A Farewell To An Unrepetant Wobblie
Alfred Johnson | boston, ma | 01/13/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The first paragraph here has been used in reviewing other Rosalie Sorrels CDs in this space.
"My first association of the name Rosalie Sorrels with folk music came, many years ago now, from hearing the recently departed folk singer/storyteller/ songwriter and unrepentant Wobblie (IWW) Utah Phillips mention his long time friendship with her going back before he became known as a folksinger. I also recall that combination of Sorrels and Phillips as he performed his classic "Starlight On The Rails" and she his also classic "If I Could Be The Rain" on a PBS documentary honoring the Café Lena in Saratoga, New York, a place that I am also very familiar with for many personal and musical reasons. Of note here: it should be remembered that Rosalie saved, literally, many of the compositions that Utah left helter-skelter around the country in his "bumming" days."
That said, what could be better than to have Rosalie pay musical tribute to one of her longest and dearest folk friends, her old comrade Utah Phillips, someone who it is apparent from this beautiful little CD was on the same wavelength as that old unrepentant Wobblie. Here Rosalie takes a wide scattering of Utah's work from various times and places and gives his songs and storytelling her own distinctive twist. For example? Well, right from the first song "Starlight On The Trail" about being adrift in America in the latter part of the 20th century with its prologue taken from some thoughts on the writings of author Thomas Wolfe (of "You Can't Go Home Again" fame). Or the stirring "He Comes Like The Rain", a fair description of Utah himself if one thinks about it. Or to get political (and worry about the next generations of children as well) "Enola Gay". Or political memory about the forgotten "pre-mature anti-fascist" heroes of the Abraham Lincoln Battalion of the International Brigades that fought in Spain when it counted in "Eddie's Song". Finally, how about the appropriate "Ashes On The Sea" complete with Kate Wolf/Woody Guthrie story. If there were more than a five star spot here I would click it. Utah, rest easy, Rosalie did good, she did very good by you here. Adieu, old working class warrior.
"
A Great Memorial to Utah Phillips
Arthur Frank | Chicago, IL USA | 12/12/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Strangers in Another Country by Rosalie Sorrels is a fitting personal homage to her friend and fellow performer Utah Phillips. She presents his songs and some of his stories with her personal take, based on their years of writing and singing together. Thoroughly enjoyable."
Track Listings (22) - Disc #1