Jack Takes the Floor

Not available. But like his other stuff

Supernatural episode song worhty: Ol' Riley 3/5

Kinda country, kinda folky. Fun listen.

This guy feels as genuine as they come. Cool listen. Surprised I've never heard him before. He has a good sound and style.

He's not bad. Something about him sounds disingenuous. It was nice to listen to something so bare bones for a change. I enjoyed the albu., but I'd be surprised if I revisit it in the future.

This was fine, but why wouldn’t I just listen to Dylan instead?

Creo que entra en la clasificación de country. No soy fan, pero no puedo decir que es malo. No añadí ninguna canción

Country. Ok

Maybe groundbreaking and influential when new, but just sounds old and well worn now.

OG folk music...the kind of stuff Bobby Zimmerman from Minnesota was soaking in before he came out the other side as Bob Dylan. It’s nothing that’s going to blow your doors off, but it will take you back to a time when the story mattered more than a hook or the artist themself. That idea feels almost prehistoric now, but folk music and albums like Jack Takes the Floor are really the purest expression of it.

Jack Elliott came up at a time when artists could quite literally be whatever they wanted to be without fear of their upbringings being called into question or negatively affecting their personas. "Ramblin' Jack" was born Elliott Charles Adnopoz in Brooklyn, NY to a Jewish family. He decided he felt more akin to the singing cowboys of East Texas and just started living the rest of his life as such. Today, he might be referred to as a poser, maybe even an appropriator of culture, which is probably technically true. But there is a freedom, which is harder to obtain in 2026, to just abandoning all of the expectations of your upbringing and deciding you want to me a new person entirely. Bob Dylan basically did the same thing, as have many others. Also, the album is pretty solid! A decent collection of folk standards performed by someone who has a great respect for the tradition.

It's OK, can see why many would not like, it's basic, but I enjoyed just not likely to revisit. 3 Star

Listening to classic country western is kinda like visiting your racist grandpa. You're not sure exactly what he's going to say, but you know at the best it will just be unrelatable. At the same time it's really comforting and enjoyable being around him. I get nostalgic listening to albums like this, but I'm never realistically going to listen to it again.

It was fine. Not perfect

Good, but not like super good, like mid I would say, sometimes better sometimes worse.

3.5

Sounds about white. 2.5

30 mins of the middlest-of-the-road country. Probably would be a 2* song but that song about bed bugs was pretty sick

Likeable. Genuinely and unexpectedly likeable. Funny and raw.

Hard to find the album to listen but when I did, I heard Dylan and Guthrie. I can certainly hear how they all affected each other. I like folk music so enjoyed the stripped down music and thoughtful lyrics.

kinda cool

top 3 - Grey Goose, Mule Skinner Blues, San Francisco Bay Blues. I had low expectations admittedly but this was pretty decent. Endearing is the right word to describe this for sure. I'm unsure how often I would come back to it though.

Not great, but I ended up enjoying a couple of tracks. Honestly I wanted to give this one a two, but then that song Cocaine came up and I loved it! Tipped the scales! I love Cocaine!

This sounds like those first few tracks on the bootleg series 1 by Bob Dylan. Those tracks aren’t my favourite tho but I get his influence and stuff. Also I liked the Woody Guthrie appearance, he’s a legend.

This was a fun listen, I think it still somewhat holds up even though it was released in the 50s. Nothing I'd listen to again, but definitely enjoyed it.

Not bad if you like songs about boll weevils and bed bugs

I like that Ramblin' Jack Elliott often introduces his songs by explaining where they came from, or who he heard sing it first. He seems very connected to the idea of folk being a shared genre, where artists pass songs and music along as part of an oral tradition. I think this is especially cool because now, in 2026, this album is nearly 70 years old, and he clearly influenced a lot of musicians I've listened to over the years (Bob Dylan in particular). And I can see why he was influential. He's a great performer with a lot of style. He's got passion behind his singing.

Nice old country western singer songwriter tunes. I liked in the first one how he described the person who wrote the song... pretty funny in a way to hear about someone else and their different instruments they play and then to play that person's song in a really simple manner with just acoustic guitar and voice. Really just feels like a completely different world we live in compared to the time that this recording was made. I thought his impression of Woodie Guthrie in "New York Town" was pretty funny and unexpected. I just read that they actually traveled together, but it kind of seemed like a bit? Funny either way. Nice songs, and I'm sure his influence is a big reason why he deserves a spot on the list.

I liked it. I also like the idea that a Jewish kid from NYC ran away to join a rodeo and learned to become a guitar picking troubadour. 3.5 stars.

It was okay. Just country.

Troo country.

This kind of country I can get behind.

Don't expect your usual Spotify hits here. This album is a wild ride through the dusty backroads of America, with Jack singing about bugs, trains, and probably his love life (assuming he had one). The production quality might be a bit rough around the edges.. Definitely a once-in-a-blue-moon listen for me, but if you're into that whole cowboy-folk thing, give it a spin. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - San Francisco Baby Blues - Ol' Riley - Cocaine

Ehh this was fine. Sure he rambled a bunch, but I found it kind of endearing.

Jack Elliott was born into a well-to-do Jewish family in New York in 1931 and ran away to join a rodeo at the age of 15. He taught himself guitar and took up busking as a singing cowboy, embellishing his performances with rambling, folksy introductions and earning his nickname. He was a contemporary of Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan, with an extensive career and much to my surprise is still recording and performing at the age of 94. This is engaging and enjoyable folk music, but to be honest I’d swap this record’s place in the 1001 albums list for anything by Connie Converse who was trying to break into the New York folk scene at around this time in 1958, but was shamefully overlooked by the male dominated music industry.

Another example of an artist I was unfamiliar with & an album I wouldn’t have listened to had it not been for 1001 albums; I so wanted to like the album & Ramblin’ Jack’s folk songs. Didn’t dislike it, but again didn’t feel wowed by the experience.

This was fine. 3/5

OK. Likely influential?

Never heard of Jack Elliott before - mainly just not my genre. Kind of a pleasant change-of-pace and this has to be the first time I’ve ever heard a song about a Boll Weevil!

Folk. Ein Mann singt zu seiner Gitarre

This was fun!

It was good to learn about this guy. First 10 inch record I’ve come across on this list.

Had never heard of this guy so it was cool to distinctly hear his influence over Dylan and so lay that came after him.

A surprisingly large amount of insect-chat here. It’s ok.

