Well, the story goes on from there to include both the Russians and Chinese making use of tape to adhere roaches to missiles, Lyndon Johnson and Hubert Humphrey, (President and Vice President respectively of the United States as the incident took place prior to the 1968 election of Nixon) and everybody else running the government licking and sucking on that giant roach and getting high and devising literally blanket protection for the continental United States. That image alone, of LBJ and Hubert Humphrey getting stoned, makes this song worth listening to, but for those of you like me who have heard the "traditional" version countless times, it's a treat to hear a version unlike any I've ever heard before.
Tales Of '69 is not only great because of the different versions of old favourites it includes alongside songs that have never been released before, it's also a chance to take a glimpse back in time to when things were a whole lot different then they are now. Hearing a young Arlo Guthrie singing some of the songs that we've all come to identify with him when they were newly written makes you appreciate even more how he's able to still keep them sounding fresh 40 years later. Young or old, Arlo is a delight to listen to and this disc is no exception.
You can pre-order your copy of Tales Of '69 from Rising Son Records.
Article comments
1 - Cody Conard
sweet review, I was just thinking about him lately, with Woodstock coming up and everything.
2 - Richard Marcus
Funny thing is this disc is slated for release exactly forty days to the day when he performed at Woodstock - 18th of August.
3 - Bliffle
I used to sit around listening to "Alices restaurant" with my kids at Thanksgiving. It was a big favorite of theirs. Another favorite was Hoyt Axton: "work your fingers to the bone and whatdya get...bony fingers, bony fingers". Now they're much too mature and adult for such nonsense. Maybe I should try "Dead skunk in the middle of the road".
4 - Cindy
Great review Richard. I think I'll get it. I loved Alice's Restaurant. My uncle used to play it and sing it for us. It would be interesting to hear another version.