Pete Seeger's acknowledged major influences are
Leadbelly and
Woody Guthrie, and he performed their songs frequently. In 1968, Folkways Records combed through its extensive catalog of
Seeger recordings to compile two collections,
Pete Seeger Sings Leadbelly and
Pete Seeger Sings Woody Guthrie. The
Guthrie album is largely drawn from live performances at which
Seeger reminisces about a predecessor who was also a peer early in his career. The two were both members of
the Almanac Singers, for example, and there developed such songs as "The Sinking of the Reuben James" and "Union Maid." Later, in
the Weavers,
Seeger helped make a hit out of
Guthrie's "So Long, It's Been Good to Know You," which he also sings here. Of course, well-known
Guthrie favorites like "Roll on, Columbia" (complete with anecdotes about the circumstances of its composition) and "This Land Is Your Land" are also included. The sound quality on these disparate tracks can be less than optimum, but
Seeger is an ideal interpreter of the best of
Woody Guthrie's songwriting, ranging from topical to humorous to children's material.