I had to listen to this under the album name MULESKINNER by Jack Elliott on Amazon Music. Enjoyed the country / blues / Americana history lesson.

was really enjoying it the got fed up with it

Favorites: Bed Bug Blues, New York Town

Historical importance very high here, and good to have a less mainstream entry from the American folk music revival era. Which, of course, needs plenty of representation on a list like this, but not much to differentiate from Woody or Bob or Pete, etc., etc. Nice listen, makes me want to watch Inside Llewyn Davis again

Pretty good! Much like a lot of folk, I feel like I should like this a lot more than I do, but when it's good, it's really good. The commentary at the beginning of each song is cool, some of the guitar playing is great, and he knows his way around a story. "Cocaine" is a great tune, was interesting to hear "Boll Weevil" too - i had only heard the Shocking Blue version, which is obviously quite different.

Not bad for an old-timey country record. It's maybe not something I'd come back to often, but I do like how simple the compositions are with just Jack's voice and guitar playing. 3/5

Surprising album. I don't normally go for this sort of thing, but this was engaging and entertaining for me. I still didn't love it, but I thought it was good and enjoyed it for what it is. 3.49/5

Vanhanaikaista amerikkalaista folkkia, jossa on mukana vaikutteita countrysta. Ramblin' Jack Elliott oli itselleni entuudestaan tuntematon, mutta kyllähän tämä aika hyvää musiikkia oli. Elliott taisi olla iso innoittaja nuorelle Bob Dylanille.

Perhaps because I haven't listened to the music of this artist's lineage, it didn't really resonate with me.

More enjoyable to listen to then I thought, still not really my vibe.

Jack Elliott earned the Ramblin' in front of his name for being garrulous, so it's hardly a surprise that he's chatty between songs even on a recording. The music itself is decent, but nothing to write home about.

Really love the bluesier songs, the folkier songs aren’t as appealing to me.

Jack Takes The Floor is fairly enjoyable, if not particularly explorative. Jack Elliott is a charismatic performer, and a talented musician, but this album consists almost entirely of Woody Guthrie covers and traditional folk songs, all played pretty straight. But his importance is chiefly in being the lesser discussed link between Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan in a *very* direct way. It turns out that he is a vital component of the American folk music family tree. Woody Guthrie took Jack Elliott under his wing, and in turn Jack Elliott took Dylan under his own wing. Although, this *does* put Elliott in a really bad place in the broader arc of music history. He was mentored by one of the most influential, iconic, well-loved, and timeless songwriters ever. Then he helped usher in the career of another one of the most influential, iconic, well-loved, and timeless songwriters ever. This leaves Jack Elliott in an unfortunate limbo where he is a vital component of music history whose output isn't well-known for really expanding the sound of folk music. But he does need to get his flowers; as I said, Jack Elliott is a charismatic performer, a great interpreter of classic folk pieces, and a vital piece of folk history. And Jack Takes The Floor seems to be an album that showcases Jack Elliott's skills in an enjoyable way.

I like this guy but I’m a big Guthrie fan so yea. I think I heard better stuff from him but this one is ok.

He’s a rambling that’s for sure

In the pre-Bob Dylan era of folk music, Ramblin' Jack Elliott was the artist giving the genré an audience in the eastern United States. 'Jack Takes the Floor' is nothing but Elliott and his guitar singing songs about places such as San Francisco Bay, New York and East Texas, as well as more obscure subjects like the Boil Weevil, Mule Skinner and Dink. The album is simply Elliott talking about his travels. He's a journeyman with a penchant for storytelling, and his many travels far and wide create for some interesting tales. The music might be basic and primitive (it's the 1950s, studios hadn't become an instrument of its own by this point), but it's a nice, harmless collection of folk to tune out to. Best songs: The Boil Weevil, Old Blues, Grey Goose,

This is a good album to play in the car, especially for my mom she loves country music.

Great Songs: San Francisco Bay Blues, New York Town, Mule Skinner Blues Good Songs: Ol' Reilly, The Bill Weevil, Bed Bug Blues, Old Blue, East Texas Talking Blues, Cocaine, Salty Dog, Brother Won't You Join in the Line, There Are Better Things To Do Mid Songs: Grey Goose, Dink's Song, Black Baby Bad Songs:

He do be ramblin'. This is inoffensive, even if it isn't my thing at all. Low 3.

Listened Before? N A neat portrait of a moment in folk time... obviously very influential to Dylan and others. Good stuff. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: San Francisco Bay Blues

- this was difficult to find -- it's not on Deezer (my streaming service of choice currently), and the few instances of this album I found on youtube had varying track listings that were different than what the wikipedia page stated - I get the sense (as with other albums/songs from the late 50s and early 60s) that his songs weren't performed the same way twice, and the words he speaks introducing the tracks were probably different each time, depending on the audience. I think this gives it a much more warm and inviting feel; it's a real performance we're hearing, not just a composition that anyone could play the exact same way as him - I'd never heard of Jack Elliot before today, so I assume Woody Guthrie was the more famous of the two folk musicians. I liked this particular part of Elliot's wikipedia article: "Guthrie's son, Arlo, said that because of Woody's illness and early death, Arlo never really got to know him, but learned his father's songs and performing style from Elliott and, according to Arlo, Woody Guthrie once said that Jack Elliot 'sounds more like me than I do.'" - all in all, Jack Elliot the man and Jack Elliot the musician are two sides of the same person that I would like to read more about, now that I know who he is and what an influence he was on so many other influential musicians like Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones.

Had no idea he was so influential for Dylan

I mean, it’s pretty good. Some of the songs are endearing, and Jack Elliott really captures the sweet parts of what would become rock and roll. It’s not really fantastic or anything, but it’s worth a listen.

It starts great but it lost me halfway through

trilha sonora perfeita pra acampar num bayou num final de semana, dirigir minha banheira automática 3 marchas por uma estrada reta e deserta mas na moral, tá mais no meu gosto do que os outros álbuns de folk que passaram nesse site

bom definitivamente é um album próprio pra ir se aventurar num lamaçal bacana mas nao eh mto pra mim nao. nao eh ruim, mas acho que tem que prestar atenção na letra e eu tava com 0 vontade xD

Damn, this mf is rambling’. But for real this was not bad but didn’t do anything for me. Badly in need of a remaster. Light 3.

Very traditional C&W music to sing at night by the campfire.

The recordings I listened to felt primal and raw. It’s of course not the best thing I’ve ever heard but he’s not trying to do that. It’s amazing that he’s still alive and has clearly influenced so many others. High 3.

Good old school folk album, with a feature from Woodie Guthrie. Not sure I'll go back to this but fun to listen to at least. I recognized one track they covered in Inside Llewyn Davis, which was cool. 3/5

I kinda liked how casual and laid-back his delivery is on these songs. Like a guy just hit record and Jack just rambled whatever came naturally. Didn't expect to score this high but here we are.

Some perfectly fine 50s folk/country. Enjoyed this from Wikipedia: Woody Guthrie had the greatest influence on Elliott. Guthrie's son, Arlo, said that because of Woody's illness and early death, Arlo never really got to know him, but learned his father's songs and performing style from Elliott and, according to Arlo, Woody Guthrie once said that Jack Elliot "Sounds more like me than I do".

