Roll Columbia: Woody Guthrie’s 26 Northwest Songs is a trove of new discoveries, and a celebration of Guthrie’s genius and lasting contributions to both the history and musical traditions of the Pacific Northwest. In 1941, the Bonneville Power Administration commissioned Guthrie to write songs to help promote to the public the construction of dams along the Columbia River. 75 years later, present-day artists with ties to the Pacific Northwest who have been influenced by this fruitful time in Guthrie’s career have gathered together to record their own interpretations. Roll Columbia is the first and only complete collection of these 26 songs, including nine that had never before been recorded, such as “Eleckatricity and All” and “Portland Town to Klamath Falls,” as well as classic Guthrie tunes “Pastures of Plenty” and “Hard Travelin’.” 2 discs, 104 minutes, 44-page booklet.
Pastures of Plenty – By Michael Hurley and Jon Neufeld
Oregon Line (That Oregon Line) – By Pharis and Jason Romero
Lumber Is King – By Cahalen Morrison
Out Past the End of the Line – By Timberbound
Portland Town to Klamath Falls – By Tony Furtado and Kristin Andreassen
Eleckatricity and All – By Annalisa Tornfelt and the Tornfelt Sisters
Hard Travelin’ – By Ben Hunter and Joe Seamons
Columbia Talkin’ Blues (Talking Columbia) – By Carl Allen
The Talkin’ Blues – By Al James and Jon Neufeld
Jackhammer Blues (Jackhammer John) – By Martha Scanlan and Jon Neufeld
Roll on, Columbia, Roll on – By Steve Einhorn and Kate Power
The Biggest Thing That Man Has Ever Done (The Great Historical Bum) – By Caitlin Belem Romtvedt, David Romtvedt, and Joe Seamons
Jackhammer Blues (Jackhammer John) – By Orville Johnson
Guys on the Grand Coulee Dam – By Bill Murlin and Fine Company
Mile An’ a Half from TH’ End of TH’ Line (End of My Line) – By Timberbound
Columbia’s Waters – By Caitlin Belem Romtvedt, David Romtvedt, and Joe Seamons
Ballad of the Great Grand Coulee (The Grand Coulee Dam) – By Darrin Craig and Jon Neufeld
Washington Talkin’ Blues (Talking Dust Bowl) – By Scott McCaughey, Peter Buck, and Jon Neufeld
It Takes a Married Man to Sing a Worried Song – By Pharis and Jason Romero
Ramblin’ Blues (Portland Town) – By Ben Hunter and Joe Seamons
New Found Land – By John Moen, Chris Funk, and Jon Neufeld
White Ghost Train – By Cahalen Morrison
The Song of the Grand Coulee Dam (Way Up in That Northwest) – By George Rezendes, David Grisman, and Tracy Grisman
A Ramblin’ Round – By John Moen and Chris Funk
Roll, Columbia, Roll – By Bill Murlin and Fine Company
Grand Coulee Powder Monkey – By Scott McCaughey, Peter Buck, and Jon Neufeld
The Ballad of Jackhammer John – By Cahalen Morrison, Joe Seamons, and Jon Neufeld
Pastures of Plenty – By Orville Johnson