Top tracks — play these first
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Blowing In The Wind — Odetta’s rendition transforms this classic protest song into a poignant anthem, highlighting her ability to convey deep emotion through simplicity and power.
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900 Miles — This track exemplifies Odetta's mastery of storytelling within folk music, evoking themes of longing and travel with a hauntingly beautiful delivery.
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This Little Light Of Mine — Her interpretation imbues this spiritual with a sense of hope and resilience, making it an enduring symbol of empowerment during the civil rights era.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Odetta's powerful interpretations and the album's folk roots create a solid yet conventional listening experience.
What we noticed
- Several tracks include call-and-response structures, enhancing the communal feel typical of folk music.
- The pacing varies, with some tracks like '900 Miles' maintaining a steady tempo while others like 'This Little Light Of Mine' build to a more uplifting conclusion.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- warm storytelling through song
- short tracks for quick enjoyment
- nostalgic melodies for reflection
- heartfelt performances with depth
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced music
- seek complex arrangements
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1963, Odetta Sings Folk Songs was pivotal in Odetta's career, following her rise as a key figure in the American folk music revival. At this point, she had already established herself as a significant cultural icon, influencing artists across genres while also contributing to the civil rights movement through her music.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Bessie Smith· Billie Holiday· Mavis Staples
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 900 Miles 3:10
- 2 Blowing In The Wind 4:09
- 3 Maybe She Go 1:54
- 4 I Never Will Marry 1:55
- 5 Yes I See 2:52
- 6 Why Oh Why 2:05
- 7 Senandoah 3:46
- 8 The Golden Vanity 4:02
- 9 Roberta 3:07
- 10 Anthem Of The Rainbow 4:07
- 11 All My Trials 3:32
- 12 This Little Light Of Mine 3:03
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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