It's kind of charming to hear this old-timey singer go on about insects and borax, but this isn't the strongest folk album on the list by a long shot. A lot of that comes down to the recording quality, which is rough even compared to other album of the time - it's certainly the worst I've encountered on the list so far. I don't want to be too negative about this album, it's still effective as an down-to-earth, old-school country compilation. Favorite track: "The Boll Weevil"

Bob Dylan.

Apportez moi mon cheval.

Not for me.

Nice old school blues album. I like the shout out to Woody, and hearing Dink's song was neat given JT covering it. Damn them bedbugs IYKYK.

Old school country/folk.

It was a fun listen, but not as impactful of an album to me.

Never heard of this guy, a folkster from the 50s. Apparently he's still alive! Aged 94. Influence in Dylan, etc. Musically this ain't much to write home about, but the songs are quite good and the lyrics are witty, if slightly twee at times. I think I'd file this under one I'd have to listen to again to make a full assessment, but basically quite liked it.

Well kids, this is the last one for me and of course it's one that I'm not super pumped about. I'm sure it holds a special place in history and Ramblin' Jack was an inspiration to many musicians, but man.... this is not my kind of music at all. Well, I made it through. Had to find the album on YouTube. Like I thought, it was fine. It's very simple as it's just him and his guitar. Lyrics hold up and there's clearly a lot going on. I can see why it's on the list, but still just not for me. It's been fun y'all! See ya on the user submitted side!

Not bad

рэмблин действительно и устаревшие подводки + сами песни меня не увлекли

A quite intimate and chill experience

Liked his voice and style

The guy knows how to ramble. I don't care much for it. Tracks to Track: San Francisco Baby Blues

Plain old folk. Nothing mind-blowing, really. 3.5

Old fashioned Country & Western. Fine enough.

Fine country/folk album. The kindest thing I can say about it is that it really reminded me of one of my favs Stomping Tom Connors (Rambling Jack Elliott is close as it is). No fuss songs, just quipy lyrics with a steady beat.

Did not know this guy was kicking it with woody Guthrie. Cool piece of music history, not something I’m going to put on to relax to. Maybe if I owned a general store …

buncha classics, love these old folktunes, but if i cant get john hurt, i like dave van ronk better

Great voice with an insane range and a performer's presence. Love the chat with Guthrie lol. He seems a little unhinged in a fun way.

Reissued in 2016 as Jack Elliott - Muleskinner with 2 additional songs. A very raw early recording of a folksy country blues singer that has clearly influenced folk, blues and rock as we hear it today. This is one of those roots records that anyone serious about music should listen critically to in order to get a sense of where modern music came from.

Ramblin’ Jack Elliot be ramblin’. I heard a lot of Bob Dylan’s early work on here. Bob must have had this on repeat along with Woodie Guthrie. Pretty neat

Still better than Bob Dylan.

Don’t think I’ve heard this before, but can see how Bob got part of his early shtick

Classic folk tunes this was a lot of fun. So this is where Jack White for the bol weevil song nice

Couldn't find on amazon music, but listened to some other early albums. Definitely Americana at its best, and a true discovery for me. i've heard the name, but probably didn't even know the genre. And the old guy is still touring in CA!

Inconveniently not on iTunes. Okay. I made it work. I’m not really a fan of folk, but it’s a good album. Though I preferred some of his other covers that actually were on itunes

All country. Zero sappy bullshit (although it is a little bit hokey).

This strongly reminds me of another US folk singer or maybe a bunch of them. But it's good enough and I enjoyed it more than a lot of more modern recordings on this list. But if another comment is true and there's no Pete Seeger or Woody Guthrie on this list, then this is just the poor man's substitute for those two. Really liked Brother Won't You Join In the Line

Quand même divertissant, mais pas mon genre.

Unsure of what to think. The constant rambling makes it hard to stay engaged.

It was tolerable at first but it got a little grating over the course of the album. I get that at this time with context, it's different. But nah

He what? Slow down. Uh huh. Yeah. What do you mean he took the floor. The floor is gone? Like the floorboards? The in floor heating?? What is the market for that? We were only gone for three hours. I'll tell the customer. We really have to stop bringing Jack to these jobs. This is the third site he's stripped. I wanted more mourning. Mour mourning, if you will. You won't? Well, that's never happened before. Should I just stop writing now? Should I go on to say the song about boll weevils was pretty fun until you realized it was about the plight of the American cotton industrialists when, well, you know, SLAVES picked that cotton. but yeah I suppose the wretched boll weevil was the biggest monster there. What is this guy's deal with bugs? There was that other song about bed bugs. The bed bug song sounded like a really talented singer who was asked to make a guest appearance and write a silly song for a kid's show. Then there was the time that he clearly pretended Woody Guthrie was his pal by impersonating him. That was weird. This is a cool enough folk record sung by a guy who Spotify claims was the son of a New York doctor with a "self-made" (FAKE) cowboy image. Sounds like this guy would be right at home in the modern day mecca of fake cowboys that this review is emanating from. I love to spew venom, BUT I would still rather listen to this than about 75% of the other tripe that has been shovelled into my unwilling gullet since August 29th, 2024. Lawd Lawd Lawd, lower me into the hog pen and knock out the big ol hog's teeth or whatever the sweet fuck Jack was ramblin' about on this thing. The fabric of the nation responsible for most of the evil in this world. An evil fabric if you will. No? I can't deal with this anymore. Take your 32 and get out of my sight. And my site, ya fuckin' floor stealer. 3 HIGHLIGHTS: Ol' Riley, Brother Won't You Join in the Line

Really interesting to listen and hear the inspiration - the back end of the album got a bit odd though and I felt like I was listening to something completely different

This was alright, but I didn't love it. I get that Jack Elliot was like an important influence in folk and country music, but I just didn't really enjoy listening to most of this album. I would give it a 2 star, but I want to recognize its importance, so I'm giving it 3 stars.

I can sum this up in three words. “Of its time.” It was fine, but I don’t need to hear it again.

Well ramblin' is an accurate description - an enjoyable listen but if I'm in the mood for this sort of thing, I have other go-to artists. A pleasant folksy meander, but not the best example of the genre

Much simpler than the folk that would become common place in the following decade (a la Bob Dylan). There are no 10 minute storytelling epics. No social or political commentey. Just simple songs about simple topics. The kind of thing you would hear by a campfire. It is cozy.

Ramblin for sure. More influential than good. Also no Dave Von Ronk, but this dude?

312/1089 - A mixed bag. Not a fan of the talking into singing (which I'm guessing is kind of the point of this record) as I prefer the story and context to be in the music. I liked the basslines and occasional walk-ups on the guitar.

