Van Ronk is an album by folk music artist Dave Van Ronk, released in 1971.[1]

Van Ronk
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 1971
RecordedDecember 1970 - May 1971
StudioSound Exchange Studios, New York City
GenreFolk
LabelPolydor
ProducerDave Woods
Dave Van Ronk chronology
Dave Van Ronk and the Hudson Dusters
(1967)
Van Ronk
(1971)
Songs for Ageing Children
(1973)

History edit

Van Ronk features some of his most elaborate recordings with many backing musicians. It includes English language versions of songs by non-English speaking composers (Bertold Brecht and Jacques Brel).

Another release titled Van Ronk was issued as a double LP in 1972 by Fantasy Records by pairing Dave Van Ronk, Folksinger and Inside Dave Van Ronk. That collection was later released on CD as Inside Dave Van Ronk.

Reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Christgau's Record GuideB+[2]

Village Voice critic Robert Christgau wrote of Van Ronk: "He shoots his shot at big-label production here, and now and then the orchestration (not to mention the material) turns surprisingly schmaltzy, but for the most part this shouted melee of song collection is a riot."[2]

Track listing edit

Side one edit

  1. "Bird on the Wire" (Leonard Cohen) – 3:55
  2. "Fox's Minstrel Show" (Michael Small) – 3:05
  3. "Port of Amsterdam" (Jacques Brel, Eric Blau, Mort Shuman) – 3:25
  4. "Fat Old John" (Peter Stampfel) – 1:06
  5. "Urge for Going" (Joni Mitchell) – 4:37

Side two edit

  1. "Random Canyon" (Peter Stampfel) – 2:05
  2. "I Think It's Going to Rain Today" (Randy Newman) – 3:50
  3. "Gaslight Rag" (Dave Van Ronk) – 2:55
  4. "Honey Hair" (Van Ronk) – 3:15
  5. "Legend of the Dead Soldier" (Bertolt Brecht, Eric Bentley) – 4:05
  6. "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive" (Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen) – 2:30

Personnel edit

  • Dave Van Ronk – vocals, guitar

Production notes edit

  • All Songs Arranged by Dave Woods except "Gaslight Rag" by Dave Van Ronk
  • Produced by Dave Woods
  • Engineered by Steve Katz
  • Cover Art by Anne Friedman
  • Morale by Joanne Grace
  • Manager – Ron Shelley
  • Spiritual – John Jameson
  • Polydor: Karen Austin, Jon Sagen

References edit

  1. ^ Dave Van Ronk discography
  2. ^ a b Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: V". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 20, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.