Odetta At The Gate Of Horn

 

Sail Away Ladies, Sail Away

Odetta At The Gate Of Horn

Recorded by Esoteric Studios

Edited by Patrick Clancy

Cover Design by Raphael Boguslav

Cover Photo by Stan Levy

Tradition Records TLP 1025

1957

From the back cover: Odetta has already established herself as a recording artist and as a singer of folk songs on her first 12" long-playing album for Tradition Records (TLP 1010) Odetta Sings Ballads And Blues). Within a few months from issuing of her first record, it was evident we had another major artist recording for Tradition.

Now, for her second record, Odetta brings us a beautiful selection of songs of work, fun, and serious moods with her guitar and a bass accompaniment. Her voice is rich, full and contrasting. The changes in mood from the storytelling "Fox Went Out" to the soft lullaby "All The Little Horses", the hard, ringing work tones of "Take This Hammer" or the true spirit of the gospel songs "The Whole World In His Hand" and "Deep River" with their feeling of exaltation for singer and listener alike, gives us the scope of what a great folksinger can attain.

The reviews of her first album give her the praise seldom given to an artist on her first record and I leave the praising to the record reviewers across the country. New York Times "a striking contralto voice... one suspects she will be heard from increasingly in the future." Northwest Times "one of the most exciting introductions to a great new artist in the past few years." Seventeen "the thrilling intensity of the ballad and blues singer who call herself Odetta." Berwyn Life-Beacon, Illinois "She has primarily a magnetic, galvanizing personality and above all a subtlety of inflection to her lyrics together with a magnificent fervor and almost electrifying sincerity that grips the listener from the first bars."

Odetta was born in Alabama but has spent most of her life in California. She has had several years of operatic training and has appeared in the hit musical "Finian's Rainbow". For the past five years her night club appearances have included the 'Blue Angel' in New York City, the 'Hungry i' and 'The Tin Angel' in San Francisco. She appeared for two years at the 'Turnabout Theatre' in Los Angeles.

The inspiration for naming this new album of Odetta's came from her appearances at the 'Gate Of Horn' in Chicago where she has had several engagements in the past two years. The name Gate Of Horn, I am told, comes from the legend that "there are two gates of dreams, one of ivory and one of horn. Dreams which delude pass through the ivory gate. Those which pass through the gate of horn come true." According to the owners of the club Odetta is destined to pass through the 'Gate Of Horn' again in the near future.

After her arrival in New York City this year, Odetta gave concerts at Hunter College, The New School and Actors Playhouse to the delight of her ever increasing number of admirers.

In the past Odetta has been compared with great gospel and blues singers, but as her great voice and unique style unfold on this record, you will realize there is a variety here seldom heard before and a quality that is only Odetta's.

He's Got The Whole World In His Hands

Sail Away Ladies, Sail Away

The Gallows Pole

Lowlands

The Fox

Maybe She Go

The Lass From The Low Countree

Timber

Deep River

Chilly Winds

Green Sleeves

Devilish Mary

All The Pretty Little Horses

The Midnight Special

Take This Hammer