Lovely stuff (for the most part). This old 50s folk country can all start to sound the same. Reminds me of the stuff Evan and I would listen to at the end of the night with a whiskey and a joint. Best song: Cocaine

sure

Bro crazy

Well this is quite cool. Proto-skiffle, country-folk

He has a way with words and I didn't get particularly bored listening through.

He do be ramblin.

eh

Ramblin' Jack is okay by me ...

its not terrible

I mean, the name is accurate. Jack Elliott sure does ramble a bit in this album. I didn't hate this, but I certainly don't plan on going back to it much. It's not like I really could since the album's streaming presence is pretty low. This is an okay 50s folk album. The guitar tone is alright. The recording quality is, of course, not the best, but it fits the time pretty well. The writing is okay. It's not super exciting or anything. Given the comparisons and connections to Woody Guthrie, I would've hoped that Jack Elliott's writing would be more political than it is on this album. Oh well. I guess we get bug songs or whatever. This album's pretty short and insignificant in the grand scheme of things. I can't be upset at this album, but I also don't feel much from it in general. It's okay. Low 3/5.

War okay, teils nervig. Grey Goose Quack Quack

Good ole original Southern Blues.

I liked this more than I thought I would. I held off listening for a few days because I thought it would be a more challenging listen. I like Ramblin' Jack's voice. It is the kind of album where it feels like once you've heard one song, you've heard them all. I think if I were a more avid folk / bluegrass fan, I would be more into this. But I still enjoyed it overall.

This is ok. Have to trust the editors that this is ok

Ironically the best song in this album, is the one not sung by Jack Elliott. As for the others, they’re great for your cowboy themed party. But I don’t think I will be listening to any casually.

I didn't want to like this - looked too much like country & western. First song sounded like a very early Quo, third song sounded like the basis for something more modern. Other songs just happily played in the background.

decent

Quite nice.

This generator is pulling out quite a few surprises for me lately. Having an album of this era is always a special occasion. Before the concept album, before singles were included on albums and this one is even from a time when the 10 inch LP was the standard option. It's a nice collection of songs, some of which went on to be covered lots of times in the Greenwich Village-era Folk of the 60's. It's not the most interesting listen in 2025 though. I like older Folk music, but the old folk that didn't push any musical boundaries doesn't really feel like a memorable listen to me. It's good but not really outstanding.

I could see why someone would give this album a 1. The ethos of ramblin jack speaks for itself, but this album in particular is a mere stepping stone of a life that continues to be lived to this day, nearly 100 years later…3 stars for content and novelty.

Some pretty fun tunes. Good guitar work, nice singing, great time. The Woodie Guthrie cameo was cool as well. Best song: New York Town

Loved it. Not the strongest example of that late 50s cowboy folk sound. But boy was it authentic and so emphatic. Lo fi production always increases my attention. Prim and proper polished late 50s country is hard to appreciate. Need that yee haw.

No terminó y ya quiero que termine. Y eso que dura media hora. Lo lamento, un 2.7 por lo humilde

Very honky tonk. some elements are good you have to be in the mood I like story telling through lyrics and this has got it but it does grate a bit after a while.

Another super low key album (<100k listens on most songs) but a fine example of the genre. Nothing that really stood out but nothing that annoyed me either (except that 30 second yodel). 5/10 (2.5/5)

It was fine. Nothing amazing but nothing terrible. Standout song: New York Town

I listen to some older albums and you can’t believe they’re not more modern. This is not one of those. Enjoyed listening to it. Apple Music decided to play “don’t think twice it’s alright” straight after which I think was a little mean.

Classic country and folk albums are great because they don’t waste my time. Half an hour of music that’s in and out. No triple album nonsense. This was pretty good. Nothing mindblowing but I can see how it led up to what Dylan would do in the 60’s. I liked the song with Woody. Favorite songs were San Francisco Bay Blues, New York Town, and Cocaine.

Kantria sekä Bluesia man and guitar periaatteella. Hyvin vanhaa tekoa ja se kuuluu tuotteessa mutta makeeta kuulla tällaistakin

En artist som verkar ha varit en viktig inspirationskälla för senare storheter. Har pratar vi knappast överproducerat, men det finns en fin närvaro i låtarna. Gillar dom små presentationerna i början av låtarna. Guthries inhopp bidrar också. En klar trea.

Good Folk Country but it gets kind of flat as it goes along.

Most would probably agree that this isn't the best old school 'outlaw country' album ever made, but it's still an enjoyable listen. Really enjoyed the stripped-down approach - feels like Ramblin' Jack is sitting across the campfire and singing directly to you.

Similar to Ravi’s album, I quite like the talking and explaining at times. Nice story telling throughout and classic country/blues sound. Enjoyable to get the conversation and to hear Woody Guthrie too but can’t tell if it’s a piss take! A fun, human, simple album that represents its genre pretty clearly. (3.5)

Jury’s out on this one

This album was alright I wish he was a little more enthusiastic.

The first song on this album is what keeps this from dropping to a two, especially considering that awful lord, lord, lord song. 2.5/5 - 3/5

Ekki alveg minn stíll, en að mestu ágætt.

Interesting

good cowboy music

Een echt origineel country album. Leuk zeg! Opname ook net niet helemaal scherp, af en toe wat geruis erdoorheen, maar dat hoort er eigenlijk ook wel weer bij. Zeer vermakelijk en stevende af op 4 sterren. Echter de laatste 2 nummers verpesten dat een beetje voor mij. Hier wordt de opname zodanig slecht dat de zang echt niet best klinkt. Daarbij lijkt het ook in ene een heel andere band dan dat het daarvoor was. Geef het daarom 3 reten

Feels very campfire/bunkhouse. Not as clean and composed as others, but I can get with it.

Not my kind of jam. Cool and old school country.

folksy!

I have a neighbour called Pete. He's had a few strokes and doesn't walk too well anymore, but if you sit him down at the right time, Pete will tell you stories. Stories like the time he hitchhiked from Scotland to London when he was 17 or how he stopped his friend from getting beaten up by Glasgow gangsters. Maybe even the time he helped one of the Rolling Stones guys move a piano. Pete's got stories. And this album reminds me of Pete. Just a guy telling stories - this time with the aid of a guitar and a twang. Just like Pete, Ramblin' Jack Elliott is a charmer and a raconteur. Never the leading man, but the sidekick with a twinkle in his eye. I liked this a lot.

Kind of liked having it on in the background.

