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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Seminal 1960s folk-rock document which, like Don Maclean's American Pie, is now known almost exclusively for its title track: an epic 18-minute narrative, anecdotal in style, based on the singer's own experiences during 1966, when he'd been barred from the US Army due to his criminal record (something to do with the unlawful dumping of garbage). By turns hysterically funny and savagely satirical, it inspired a film, directed by Arthur Penn and starring Guthrie, and its various political barbs can still draw blood today. But the album also contains two magnificent examples of Guthrie's talents as a songwriter, rather than a commentator: both "Chillin' of the Evening" and the gorgeous, sweeping "Highway in the Wind" are more lyrical, evocative and beautiful than virtually anything he would write subsequently. Vocally and instrumentally, his style seems poised equally between two great influences--his father (folk legend Woodie Guthrie) and Bob Dylan, Guthrie's heir and successor; his vision, however, was all his own. --Andrew McGuire
Product Description
Legendary 1967 debut album from Woody's son
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
A truly extraordinary Cd, one that literally marked an era. Laughing-out-loud-totally-hilarious-"Alice's Restaurant" by Arlo Guthrie. Such a truly funny, original and witty piece of work, that it still stands out as good as ever, even now. In fact, I was born the year it was recorded, and have lived none of the particular brand of Vietnam-infested political stupidity it describes, but I still do laugh out loud each time I listen to it.
I was surprised to discover that this great "comedian is in fact a sensitive and gentle balladeer as well. I mean the rest of the trucks are a collection of sweet and mellow folky ballads - even though the arrangements do sound a little too rusty and completely dated... The true gem of the album is of course the famous title-track about the famous "massacre". In it, Arlo Guthrie, is using humor and wit to touch upon some pretty serious as well as painful truths about the workings of the "system", that are as contemporary as ever. The nineteen-minutes long song, describes how he ended up in prison on account of taking out the trash on a Thanks Givings , and how the "littering" charge in his background got him in real trouble at the draft office... He delivers his unbelievably hilarious lines with such conviction, that you can't possibly escape, he'll have you laughing out loud in no time! A comic genius!
But let's not forget, this is the son of the giant Woody Cuthrie we are talking about! What a unique soul his dad was too! The raw truth of his narratives, the nakeness of his prose! In fact some of his lyrics and talking song-stories about love and intimacy (written something like sixty years ago ), would probably be banned from the airwaves if he was still alive as too explicit! A brave originally charismatic soul with a natural gift.
I was surprised to discover that this great "comedian is in fact a sensitive and gentle balladeer as well. I mean the rest of the trucks are a collection of sweet and mellow folky ballads - even though the arrangements do sound a little too rusty and completely dated... The true gem of the album is of course the famous title-track about the famous "massacre". In it, Arlo Guthrie, is using humor and wit to touch upon some pretty serious as well as painful truths about the workings of the "system", that are as contemporary as ever. The nineteen-minutes long song, describes how he ended up in prison on account of taking out the trash on a Thanks Givings , and how the "littering" charge in his background got him in real trouble at the draft office... He delivers his unbelievably hilarious lines with such conviction, that you can't possibly escape, he'll have you laughing out loud in no time! A comic genius!
But let's not forget, this is the son of the giant Woody Cuthrie we are talking about! What a unique soul his dad was too! The raw truth of his narratives, the nakeness of his prose! In fact some of his lyrics and talking song-stories about love and intimacy (written something like sixty years ago ), would probably be banned from the airwaves if he was still alive as too explicit! A brave originally charismatic soul with a natural gift.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Alice's Restaurant is a classic and unique album - I've loved it ever since my sister bought it for me on its first release on vinyl LP in 1967. I even picked up the chords on my guitar as probably millions of others did. This CD I bought for my son-in-law and now I've got to buy another copy for myself. Son of Woody Guthrie and born into musical family, Arlo is a genius in his own right. This is a masterpiece of storytelling, guitar playing and 'dark' humour. The other tracks are brillaint too!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Download
After nearly 30 years of NOT hearing this I came alive again! Where are the yoong protesters of today, is satire and sarcasm someething that died with Nixon and Bush (snr)
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A totally sixties album.
This is totally bodacious album. The title song is a good yarn set to music and although I wasn't born in the sixties I felt I had some connection to the 'right on' era.
Published 2 months ago by M. D. Finney
Not what you would expect!
My wife had been hankering after the original Alace's Restaurant track for ages; But this aint it!
It's later and live
It's later and live
Published 3 months ago by Scritty politici
A piece of history
Classic album to own if only for the title track. If you are new to Arlo though, suggest you buy the "Best of" which has the main "Alice" song plus an improved version of... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Barry Spall
A "one track album"
For the sake of the title track alone - all 18½ minutes of it - this has got to be in your collection. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Greysuit
THIS IS NOT THE SOUNDTRACK ALBUM
Amazon have listed this as the soundtrack to the film but it is the album the film was based on . The Soundtrack is now deleted it has a white cover and more than 7 tracks. Read more
Published 19 months ago by jellybean 1
Alice's Restaurant
A good re-hashed version of the architypal sixties anti-war protest song, keeping all the essentials of the original but improved in sound quality, pieced together with some fine... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mr Kelvin S Taylor
Alice's Restaurant
Arlo, son of Woody, Guthrie is a nutter as his music will attest. A handful of draft-dodging mayhem disguised as tunes. Read more
Published on 29 Mar 2009 by Mr. J. N. Slater
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