)	At the Gate of Horn (1957)
The vinyl cover of Ballads and Blues

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	^[1]

Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues is the debut solo album by American folk singer Odetta, first released in 1956.

Like much of Odetta's early work, Ballads and Blues combines traditional songs (e.g. spirituals) with blues covers. Some songs on this album were also recorded for Odetta & Larry's 1954 album The Tin Angel.

The initial vinyl release has tracks 1-8 as side A, then tracks 9-16 as side B (the "Spiritual Trilogy" being counted as one track, a medley). The "enhanced" CD version of this album, released in 2005, contains four bonus tracks and has a slightly different cover with a different photo of the singer. Some tracks are included on the Collectables re-release The Best of Odetta.

Bob Dylan singled this album out as one of his favorites by Odetta; indeed, it was albums like this that inspired him to play folk music instead of rock 'n' roll.^[2]

Track listing

"Santy Anno" (Traditional) – 1:55
"If I Had a Ribbon Bow" (Huey Prince, Lou Singer) – 2:42
"Muleskinner Blues" (Jimmie Rodgers) – 2:51
"Another Man Done Gone" (Traditional) – 2:11
"Shame and Scandal" (Traditional) – 2:23
"Jack o' Diamonds" (Traditional) – 3:15
"'Buked and Scorned" (Traditional) – 2:40
"Easy Rider" (Traditional) – 5:06
"Joshua" (Traditional) – 1:53
"Hound Dog" (Traditional) – 3:50
"Glory, Glory" (Traditional) – 2:12
"Alabama Bound" (Huddie Ledbetter) – 1:42
"Been in the Pen" (Traditional) – 2:32
"Deep Blue Sea" (Traditional) – 3:00
"God's Gonna Cut You Down" (Traditional) – 1:51
Spiritual Trilogy: "Oh, Freedom", "Come and Go With Me", "I'm on My Way" (Traditional) – 6:06

2005 CD bonus tracks

"He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" (Traditional)' – 1:53
"Take This Hammer" (Ledbetter) – 3:27
"Deep River" (Traditional) – 3:00
"Chilly Winds" (Traditional) – 2:41

Personnel

Odetta Holmes – vocals, acoustic guitar, hand claps

References

Odetta

Studio albums	The Tin Angel Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues At the Gate of Horn My Eyes Have Seen Ballad for Americans and Other American Ballads Christmas Spirituals Odetta and the Blues Sometimes I Feel Like Cryin' One Grain of Sand Odetta Sings Folk Songs It's a Mighty World Odetta Sings of Many Things Odetta Sings Dylan Odetta Odetta Sings the Blues Odetta Sings Blues Everywhere I Go Looking for a Home

Live albums	Odetta at Carnegie Hall Odetta at Town Hall Odetta in Japan The Essential Odetta Odetta at the Best of Harlem Movin' It On To Ella Women in (E)motion Gonna Let It Shine

Compilation albums	Odetta The Best of Odetta The Best of Odetta: Ballads and Blues The Best of the Vanguard Years Livin' with the Blues Absolutely the Best The Tradition Masters Best of the M.C. Records Years 1999–2005 Vanguard Visionaries

Filmography	Cinerama Holiday Festival The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman No Direction Home

Television	The Dick Cavett Show The Johnny Cash Show Later... with Jools Holland Politically Incorrect (with Bill Maher) Late Show with David Letterman The Tavis Smiley Show

Related topics	Discography Odetta & Larry Newport Folk Festival

Book:Odetta

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