Nice to listen to something from a very different era - enjoyed albeit not something I’d go search out

This is the whitest, folky, country blues album I've ever heard. Jack is an incredible storyteller, but in the end, this was an incredibly "meh" experience. 3/5

Good folk. 3.5

From first listen I thought early Dylan. The influence is obvious. Simple songs without polish singing about the real experience of those facing poverty of the early 20th century, although it harks on themes going back a century or more. It's oral history and I love it. Not romanticised, it's observational. "Old Blue" will hit a chord with every dog person. "Grey Goose" give's you images of chain gangs, singing a chant just to get through the day. "Mule Skinner Blues" is my standout. If you like blues, if you like folk, if you like early Dylan, I think you'll like this.

No strong feelings.

Ikke det store indtryk - fint nok

That was all right

3.5 top tier american folk from the fifties. If you hate woody and early bob youll hate this too

It's fine but doesn't really hold up to modern music

It's decent I guess. If you love folk music you'll like this. If you like folk music, you'll think it's decent. If you think folk music is decent, I don't think you'll like this.

I enjoyed the bluesy feel

No está mal, pero me hice una idea muy distinta con su portada y títulos. A todas luces es country, y sí lo es, pero pensé que sería de esos country nostálgicos, que recuerdan la llanura en tiempos que ya se fueron, pero no. En general son canciones que no están mal, a veces demasiado cortitas, pero no se pasa mal rato. Pensé que lo iba a amar, pero creo que terminaré olvidándolo pronto. Eso sí, escucharé otros de Ramblin Jack para ver si conecto más.

To say that I don’t have a country music culture would be an understatement - I’ve always found folk performers quite hard to get into, mostly because I lack an adequate frame of reference. It’s a very "localized" genre, with its own tropes, mythology and private jokes, most of which I don’t really understand. However, I found this album surprisingly pleasant to listen compared to other country records. It’s got an intimate, mellow atmosphere that made me feel like I was sitting at a campfire in the middle of nowhere. Old-school folk performers seem to have a very down-to-earth relation to their listeners, mixing music with jokes, tall tales and shout-outs, which makes them something of a missing link between itinerant storytellers and modern musicians. Maybe I’m just indulging too much in the old country music mythos, but I did enjoy it. As often with country, however, I also found it a bit repetitive, and the last few songs started to bore me. I probably won’t become a country music fan - but it was still a nice change from what I usually listen to.

Serious Bob Dylan predecessor type vibes...perhaps that's why this is an important album/artist?

Jedan od onih koje je dylan "pokrao"

3.5

Certainly carries a lot of the same influences as early Dylan, but sounds more impromptu. 3 stars

I thought this was pretty enjoyable, if a little rough around the edges. "San Francisco Bay Blues" and "Cocaine" were the highlights for me. Definitely and interesting slice of proto-Dylan. 3.5 stars.

3.5

This ain’t exactly essential listening but I guess is ok for 50s folk. The best things I can say about it is that he lives up fully to his ramblin’ name, is still going strong at 94 and has a nice hat.

I listened to the whole album. It was ok, nothing bad, but equally nothing especially good. I'm not sure why it was on this list. Maybe it was ground-breaking at the time (which I doubt) or a classic example of this style of music (again, doubtful, this is a very popular style of music and the market is saturated). I'll give it 3 stars as I never considered turning it off before it finished.

I enjoyed this, kind of raw authentic sound from the late 50s. I hadn't heard of Ramblin' Jack before

Interesting just because it’s so old. Hard to believe anyone today would seek this out to listen to (which is why it’s not on Spotify?). There’s some stuff on here that is just funny, but I don’t think it’s intended to be. Always good to go back in time.

I quite like this. I hear Pete Seeger and especially Woodie Guthrie. It's kind of a tricky album to rate, it’s pleasant enough but i think I prefer Woodie Guthrie and especially Bob Dylan

Not sure if I enjoyed this or not… was pleasant enough, it certainly was ramblin’ around taking its sweet time, I’m not familiar enough with this early folk/bluegrass/country to know how important this album is in the grand scheme of things. 3/5

Very fine old-school country. You can certainly hear the Woodie Guthrie influence. He's even featured on the record. Some of it was quite funny as well (Boll Weevil, for instance). Probably won't revisit. But some nice porch-sittin' music.

1958. A piece of Americana I suppose. I do enjoy some classic country music. Smooth sounds and stories.

Enjoyed it, but won’t listen to it again.

Cozy cowboy ahh music 🤠 Mule Skinmer Blues is very cool btw

blagoglagoljivi jakov ilijević niskoključno vatra???

That was kinda fun - it's obviously my sort of music and I liked the little asides at the start of the songs, which I usually find annoying.

Not on Apple Music but full album is on YouTube, fyi. Wasn’t blown away by this but was glad I listened. Exactly the sort of thing I was hoping for with this list. (ntm.)

This was pretty enjoyable. Not sure how much is come back to it but I liked it.

Rv

Good old country album

Good folk music

Better than expected. Added a few songs to my liked

I recognised San Francisco Bay Blues from Eric Clapton’s unplugged album. Apart from that I enjoy the earthy folksy style but unlikely to revisit this.

Cool guy! Not really my thing

I like it, but I don't love it.

I liked this more the further into it I got, especially enjoyed Salty Dog. I was familiar with Johnny Cash’s cover, but it was interesting to hear what I assume is an early version here. My first thought was this sounds a little like Woody Guthrie, and sure enough Woody is featured on the 5th track. I’m going to settle at 3 stars because I don’t think I’ll be back for more. That said I did find it entertaining and some of the songs were funny, which I think was the intent. Also 11 songs in 31 minutes is honestly pretty impressive.

I really enjoyed this album. I liked how it felt like a loose live album, with Jack giving small introductions to the tunes and playing randomly between tracks. Jack's playing is so full and detailed, it has a ton of presence while very often being the only instrument present. Good listen!

Never hear before. Johnny cask or early Dylan sound (before them). Not typically my brand, but ok.

Buen disco de folk. Para mí como sudaca no es tan significativo se.

Fun ditties

This is very interesting. A guy and his guitar and his stories. That's it.

Hombre no tengo un rancho en Texas así que no suelo escuchar este tipo de música, pero de todas formas me gusta. A veces la vida se siente un poco así. Lo que pasa es que se hace repetitivo

This after Bob Dylan is a bit rough - too much rambling country/folk for me.

Bob Dylan's dad

Very stripped back and basic. I don’t have a lot of critiques but also probably won’t be returning. Just kind of what you’d expect from a 50s country folk guy

Songs of the American folk tradition from friend of Woodie Guthrie and mentor to Bob Dylan. This was a fun collection. Standout tracks: San Francisco Baby Blues, Boll Weevil, Bed Bug Blues

Enjoyable enough

Entertaining folksy music. Song about cocaine was probably the best and most stand out. Not my style but good for what it was

Can’t find this particular album but I listened to a representative sample of his stuff. I can hear how influential it was even if I don’t need to hear muleskinner yodeling ever again.

