| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [2] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | B−[3] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [4] |
| The New Rolling Stone Album Guide | [5] |
Washington County is a 1970 album by the American folk singer Arlo Guthrie.[6] It peaked at #33 on the Billboard charts on December 4, 1970,[7] and number 28 in Australia.[8]
Critical reception
Contributing to Magnet, Bar/None owner Glenn Morrow called the album "remarkably eclectic". He praised "Gabriel's Mother's Highway Ballad #16 Blues", writing that it "wraps around the listener like a sonic temple—a place of peace and well-being, bracing out the cold winds of a hostile world".[9]
Compilations and covers
"Gabriel's Mother's Hiway Ballad #16 Blues" was later included on the 1977 compilation The Best of Arlo Guthrie. A cover version of it became the title track of the 1972 Franciscus Henri album Gabriel's Mother's Highway.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Arlo Guthrie, except where indicated.
Side One
- "Introduction" – 3:22
- "Fencepost Blues" (sometimes rendered as "Fence Post Blues") – 3:11
- "Gabriel's Mother's Hiway Ballad #16 Blues" – 6:23
- "Washington County" – 1:59
- "Valley to Pray" – 2:46 (Doc Coutson, John Pilla, Arlo Guthrie)
Side Two
- "Lay Down Little Doggies" (Woody Guthrie) – 3:18
- "I Could Be Singing" – 3:19
- "If You Would Just Drop By" – 4:23
- "Percy's Song" (Bob Dylan) – 4:57
- "I Want to Be Around" – 2:45
Personnel
- Arlo Guthrie – banjo, guitar, piano, autoharp, harp, vocals
- Hoyt Axton – bass vocals
- Ry Cooder – bottleneck guitar
- Doug Dillard – banjo
- Chris Ethridge – bass guitar
- Richie Hayward – drums
- John Pilla – guitar, autoharp, harmony vocals
- Gary Walters – bass guitar
- Clarence White – electric guitar
- Technical
- Barry Feldman – executive producer
- Van Dyke Parks – co-producer on "Valley to Pray"
References
- ^ Reineke, Hank (June 10, 2012). Arlo Guthrie: The Warner/Reprise Years. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810883314 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Washington County: Arlo Guthrie". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: G". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 24, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (May 27, 2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. ISBN 9780857125958 – via Google Books.
- ^ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (July 10, 2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780743201698 – via Google Books.
- ^ Thompson, Dave. "Arlo Guthrie's M.O." Goldmine Magazine: Record Collector & Music Memorabilia.
- ^ "Arlo Guthrie". Billboard.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 131. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "From The Desk Of Glenn Morrow: Arlo Guthrie's 'Gabriel's Mothers Highway Ballad #16 Blues'". Magnet. June 20, 2017.
