The Best of Arlo Guthrie
Arlo Guthrie · 1977
51 min · 9 tracks · folk music
A collection of narrative-driven folk songs that blend humor, social commentary, and heartfelt storytelling.
Top tracks — play these first
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Alice’s Restaurant Massacree — This iconic 18-minute track blends storytelling with social critique, capturing the spirit of the counterculture movement while becoming synonymous with Thanksgiving traditions.
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City of New Orleans — Guthrie's rendition of this song revitalizes the classic through its nostalgic imagery and heartfelt delivery, resonating with themes of travel and loss in America.
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Coming Into Los Angeles — This track encapsulates the feeling of searching for freedom and belonging in the face of societal constraints, a recurring theme in Guthrie's work that reflects the turbulent 1970s.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases Guthrie's storytelling through folk music, though as a compilation, it lacks cohesive flow.
What we noticed
- Tracks vary in tempo but maintain a generally laid-back folk style, with acoustic instrumentation predominating throughout.
- 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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4/10
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
- long-form storytelling adventures
- reflective moments of nostalgia
- thought-provoking social commentary
- easygoing listening for gatherings
Maybe skip if you
- prefer quick, upbeat tracks
- dislike extended narrative songs
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1977, this compilation came at a time when Arlo Guthrie was already well-established following his breakout hit 'Alice's Restaurant' in 1967. This album encapsulates a decade of his work and highlights his unique contributions to the folk genre during a period marked by social change and musical evolution.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Woody Guthrie· Pete Seeger· Bob Dylan
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Alice’s Restaurant Massacree 18:36
- 2 Gabriel’s Mother’s Hiway Ballad #16 Blues 6:25
- 3 Cooper’s Lament 2:49
- 4 Motorcycle (Significance of the Pickle) Song 6:31
- 5 Coming Into Los Angeles 3:07
- 6 Last Train 3:07
- 7 City of New Orleans 4:33
- 8 Darkest Hour 4:09
- 9 Last to Leave 2:35
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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