Old timey twangy country

Twangy old-timer country

I've said in other reviews that country music isn't my thing, but I actually enjoyed this. I think it's more folky blues (kind of like Johnny Cash) but what do I know. I can hear how he might have influenced Bob Dylan but also some more modern artists....maybe Jack White? And also one of my favourite Australian artist CW Stoneking? Would listen to again sometime. 6/10

American roots, country Cowboy dust bowl folk music - there's even a guest spot for Woody Guthrie - bunch a good ole' songs.

Nothing special folk songs

It was just OK. Any longer it would have got 2 stars.

Glad something like this is thrown into this collection, need some dusty barroom earthy grounding every once in awhile

This is a new artist to me. Country Folk of my dad's or his dad's time. I wouldn't choose to listen but I don't mind it on in the background.

Not really my thing but can appreciate it for what it was / inspiration to other folk musicians in the 1950s

Sort of early Dylany folk. Seemed like a big mish mash of recording so sound was a bit all over the place. I'm sure the last few tracks were sung by other people too. Could see it being very influential, very classic and authentic sounding. Good would seem like a bit of a stretch, though not necessarily bad. 2.5.

I was wary when I saw a country album from the 50s, but I was actually presently surprised by this. Has that bluegrass thing going for it. Almost reminded me of Jack White in parts I think. Some of it was a bit strange but he is called rambling Jack so why not. I think a 3, mainly as I expected it to be terrible and it wasn't

Fun listen! One I'd never have reached for otherwise. You can even hear early Beatles and some "Let It Be" echoes. Love the dialogue in between. Great recording, and some interesting tunes. Probably wouldn't listen to again, but glad I did.

This was fine. Nothing special, but nothing repulsive. 3/5

The missing link between Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan makes a decent album.

Good ole honest country

Definitely an interesting listen, and definitely a big change from a lot of what we've listened to lately. Glad it wasn't another Rolling Stones record. I wasn't sure what to expect, especially as we started the first track with an introduction, but it almost felt like a live show because of it. Was that actually Woodie Guthrie or just Jack doing a voice? Google AI says Woodie wasn't there, the only review of this album I found says yes he was. The album is definitely dated. There's something about that old folk/blues guitaring that sounds so samey now. I don't think it would be that hard though to update the sound. Overall, a good listen, but I don't think it's a record I'm going to go out and buy.

Boll Weevil? They don’t make them like this anymore

An interesting selection from the collection for today. I'm not much of a folk song connoisseur (or afficionado), so this was all pretty much new to me, and of course it's hard not to think of Woodie Guthrie (or even his son Arlo), as those are folk artists I'm most familiar with that sound like Ramblin' Jack, but I'm sure there are many, many (many) others, although even I could recognize that Ramblin' Jack has more country twang, and also seems like a talented guitarist as well. (It *was* nice to get Woody Guthrie performing with him on "New York Town", or at least I think that's what happened in that song.) I enjoyed the change of pace, but I'll admit I'm not well-versed enough to feel I can recognize if this was seminal or not. But I loved finding out that the album's reviewer in the "1001 Albums" book hosted Jack Elliott for a month, a personal connection I suspect few of the reviewers have had to most of the artists in this project.

Fun folk music.

## In-Depth Review of *Jack Takes the Floor* by Ramblin' Jack Elliott Released in 1958, *Jack Takes the Floor* is a seminal folk album that captures the essence of Ramblin' Jack Elliott's artistry and his pivotal role in the American folk revival. Known for his storytelling and musical interpretations, Elliott's debut album is both an homage to traditional folk music and a showcase of his unique style. Below is an analysis of the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, influence, and its strengths and weaknesses. --- ### **Lyrics** The lyrics on *Jack Takes the Floor* are steeped in traditional folk narratives, reflecting themes of struggle, humor, and Americana. Many of the songs are covers or adaptations of folk standards rather than original compositions. Tracks like "Cocaine" delve into dark themes such as addiction but are delivered with a strangely sweet tone that contrasts with the subject matter[3]. "Dink's Song," sung from the perspective of a prisoner lamenting lost love, is heart-wrenching and evocative[3]. Meanwhile, lighter tracks like "The Boll Weevil" add humor and whimsy to the album’s repertoire[1]. Elliott's lyrical delivery often includes spoken introductions that provide context for each song. These musings are not just filler; they create intimacy between Elliott and the listener, making it feel like you're sitting in on a live performance or a casual storytelling session on a porch[1][3]. However, critics have noted that while engaging, these introductions sometimes disrupt the album's flow[4]. --- ### **Music** Ramblin' Jack Elliott’s guitar work is understated yet skillful. His fingerpicking style complements the simplicity of folk melodies without overshadowing them. Tracks like "Mule Skinner Blues" highlight his dexterity and vocal range, blending energetic strumming with spirited singing[3]. The duet "New York Town," featuring Woody Guthrie, stands out as a historical gem, though Guthrie’s performance feels somewhat dated compared to Elliott’s polished delivery[1][3]. Elliott’s voice is central to the album's charm. His vocal style is raw and unpretentious, embodying authenticity that resonates with listeners. Comparisons to Bob Dylan are inevitable; Dylan himself emulated Elliott’s vocal style early in his career[1]. While Elliott lacks Guthrie’s grittiness or Dylan’s poetic innovation, his straightforward approach makes these songs accessible. --- ### **Production** The production on *Jack Takes the Floor* is minimalistic—a hallmark of folk recordings from this era. The stripped-down sound emphasizes Elliott’s guitar playing and vocals without unnecessary embellishments. Recorded in a studio but presented as if it were live, the album exudes warmth and intimacy[1]. This rawness enhances its authenticity but also exposes occasional imperfections, such as flat notes or uneven pacing between tracks[1][4]. Critics have pointed out that the lack of continuity between songs can make the album feel disjointed at times. While Elliott’s spoken introductions add charm, they also interrupt the musical flow for some listeners[4]. Nevertheless, this approach aligns with Elliott’s ethos as a troubadour focused on storytelling rather than polished production. --- ### **Themes** Thematically, *Jack Takes the Floor* explores quintessential folk subjects: - **Struggle and Hardship:** Songs like "Cocaine" and "Dink's Song" address personal pain and societal challenges. - **Humor and Whimsy:** Tracks such as "The Boll Weevil" lighten the mood with playful narratives. - **Historical Americana:** The duet "New York Town" reflects Elliott’s connection to Woody Guthrie and their shared commitment to preserving American folk traditions[3]. Elliott’s introductions further enrich these themes by providing historical context or personal anecdotes about each song’s origins. This educational aspect underscores his role as a custodian of folk music[1]. --- ### **Influence** The influence of *Jack Takes the Floor* cannot be overstated. While Ramblin' Jack Elliott may not have achieved mainstream fame, his impact on fellow musicians was profound. Bob Dylan famously adopted Elliott’s vocal style and storytelling approach early in his career[1][3]. Artists like Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney also cite Elliott as an inspiration for their work, particularly his use of talking blues[3]. This album served as a bridge between Woody Guthrie’s generation and the burgeoning folk revival spearheaded by Dylan. Tracks such as "New York Town," featuring Guthrie himself, symbolize this continuity within American folk music[1][3]. For listeners interested in understanding how modern pop culture evolved from traditional roots, *Jack Takes the Floor* is essential listening. --- ### **Pros** 1. **Authenticity:** The album feels genuine and unpretentious, capturing Elliott’s personality as both a musician and storyteller. 2. **Historical Significance:** Featuring Woody Guthrie on one track and influencing Bob Dylan profoundly makes this album historically important. 3. **Musical Skill:** Elliott’s guitar playing is subtle yet effective, supporting his vocals without overshadowing them. 4. **Intimacy:** Spoken introductions create a conversational atmosphere that draws listeners into each song. 5. **Variety:** The mix of somber tracks like "Cocaine" and lighthearted ones like "The Boll Weevil" ensures emotional balance. --- ### **Cons** 1. **Lack of Originality:** Most songs are covers or adaptations rather than original compositions. 2. **Disjointed Flow:** Spoken introductions interrupt musical continuity for some listeners. 3. **Limited Depth:** Critics argue that Elliott doesn’t imbue these songs with enough personal emotion compared to contemporaries like Johnny Cash or Elmore James[4]. 4. **Production Imperfections:** Flat notes and uneven pacing occasionally detract from the listening experience. --- ### **Conclusion** *Jack Takes the Floor* is more than just an album; it is a cultural artifact that bridges generations of American folk music. Ramblin' Jack Elliott’s storytelling prowess shines through both his spoken introductions and musical performances. While it may lack originality in terms of songwriting, its historical significance and charm make it essential listening for fans of folk music. The album's minimalistic production highlights its authenticity but also exposes its flaws—namely disjointed pacing and occasional lack of emotional depth in performance. Nevertheless, its influence on artists like Bob Dylan solidifies its place in music history. For those interested in exploring traditional American folk music or understanding its impact on modern artists, *Jack Takes the Floor* is an excellent starting point despite its imperfections.

