Here is the man who inspired generations of folk-artists, Woody Guthrie, celebrating his centenary with all his most famous songs, including all 12 of the celebrated Dust Bowl Ballads.

Oklahoman Woody Guthrie (1912-1967) was the greatest of all American folk balladeers. He was a seminal figure who changed the course of popular music history, and inspired later generations of folk artists, from Pete Seeger and The Weavers and The Kingston Trio, through to Lonnie Donegan and Bob Dylan. Being himself a refugee from the poverty of the Oklahoma Dust Bowl, he was able to put over his songs of social significance with real feeling. His uncompromising political stance, his forthright guitar and harmonica playing, his hobo lifestyle and his meaningful songs made him the leading source of inspiration for the 60s folk revival.

This Land Is Your Land, also the title of Retrospective’s collection of his 26 finest recordings, is only the best known of so many Woody Guthrie folk classics. Others included are Pretty Boy Floyd, Pastures Of Plenty, Grand Coulee Dam, Hard Travellin’ and many more. Most notable is his heartfelt collection of Dust Bowl Ballads, all 12 of which feature here; great numbers such as Dusty Old Dust (So Long, It’s Been Good To Know Yuh) and I Ain’t Got No Home In This World Anymore.