• Born in Brooklyn on 1st August 1931, Ramblin’ Jack was greatly influenced by Woody Guthrie and his mastery of Woody’s songs had a great impact on the young Bob Dylan whose performing style Bob imitated.

• Dylan had called Jack “his long-lost father” and later featured Elliott on his notorious Rolling Thunder Roadshow.

• Elliott’s ‘San Francisco Bay Blues’ was one of the first songs Paul McCartney learned to play and Mick Jagger bought his first guitar after hearing Elliott busking on a station platform in London. Jack has influenced several generations of musicians including Lou Reed, Van Morrison, Mick Ronson, Kris Kristofferson and Bruce Springsteen.

• Elliott’s nickname comes not from his travelling habits but rather the countless stories he relates before answering the simplest of questions. Folk singer Odetta claimed that her mother gave him the name, remarking “Oh, Jack Elliott, yeah, he sure can ramble on”.

• Ramblin’ Jack earned his first Grammy award in 1995. He was also awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1998.

• This CD contains the two albums Jack recorded for Warner/Reprise in 1968 and 1970 and includes songs by Bob Dylan, Tim Hardin, Kris Kristofferson, Jagger and Richards, Johnny Cash and, of course, Woody Guthrie.

• Original sleevenotes by Johnny Cash and Arlo Guthrie.