Odetta And The Blues - Odetta (1LP Vinyl)

Odetta And The Blues by Odetta.

Odetta stepped into the studio in 1962 and delivered something that reframed how audiences understood her voice. Best known as a towering figure of folk revival, here she leans fully into the blues, backed by a band of seasoned jazz players who knew how to swing behind a singer. The result, "Odetta And The Blues," finds that unmistakable contralto set against horns, piano, and a rhythm section, moving from raw lament to easy, rolling groove.

The material spans a rich cross section of blues and traditional song. Side A opens with the aching "Hard, Oh Lord" and carries through "How Long Blues" and "Leavin' This Mornin'," while the flip side offers gems like "Yonder Come The Blues," "Make Me A Pallet On The Floor," and the weary, timeless "Nobody Knows When You're Down And Out." Across twelve songs, Odetta plays every emotional register, and the arrangements give her room to command each one.

The personnel reads like a jazz honor roll. Buck Clayton lends his trumpet, Vic Dickenson his trombone, and Herb Hall his clarinet, giving these sides a warm, front line brass presence. Dick Wellstood sits at the piano, Ahmed Abdul-Malik holds down the bass, and Shep Shepherd keeps time on drums. Orrin Keepnews produced the session, with Ray Fowler engineering the recording and Ed Michel contributing the original liner notes. Ken Deardoff handled the design and Chuck Stewart supplied the photography on the back liner.

This particular reissue arrives courtesy of Vinyl Me, Please, chosen as the Classics Record of the Month for April 2023. It is an all analog production, with lacquers cut directly from the original master tapes by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound. Pressed on 180 gram black vinyl in the Czech Republic, it carries the care and fidelity collectors expect from a serious reissue campaign.

The package extends beyond the record itself. It includes an obi strip and a foil stamped jacket, along with an exclusive listening notes booklet written by Susannah Young that adds context and depth to the session. These touches make it a thoughtful object as much as a listening experience, the kind of release designed to be lived with rather than simply filed away.

Issued under license by Craft Recordings, a Concord company, this edition preserves a 1962 recording that deserves a place alongside the great blues vocal albums. For anyone who has only known Odetta through her folk work, this is the record that reveals another side entirely, and for longtime admirers, it remains an essential document of her range and power.

Pressing Details:
Track Listing:
A1. Hard, Oh Lord
A2. Believe I'll Go
A3. Oh, Papa
A4. How Long Blues
A5. Hogan's Alley
A6. Leavin' This Mornin'
B1. Oh, My Babe
B2. Yonder Come The Blues
B3. Make Me A Pallet On The Floor
B4. Weeping Willow Blues
B5. Go Down Sunshine
B6. Nobody Knows When You're Down And Out

Credits:
Ahmed Abdul-Malik - Bass
Herb Hall - Clarinet
Ken Deardoff - Design
Shep Shepherd - Drums
Ray Fowler - Engineer [Recording]
Ryan Smith (2) - Lacquer Cut By
Ed Michel - Liner Notes
Chuck Stewart - Photography By [Back Liner]
Dick Wellstood - Piano
Orrin Keepnews - Producer
Vic Dickenson - Trombone
Buck Clayton - Trumpet
Odetta - Vocals

Notes:
VMP, Classics Record of the Month April 2023

Includes an obi strip and listening notes booklet

Foil stamped

Hype Sticker:
-(AAA) Lacquers Cut From the Original Master Tapes by Ryan Smith, Sterling Sound
-Pressed on 180g Black Vinyl
-Exclusive Listening Notes Booklet by Susannah Young

Rear jacket:
℗2023 & ©1962 Craft Recordings, a Concord company. 10 Lea Avenue, Suite 300, Nashville, TN 37210
All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws. Made in the Czech Republic.

Artist: Odetta

Format: 1LP

Genre: Blues

Label: Riverside Records

Catalog Number: CR00585

Release Year: 2023

Country: United States

Condition: Sealed (New)