Folksy til yer eyes bleed. Not my thing.

Ramblin’ Jack certainly wasn’t ramblin’ when he saw houmous & chutney play in 56. He was speechless! 3.1

Had to find this one on YouTube; first song is three minutes long and has a minute and a half of preamble before the song even starts so the Ramblin’ namesake tracks. Overall, kind of a perfect example of what makes acts like Guthrie and Dylan so unique in a sea of friendly folk-singin’ faces. The music is good enough but the character isn’t really there and that was almost half the battle to get established as a crucial folk act, at least for me.

3.5/5

Seems to be one of those “important” historical recordings. Sounds mostly live, just guitar/voice folk/story telling.

it was fun and i liked the kinda repetitive guitar playing, and the general bareness of it, enjoyable but idk if i have more to say

yodelayEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE... 5/10

Not available on Apple Music

classic blues (sung by a white guy) and folk songs, and even some yodeling. That's alright by me.

This album was fine, but I got tired of his pseudo-storytelling before some of his songs. This must have been more groundbreaking for 1958. It doesn't necessarily feel like a filler album, but I don't see myself returning to this anytime soon.

I don't like and I don't hate this. It's completely ineffective at producing any emotional response from me

Bluesypoo

Even with a soft spot for country, not a lot for me here

No unexpected twists or turns. Sounds like blueprint "country" to my ears.

Jack's got a lotta songs about animals

Feeling confused after that one. Not sure if I should turn Jack on or Jack off.

Tough finding this one on streaming - I think I found the right album on Youtube. INteresting from a historical perspective, both in the early folk recording, and in the introduciton/monologue on most songs giving some context.

Another New York Singing Cowboy…that I’ve never heard of. Ye hawing proof that music is made up of original interpretations of many influences winding down the trails. And Ramblin’ Jack influenced many others and one can hear it in these songs. Apologies, I seem to be rambling.

3 stars. Some interesting lyrics.

Jack met Woody. Bob met Woody. Bob meets Jack. And the rest is history. Not the starting point but it does bring things into focus. Before they get dispersed yet again. 3.5.

Jack gets a solid outing.

This kind of feels like a cover album. It doesn't have the weight of Dylan or Johnny Cash songs that would come later and also doesn't FOLK as much as Woody does. Low 3

Mid. I can see the nice folk roots in there. Not a bad sound. But nothing stands out. Would be good to set the era for a movie set in the olden days I guess.

historically important - Dylan started out very much like Ramblin' Jack - with some high points, San Francisco Bay Blues in particular.

Well, all this ramblin' has its charm. The fact that the song about a boll weevil is immediately followed by a song about bedbugs is just spectacular.

The missing link between Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan, at least that's what I understand from the folk troubadour's Wikipedia page. Guess the initial release of this record in Great Britain was pivotal in its inclusion in Dimery's book (written with a prominent British perspective, including for American artists). Apart from Jesse Fuller's "San Francisco Bay Blues" (that I had already heard played by other performers) and the traditional "Boll Weevil" song, one clear highlight is "New York Town", even if it took me two clicks on Spotify to find Ramblin' Jack Elliott performing an even better version of the song later. Please check the relatively short Wikipedia page about Jack, by the way. The man sure had an interesting life. Not sure that's enough to make this particular record of his truly essential, but Mr. Elliott, still among us, deserves respect for fraying with the greatest back in the day, not to mention more recently. And even without that, *Jack Takes The Floor* still provides a rather nice listen no matter what 3/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums. 8/10 for more general purposes (5 + 3). Number of albums left to review: around thirty or twenty, as I've gone over the 1000 line and this generator is including albums from all editions of the book. Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 464 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 278 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 334

Makes me nostalgic for simpler times

Soothing and enjoyable half an hour.

7/19

Jack Takes the Floor was a nice change of pace from some of the heavier stuff I've been listening to. You can definitely hear how this kind of stripped-down folk could’ve influenced bands like Old Crow Medicine Show. It’s got that raw, rootsy vibe that feels genuine. That said, it’s not something I’d throw on regularly — more of a once-in-a-while listen. Still, I’d take this over most of what passes for modern country any day. Favorite Song - East Texas Talking Blues Least Favorite song - Bed Bug Blues

Okay but not really my thing

You know these guys are all just entertainers but you don't want to find out that your folk singing cowboy is actually a rich kid from New York City. These are good songs and he sings them well but if you like this, what you're really after is Woody Guthrie.

un country muy tranqui. aprobado

Kindve boring

Delightfully simple. I loved the acoustic guitar plucking. I strongly disliked the “yodelaiHEEEEEEEEEEE.”

