Folk music legend Woody Guthrie was a family man, and
this collection of his songs, performed by a cast of outstanding artists, is a
warm and hearty celebration of both family and children.
Daddy-O Daddy! is a lovingly created recording featuring plenty of
redone and resurrected Guthrie songs, in addition to six previously-unrecorded
tunes. Each of the featured artists brings a unique style to the songs. The
result is a pleasing mix of folk, reggae, R&B, and more.
Some of our favorites are performed by Taj
Mahal, whose gruff, bluesy style
shines on "Don't You Put Me Down" and the affectionate "Little Sack O Sugar".
The latter is ideal as a loving, giggling, child-in-the-lap song ("little sack
of sugar, I could eat you up"). Also notable are two very proud songs about
growing up, "Bigger", performed by Kim Wilson, and "Dry Bed" sung by Billy Bragg
and the Blokes. Another beautifully proud and powerful song is entitled "My
Daddy (Flies a Ship in the Sky)". The poem, "Howdy Little Newlycome", lovingly
recited by Woody Guthrie himself, both opens and ends the recording. Other tracks
explore the alphabet and counting with fun wordplay.
Families will thoroughly enjoy this powerful collection of songs. Emotional,
warm, silly, hearty, earthy—Daddy-O Daddy! has it all.
