Various Artists - Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?: By: Various

"Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?":  Great American Songs of the Depression

By Various Artists

Good Condition.

Released on CMH Records (the company that puts out the Pickin' On series),  Oh Brother, Can You Spare a Dime collects Depression-era songs done by recent and contemporary bluegrass artists, although the most effective tracks here aren't really bluegrass at all, like Peter Rowan's folky take on "No Depression in Heaven" or Tim O'Brien's version of the title tune. Merle Travis' impressive "Cocaine Blues" is hardly bluegrass, either, and  The Osborne Brothers' soaring dual-fiddle rendition of "I'll Fly Away" is bluegrass of a different stripe, retaining some old string band qualities. In the end, the emotional kick of these venerable old songs of desperation, dwindling possibilities, and defiant but skewed optimism is what carries the day, rather than the genre in which they are presented.

Track Listing 

1. I Ain't Got No Home
2. Freight Train Blues
3. Big Rock Candy Mountain
4. Brother Can You Spare a Dime?
5. May I Sleep in Your Barn Tonight, Mister
6. No Depression in Heaven
7. In the Jailhouse Now
8. Jimmy Brown the Newsboy
9. Boll Weevil
10. There'll Be No Distinction There
11. Cocaine Blues
12. I'll Fly Away
13. Waiting for a Train
14. Cannonball Blues
15. Peach Pickin' Time in Georgia
16. Eddie's Matchbox Blues
17. Heaven Bound Train
18. Angel Band