I *think* i listened to this a few weeks back and I *think* I gave it a 2.5 because it was Fine and I *hope* I'm not misremembering because that will make me a dirty liar who has only listened to 1000* album, but I'm also not going to go back and check.

This is compelling and often good, but there's an element of kitsch to it that i can't quite nail down that might just be because it's an extremely old and somewhat underground staple all-timer that people speak about in hushed tones lest too many people find out about jack elliott

Cowboy ah

saudades new vegas

3.5/5. Yapping Jack.

Old timey folk like this doesn't totally appeal but it's pretty cool to hear what was clearly one of Bob Dylan's biggest inspirations. 2.5 rounding up

Yeah, well, I just don’t have an opinion about American Folk Music, I guess

Like most pre-folk revival folk, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott can sometimes be very good, and sometimes be very annoying. This record is concrete proof of that divide. I don’t actually feel like I need to dive into the politics of including him over, say, Woody Guthrie or Pete Seeger, or even more country-leaning artists like Flatt and Scruggs or Hank Williams, all only because they [mostly] lack a non-compilation album that could be a valid addition to the list. While all of them may have been more influential to the folk-revival, I think it’s unfair to dismiss Jack Elliott from the conversation when he was also an influence, all be it, one with arguably a lesser impact overall. Now, taking Jack Takes the Floor at face value, it’s…fine. When it’s good, it’s pretty good. Sure, the more Guthrie-lite, American landscape songs like “San Francisco Bay Blues” or “New York Town” are decent if a dime a dozen, but there’s also songs like “Cocaine” and “Dink’s Song” and “Salty Dog” that have lyrical or musical diversity that show that Elliott did have something to add to the conversation. That said, while the good is fine here, the bad is disastrous. “Ol’ Riley” is like taking a power drill and inserting into your ear, and “Bed Bug Blues” is like having the worst imaginable conversation with a crust punk. In fact, there’s a little bit of, dare I say, ✨problematic✨ elements to this record with Elliott’s inflection and approach to black folk music. It’s not outwardly offensive, but it feels of a time, and that flaw makes it a bit awkward to sit through today. For the most part, though, my overall issue with Jack Takes the Floor is that Ramblin’ Jack Elliott might yap a lot, but he really doesn’t have a lot to say, and when he is yapping, he’s not the most charismatic presence on the microphone. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have his moments, as I’ve said, but he has more drab moments than exciting ones. I think Elliott deserves his flowers, and deserves credit for his influence, even if it is still a B-tier influence. He’s not bad, and Jack Takes the Floor can be pretty good at times. But I don’t know if any of that warrants this record essential, and if I think too hard about it, I might be less forgiving. 50/50 good v. bad, historically important– moving on.

2.5 The answer to the question of what If Sal Paradise walked into a honkey-tonk instead of a juke-joint

This wasn't as bad as I feared, i get the Dylan references but what it lacks in lyrical genius it makes up for by not having Dylan's whiney voice or harmonica nonsense so it's ok in my book.

Very gentle pre Bob Dylan Americana blues. Just a guy and his guitar and a whole bunch of stereotypes.

some good old fashioned folk. nothing too fancy.

Ramble on, Jack

I don't dislike it and it's pretty old but I'm not sure if it's at all that influential compared to Woody Guthrie and others.

Interesting subject choices. Not really my style, but not bad.

When he said that some of life's most troubling challenges are found in one's bed, I most certainly did not expect the next line to be him hollering, "Bedbugs is mean and evil!"

Starts off with a couple interesting songs but all together it’s good but not much more.

I can definitely see how Bob Dylan was influenced by this

Old style alternative picking sounds very good.

I was concerned about this one, but it was more enjoyable than I expected. Clever, quirky, amusing, and a right proper slice of Americana! The solo guitar leaves it a bit one-note, so to speak, so it seems an unlikely possibility for regular rotation. In the proper frame of mind, I suppose, his work will bear further reflection.

I’ve never heard of Jack Elliott before, and I’m not terribly familiar with folk music from this era, so I’m not sure what to expect from this album. However, this is why I signed up to do this project, so I’m excited to broaden my horizons a little today! I thought this album was pretty good. I wasn’t familiar with any of the songs, but I enjoyed them, and I enjoyed Jack Elliott’s unique vocal style. “San Francisco Bay Blues” and “Boll Weevil” were my favorite songs on the album, but I liked “Ol’ Riley” and “Dink’s Song” too. I read quite a few reviews that comment on Jack being from Brooklyn, and how that made the album feel inauthentic to them, but to me, folk music is about believing in certain ideals. In my opinion, anyone who ran off from a comfortable life to join a rodeo and then hung around Woody Guthrie probably embodies folk ideals. This isn’t the type of album I’d typically pop in for a casual listen, but it was interesting and fairly enjoyable.

Nothing shows the author(s) bias by using a UK release of an American record as a must listen. Ramblin' Jack Elliott, while a good artist of the Country western, singer-songwriter, Folk singer genres pales in comparison with any of the more well known characters from music history. Nothing against Jack but this release leaves more to be desired, which is sad because I'm wishing this list would include more from the past or from the underrepresented genres but we were royally robbed of a good listening experience with this release. 3.5/5

Lots of classic songs and folk tropes. Had to do the american release, called something else, as the jack takes the floor was apparently. Bit of a blaccent? Knew most and mostly liked. Competent renditions. All time gray goose is Leadbelly with the golden gate quartet though.

Didn't mind this one, pretty simple and unassuming, but that matched the vibe

Shades of Woody and Bob. Real, visceral, necessary, the reject (the boll weevil) who makes a place wherever he is but is always looking for a home. Romantic? No, there are bedbugs. Foundational.

This might be the first album I’ve ever listened to where there was a song about both bill weevils and bedbugs. While listening, I was thinking about Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie, and then Woody showed up on the album.

Not sure of the historical relevance of this one, but I found it too shouty and repetitious to be anything more than a curious time capsule. For that reason, I can see why it's included here, but I won't be returning to this album by choice. As a big fan of Jackson Browne's "Running On Empty" album, I found the version of "Cocaine" here to be of interest (Browne does a version, lyrics and vibe are different), so there was that bonus for me.

I wasn't so sure about this one, but it grew on me as it rambled along. Not sure this is something I can ever see being in the mood for, but it made my morning walk pleasant enough.

Big Dylan influencer here with Ramblin' Jack. I enjoy the simplicity and the folksy charm.

Jack Elliot > BDMR. Loved the explanations for every song. Didn’t know he wrote Dinks song.