Various
A Tribute To Utah Phillips
Righteous Babe Records

Bruce ‘Utah’ Phillips (1935-2008) was a folk-bard of few equals and is sadly missed. With his sympathetic stance for the unions, the working classes, the railroad hobo and how natural resources have been mined at the expense of nature and people living there, I can imagine he would have had plenty to say about today’s shenanigans in the world of finance - as the reward for failure has been bonus payments for a group driven by greed. However, that is another story, and one sure to gain scrutiny from a host of today’s singer-songwriters observing their actions.

Phillips wrote songs covered by the likes of Emmylou Harris, Hazel & Alice, Ian Tyson and Tom Waits and in latter years recorded albums with Mark Ross, Rosalie Sorrels and Ani Difranco (and it’s on her label this album is issued). Poignant and sharp as knife his classics ‘The Telling Takes Me Home’, ‘If I Could Be The Rain’ and from his wealth of western fare ‘Goodnight Loving Trail’ and on his lamenting on the era of the train ‘Daddy What’s A Train? are all featured. On the same line of thought (trains) such stellar compositions as ‘Starlight On The Rails’ and ‘Hobo’s Last Ride’ like with resolute, standing tall tunes as ‘Dump The Bosses Off Your Back’ and the bitter and torn anthem-esque classic ‘All Used Up’ all strike winning runs for the blue collar nation. Phillips like Woody Guthrie and Billy Bragg was true to his roots throughout his life.

When it comes to lyrics few come better than ‘Phoebe Snow’, ‘She’ll Never Be Mine’ (featuring the terrific vocal harmonies of Harry Tuft and Jack Stanesco) and with his old friend, Rosalie Sorrels warbling her lower tones ‘The Soldier’s Return’ are simply magical. Granted, not every piece is as slick and melodic as Harris and Black’s rendition of ‘Green Rolling Hills Of West Virginia’ or, as incisively as John McCutcheon on ‘All Used Up’. Likewise, there is the heart-tugging sadness exuded on ‘The Telling Takes Me Home’ (Ed Tickett), but each and every act play their part to help bring the work of this long time hero of mine to the bigger audience he deserves. Who, if they are lucky may go out and discover his recording of such classics as ‘Enola Gay’, ‘Moose Turd Pie’ and the albums ‘El Capitan’ and ‘Good Though’.

www.utahphillips.org
www.righteousbabe.com/artists/utahphillips/tribute/