In the wake of Woody Guthrie’s death in 1967, “Woody’s children” – as daughter Nora Guthrie calls them – gathered at Carnegie Hall in 1968 and the Hollywood Bowl in 1970 to celebrate his life and music.
These musical progeny were legends in the making, including Bob Dylan and the Band, Pete Seeger, Odetta, Richie Havens, Tom Paxton and many more, all demonstrating the lessons they learned from Woody.
Bear Records has released an extraordinary document – a better term than box set in this instance- that captures both concerts, and includes almost 80 tracks, recorded remembrances and two substantive illustrated books. It’s pretty special to hear the Band before its “Big Pink” album debut backing up Dylan on “Grand Coulee Dam,” “Dear Mrs. Roosevelt” and “I Ain’t Got No Home,” but there are treasures throughout.
We don’t often post trailers on our site, but this Bear Family video nicely captures what’s so special about this set:
