UTAH PHILLIPS & ANI DIFRANCO: Fellow Workers

Utah Phillips & Ani DiFranco

Fellow Workers

© 1999 Righteous Babe Records (748731701529)

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Utah sings labor songs and tells stories about where labor unions come from and why we need them today, while Ani's ingenious instrumental and vocal arrangements make the old songs come alive again and, yes, rock.

notes

Utah Phillips has crafted a fascinating show out of his life. In the course of seventy years he has labored as a dishwasher, archivist, printer, and warehouseman; soldiered in the Korean War; lived as a tramp (he is still a Grand Duke of Hoboes), and for the past 36 years made his way telling stories and singing songs. He has the wit, humor, bite, and intelligence of a Mark Twain or a Will Rogers, and behind his "Everyman" appearance is a consummate artist. Peppered with one-liners and offhand philosophical commentary, Utah's revealing stories, about such spirited American characters as Charley Goodnight, Mother Jones, and Idaho Blackie, tell our true history and connect us to American traditions that are genuinely ours.
Utah Phillips is described as "a national treasure, a writer of haunting songs, a storyteller of hilarious presence and subtle depth, a union organizer, historian and scholar, a Celtic-Yiddish bard, a Pleistocene bon vivant, a post-modern ne'er-do-well, and a heck of an engineer." A 40-year member of the Industrial Workers of the World, he is the most entertaining labor troubadour of our time, leading his audience on an emotional rollercoaster with side-splitting storytelling and fire-breathing working class songs. According to one reviewer, "Phillips exemplifies some of the traits which Americans most value: an open and inquisitive mind, a daring heart, and a sharp but humorous tongue." The Boston Globe said, "Phillips above all is a consummate showman, a master of the theater...Phillips has a genius for making people laugh and care at the same time." He is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the North American Folk Alliance, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Western Labor Heritage Foundation, and the Joe Hill Award from the Labor Heritage Foundation-AFL-CIO, among many others.

reviews

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  • Not so Soft review
    author: Kelly Surber

    This cd is very differnet in my opinion. I think that it more of less just talks about things that Ani has seen. or new a person that experianced it. It was very infomitive to me. One of the songs i liked that maybe told of something that most have experianced. it talked about what it would be like if two girls could just ditch their boyfriends and have a little fun maybe follw into a relationship. I personaly understand that one and think that we all need a break from men at times. overall i thought the cd was a hit very unique lurics and thruthful songs.

  • Out of Range review
    author: Kelly Surber

    This cd is my all time favorite. One of the main things that makes this cd so great is that each song is unique in its own way. The song You Had Time was personal i think Ani's best song its very meaningful has a good tune and well its just rocks. another thing is that it tells a story whitch i like to listen to how people live and experiances that go along.

  • Listening to Utah Phillips is always a treat.
    author: Adrien

    I love Utah Phillips, his corn always seems fresh, his music enjoyable and his message thought-provoking.

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