Arkansas Traveler (album)

Arkansas Traveler is an alternative folk album released by American singer-songwriter Michelle Shocked in 1992. Her fourth album for Mercury Records, the songs focused around the roots of her music. The album included collaborations with several other artists, including Taj Mahal, Alison Krauss, and Norman Blake.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Michelle Shocked; except where indicated

1. "33 RPM Soul" — 4:10
2. "Come a Long Way" — 4:43
3. "Secret to a Long Life" — 3:50
4. "Contest Coming (Cripple Creek)" — 3:35
5. "Over the Waterfall" — 4:39
6. "Shaking Hands (Soldier's Joy)" — 3:25
7. "Jump Jim Crow" — 3:32
8. "Hold Me Back" — 5:09
9. "Strawberry Jam" — 4:33
10. "Prodigal Daughter (Cotton Eyed Joe)" — 6:43
11. "Blackberry Blossom" — 3:31
12. "Weaving Way" — 2:57
13. "Arkansas Traveler" — 4:20
14. "Woody's Rag" (Woody Guthrie) — 2:51

Reception

Reviewing the album for Rolling Stone, Mark Kemp gave it four stars out of five, calling it "ambitious".^[1] William Ruhlmann of AllMusic also gave the album four stars out of five. He also found it an ambitious album, calling Shocked "feisty" and "exuberant". He also noted the album's lack of commercial success.^[2]

References

1. ^ Kemp, Mark (1992-05-14), "Michelle Shocked : Arkansas Traveler : Music Reviews", Rolling Stone, http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/michelleshocked/albums/album/211972/review/5946002/arkansas_traveler, retrieved 2010-01-06 
2. ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Arkansas Traveler > Overview". AllMusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r122852. Retrieved 2010-01-06.