Woody Guthrie Centenial Commemorated with Smithsonain Folkways Release – Book, Poster, 3CD set, Shirt, 6 Never Before Heard Original Songs

Woodrow Wilson “Woody” Guthrie (1912–1967), who would have turned 100 on July 14, 2012, wrote songs that became the soundtrack of an era and permanent fixtures of American identity. His early Dust Bowl ballads, along with more than 3,000 work songs, union and labor songs, political and philosophical songs, anti-war songs, anti-Nazi songs, love songs and children’s songs, marked the pulse of hard-hit people in times of economic depression and war. Many have embraced “This Land Is Your Land” as America’s second national anthem. Woody was ordinary, yet extraordinary — a traveler, itinerant worker, radio performer, military enlistee, thinking man, gifted visual artist, a husband and father, and prolific writer who left his mark on music, culture and politics. He struggled with family tragedies, poverty and personal demons.

In honor of the Woody Guthrie Centennial, a year-long celebration of Woody’s 100^th birthday, Smithsonian Folkways presents an in-depth commemorative collection of songs, photos and essays on one of America’s most treasured 20^th-century icons.

‘Woody at 100: The Woody Guthrie Centennial Collection’ is a 150-page large-format book containing three CDs with 57 tracks, including Woody’s most important recordings such as the complete version of “This Land Is Your Land,” “Pretty Boy Floyd,” “Pastures of Plenty,” “Hard Travelin’,” “Jesus Christ,” “I Ain’t Got No Home in This World Anymore,” and “Riding in My Car.” The set also contains 21 previously unreleased performances and six never-before-heard original songs, including Woody’s first known — and recently discovered — recordings from 1939.

The Smithsonian Folkways archives hold the largest collection of Woody’s recordings (he recorded hundreds of songs for Folkways Records founder Moses Asch).

Visit folkways.si.edu/woodyat100 to:

Listen to the unreleased original song “Them Big City Ways”

Purchase pre-order* packages of ‘Woody at 100’, including a limited-edition poster, t-shirt, and instant album download.