Emily: Ramblin' Jack Elliott is an early folk singer in the vein of Bob Dylan, with country undertones that also reminded me of Johnny Cash. Jack Takes the Floor is a bit like At Folsom Prison, due to the spoken introductions to a few of the songs and the live sound culled from performances rather than studios. However, Ramblin' Jack doesn't have the songwriting prowess of either Cash or Dylan. He mainly reinterprets traditional folk songs or presents somewhat humorous observations of everyday life. I didn't find this approach too interesting, but it definitely helped lay the groundwork for the masterful songwriting that later came from the genre.
Favorite Tracks: Cocaine; Salty Dog; Dink's Song
Zack: Ramblin’ Jack Elliott apparently had the same
mentor as Bob Dylan – Woody Guthrie, whose works we crossed on Mermaid Avenue –
but he’s definitely more of a pure folk artist. Wikipedia describes him as an
“interpretive troubadour” compared to Dylan’s independent songwriting, and that
description is dead on. Jack Takes the Floor features two covers of even older
songs and two renditions of traditional folk songs to go along with seven
original songs that all sound like they could have been passed down for decades
anyway. Jack Takes the Floor is the type of album that listeners of classic
folk or country would enjoy and anyone interested in the history of American
music must check out.
Favorite Tracks: Salty Dog; New York Town; Cocaine
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