New (Germany only) Arlo Guthrie/Wenzel CD, recorded LIVE in 2006

Just received this CD by mail from CONTRÄR MUSIK (highly recommended German mail-order company for folk-related recordings -- please support them, rather than the "major players"!):

ARLO GUTHRIE & WENZEL,

"Every 100 Years - Live auf der Wartburg" (Sep. 19, 2006)

(matrosenblau CD948582, Vertrieb: Indigo Musik GmbH)

"Every 100 Years" documents a rather unusual musical friendship: U.S. American songwriter, Woodstock veteran and son of folk legend Woody Guthrie meets East German songpoet.



From Michael Kleff's liner-notes:

It all began in February, 2002 at the Festival Musik & Politik in Berlin. At a show shared by Billy Bragg and Wenzel, Nora Guthrie took notice of the German performer. The way he connected to the audience reminded her other dad. Woody Guthrie. She then invited Wenzel to visit the Guthrie Archives in New York. Wenzel agreed and instantly began researching Guthrie's unpublished lyrics to compose new music to. 

The audible result: the CD "Ticky Tock" contained never before published Guthrie lyrics, translated and set to music by Wenzel. Wenzel returned to the U.S. in February, 2003 as a guest artist appearing at the concert "Nashville Sings Woody" which took place at the legendary Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. 

Performing there with Woody's son, Arlo Guthrie, the idea of a joint tour was born.

Arlo said after their first meeting: "I usually rely on my sister's judgement, but I immediately could tell what a good musician he is as well. I thought it might be interesting to work with someone whose music is pretty different than my own, and which has a completely different background." 

And Wenzel thought: "Sarcasm and poetry connect us. I like the relaxed nature of the Americans." It took another three years before the time was right. 

In June, 2006, the two toured under the title "Together". This live recording reveals the mutual fascination of this unusual pairing. In a rave review, a critic summed it up: "A whole world of poetry and lyricism, coarseness and delicate irony, magical and tangible sounds let us in and quietly closed the door behind us." (Die Welt) 

CD 1

1. ARLO GUTHRIE: Green, Green Rocky Road (trad./Arlo Guthrie)
2. ARLO GUTHRIE: In Times Like These (Arlo Guthrie)
3. WENZEL: Nächtliche Überfahrt (Wenzel)
4. ARLO GUTHRIE: Ridin' Down The Canyon (Gene Autry/Smiley Burnette)
5. ARLO GUTHRIE & WENZEL: Ninety Mile Wind/Neuzig Meilen Orkan (Woody Guthrie/Wenzel)
6. ARLO GUTHRIE: The Red Haired Boy (trad.)
7. ARLO GUTHRIE & WENZEL: Every 100 Years/Erst nach 100 Jahrn (Woody Guthrie/Wenzel)
8. ARLO GUTHRIE: St. Louis Tickle (Barney & Seymore)
9. WENZEL: Herbstlied (Wenzel)
10. ARLO GUTHRIE: St. James Infirmary (trad./Arlo Guthrie)
11. WENZEL: In meiner schwarzen Stunde (Arlo Guthrie/Wenzel)
12. ARLO GUTHRIE: Darkest Hour (Arlo Guthrie)
13. ARLO GUTHRIE & WENZEL: My Peace / Mein Frieden (Woody Guthrie/Wenzel)
14. ARLO GUTHRIE & WENZEL: Goodnight Irene (Huddie Ledbetter)

I had the pleasure of being able to attend the Frankfurt concert of the joint Arlo Guthrie/Wenzel tour on Sep. 06, 2006 and to interview both artists on Sep. 07, 2006:

MY RAW & UNEDITED ARLO GUTHRIE INTERVIEW
MY EQUALLY RAW & UNEDITED WENZEL INTERVIEW 
(German language, obviously)

ADDITIONAL LINKS:
Reviews of Wenzel's "Ticky Tock" CD (at woodyguthrie.org)

NPR's Weekend Edition, Apr. 5, 2003:
"A German Twist on Woody Guthrie" (contains links to listen to program or to download as mp3).

WENZEL's OFFICIAL SITE

ARLO GUTHRIE'S BACK-CATALOGUE (at risingsonrecords.com)