Steve Goodman (album)

Steve Goodman is the debut album of singer/songwriter Steve Goodman, released in 1971. It included his most well-known composition "City of New Orleans", first covered by Arlo Guthrie. The album was reissued on CD in 1999 and included two bonus tracks, "Election Year Rag" and "Georgia Rag". The album was a critical success, although a commercial failure.[1]

Steve Goodman
Studio album by Steve Goodman
Released	1971
Studio	Quadrafonic Sound Studios, Nashville, TN
Genre	Folk
Length	46:40 (reissue)
Label	Buddha
Producer	Norbert Putnam, Kris Kristofferson
Steve Goodman chronology
Steve Goodman (1971) Somebody Else's Troubles (1972)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]

In reviewing the 1999 reissue, Allmusic critic William Ruhlmann called "City of New Orleans" the "obvious standout" and wrote, "At a time when sensitive singer/songwriters were all the rage (a trend that probably earned Goodman his record contract), this was one guy who was at least as interested in picking an old country song as he was in baring his soul."[2]

Track listing

1. "The I Don't Know Where I'm Going, But I'm Goin' Nowhere in a Hurry Blues" – 2:32
2. "Rainbow Road" (Donnie Fritts, Dan Penn) – 3:33
3. "Donald & Lydia" (John Prine) – 4:54
4. "You Never Even Call Me by My Name" (Goodman, Prine) – 4:24
5. "Mind Your Own Business" (Hank Williams) – 2:54
6. "Eight Ball Blues" – 4:24
7. "City of New Orleans" – 3:52
8. "Turnpike Tom" – 4:15
9. "Yellow Coat" – 4:44
10. "So Fine" – (Johnny Otis) – 3:19
11. "Jazzman" (Ed Holstein) – 3:42
12. "Would You Like to Learn to Dance?" – 4:07
13. "Election Year Rag" - 2:03
14. "Georgia Rag" - 2:00

Personnel

• Steve Goodman – vocals, guitar
• David Briggs – piano
• Kenny Buttrey – percussion
• Vassar Clements – fiddle
• Norbert Putnam – bass
• Donnie Fritts – organ
• Bob Dylan – piano on "Election Year Rag"
• Ben Keith – dobro, guitar, pedal steel guitar
• Stephen Brunton – guitar, percussion, backing vocals
• Grady Martin – guitar
• Pete Wade – guitar
• Billy Sanford – banjo, guitar
• Bucky Willkin – guitar, backing vocals
• Kris Kristofferson – backing vocals
• Bill Swofford – backing vocals
• John Prine – backing vocals
• Charlie McCoy – harmonica, organ
• Martha McCrory – cello
• Gene Mullins – trombone
• Dennis Good – trombone
• Billy Puett – clarinet
• George Tidwell – trumpet

Production

• Norbert Putnam – producer
• Kris Kristofferson – producer
• Gene Eichelberger – engineer, mixing
• Gene Hazen – mixing
• Bob Cato – photography, design

References

1. Paste Magazine, Steve Goodman - Unemployed
2. Ruhlmann, William. "Steve Goodman > Review". Allmusic. Retrieved August 31, 2018.