Ramblin' Jack Elliott - I Stand Alone

They don't call him Ramblin' Jack because he travels around a lot, and they don't call him the Last Brooklyn Cowboy because he croons like his hero Gene Autry. You can't really acquire a taste for Elliott's briny, staggering voice--you just have to surrender to the persona. In his 75th year, that persona is in fine, witty, playful form. He laughs out loud at the lines "Now when I die, don't bury me at all / Just place me away in alcohol / My .44 put by my feet / Tell everyone I'm just asleep" and jokes with his physician on "Arthritis Blues" ("Doctor, doctor, get your X-ray machine / Feels so good, just about like morphine"). Turns out his guitar chops are tougher than his rheumatism: he bangs away at his acoustic like the last one-man band standing at the all-night hootenanny, though when a rare accompanist shares the spotlight--as do David Hidalgo on accordion, Nels Cline on Dobro, Flea on bass, DJ Bonebrake on drums, and Lucinda Williams and Corin Tucker on harmony vocals--the effect is like a cool chaser to his rotgut whiskey drawl. These dog songs, train songs, love songs, fleetingly remembered songs, and one original (the brief monologue "Woody's Last Ride") have been with him forever; they're funny even when tragic, soulful even when they turn tunefulness upside down. --Roy Kasten Amazon.com

Breakfast with Ramblin' Jack

I had breakfast with Jack, Sunday, August 10, 2008. Jack was in town for the Regina Folk Festival. I was @ The hotel he was staying at, for a pre-fest breakfast with friends & family, Jack came in for breakfast, we introduced ourselves & he kindly asked me to join him for breakfast!

I've been a long time fan of his since my teens and my older brother & I (deceased 1983) used to listen to his 'Young Brigham' album, and particularly the song '912 Greens' - a rambling talking Kerouacesque blues that had a profound emotional resonance for the both of us. He didn't play '912 Greens' at his concert, but he did play his wonderful version of 'Don't Think Twice, It's Alright' from that album. Precious memories. 'I Stand Alone' is ample proof that Jack has still got it and is aging like a very,very, fine old wine. I also gave him a copy of a cd: 'Living in The Boom Times' - a country/roots project I played on. Hope he likes it. August 11, 2008

A collection of scraps from the editing floor

This "album" is a collection of brief samplings for a total of half hour of listening. The title is rebuted by the great side-men (and woman) who are also on this recording. Just when I think the song is developing a real drive and emotional momentum, the cut ends and goes on to something with a completely different mood.

Yes, Ramblin Jack is great. But this one is put together like some kind of teaser for a real album. January 23, 2008

This is the best new CD I've heard in a long time

This is my introduction to Ramblin' Jack Elliott and it is everything I'm looking for in a new album. During my 4th listening I became completely overcome with emotion, cried even. I'm embarrassed that it has taken me so long to check his stuff out. He's my new favorite artist. June 16, 2007

Jack Elliot in Classic Form

Few artists could get away with boldly proclaiming "I Stand Alone" as Ramblin' Jack Elliot does on this release. All it takes is one listen to validate that he does stand alone, in song selection, delivery and musicianship. This album is refreshing because one finds a lot of overlap on his other releases--Jack Elliot standards like "1913 Massacre", "Solider's Last Letter", "Buffalo Skinners", etc.--and for good reason, they are all wonderful songs that he has made his own through his many years of playing them. But what sets this album, apart, for me, are the new songs Jack gives us that we haven't heard before. "Ol' Blue", for example, is in my opinion arguably one of the most beautiful songs he has ever recorded, and showcases Cisco Houston's talents as a songwriter. Other standouts include "Mr. Garfield", "Hong Kong Blues" and "My Old Dog & Me". And though he includes some of his favorites that he has recorded before, they are also some of his best - relatively obscure songs like "Arthritis Blues" and "Rake and Ramblin' Boy". Rounding everything out are some country-western classics that veer from Elliot's roots leanings, particularly "Driving Nails in My Coffin", "Careless Darling" and "Remember Me". The fact that Elliot's daughter Ilyana urged him to make this album is a nice footnote to another sweet release by a true master. February 2, 2007

Old Jack

This is a sweet and melancholy CD from an older Jack Elliot, same great voice, great energy, singing about old man things. January 16, 2007

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