Pass the Paper Bag

It's hard to define Folk Music but one song that, to me, strikes a chord in me, so to speak,  as having the essence of what Folk Music should be is Steve Goodman's "City of New Orleans."

Goodman, a bit of a cutie, died  at the young age of 36 from leukemia. 

The most famous version of "City of New Orleans" was that by Woody's son Arlo:

But the song's been done dozens of times. 
Probably my favorite classical rock and roll band is CCR.  John Fogarty, the front man, has since mellowed out (Looking out his backdoor, I guess).  Here he is with his family performing Goodman's tune:

Another John also did his usual beautiful job:

Jerry Reed gave the song his own distinctive mark:

While Sheryl Crow went all country with Willie Nelson:

Although I dearly love most of Judy Collins' renditions, this one seems (to me) to lack a genuineness even her vocals can't compensate for:

Pass the paper bag that hold the tequila....

cotton bag > plastic bag > paper bag

Great tunes and covers!  I saw Arlo play this at Carnegie Hall in 1975.  It was just him on the piano and when he finished the walls shook from so much applause.  Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

Great post batgirl !

Yeah , a great song indeed.

(I have even covered this song...honest ) It's relatively straightforward .

If memory serves , did Arlo Guthrie not play this at Woodstock ? Or was it Customs man ?

CCR also one of my favourite bands....love John Fogerty.

I haven't heard the Jerry Reed version in years. There was an AM radio station in my home town that used to have a hit list of folk tunes on Wednesday nights we'd listen to in my Grandpa's shop while we worked on the cars. The show was done by a friend of mine that is a radio producer in Charlotte NC now (I withhold his name). Those were the good ole days ...

It helps if you actually listen to the song.

Thanks, Rob. I think I watched a clip from that concert.

Well, this song was written in 1971 and Woodstock was in 1969.  I had to research this but at Woodstock Arlo did: Coming into Los Angeles, Wheel of Fortune, Walking Down the Line, Oh Mary, Don't You Weep, Every Hand in the Land and Amazing Grace.

I was born in Charlotte, NC.

I'm sure Goodman didn't have Morphy in mind when he wrote the song.  Rather, if he did, he might have written "playing chess with the old men in the club car."

What instrument(s) do you play? (you might want to head over to our Folk Music thread).

I play rhythm ( acoustic/electric ) guitar   " he doesn't want to make it cry , or sing "

Harmonica and one-handed synthesizer.

My avatar will tell you who my favourite musician is.

My favourite chess player is that chap from New Orleans. 

So, you're a Sultan of Swing?  Here's the song on ukulele

I hadn't heard about Ian Anderson in a long time. In fact, I really don't know many Scottish musicians... Sheena Easton and Donovan are only individuals I can think of but I know some songs by the Old Blind Dogs, the Corries and of all things, the Bay City Rollers. 

WOW !!  I'm not a huge fan of the Ukulele ( sounds a bit "tinny " if you ask me ) but.....

Sultans of Swing is one of my favourite songs and I was blown away by this version.

Respect where it is due.  Still sounds a bit tinny, though.  Ha ha ha.

The list of famous Scottish bands is quite exhaustive , but here are some highlights.....

Simple Minds ...The Sensational Alex Harvey Band....Hipsway....Nazareth...

The Average White Band....Primal Scream....The Incredible String Band....Big Country...

...Texas....The Waterboys....Wet Wet Wet.

The least said about The Proclaimers , the better.

The Corries are Irish.   ha ha ha.

shh.... don't tell them... it'll hurt their wee feelings.

I do know Nazareth.

Woody and tinny.  Did the bunny step into a monty python sketch? 

Don't worry. It'll wash off.

Having said that........

I just remembered......Have you heard of The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain ?

No ?  Well I recommend that you go to Youtube and Type in :  .......

....The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain Psycho Killer.

I was going to type the youtube video code thingy , but honestly it's about a

mile long.  If you thought Sultans of the Ukulele was good.........................

Please accept my apologies - I thought for a second that you mentioned the bay city rollers. Off to clean my glasses and have a lie down. 👍