170. John McCutcheon Discusses Pete Seeger, We Shall Overcome

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Legendary folk singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist John McCutcheon kicks off 2025 on You, Me and An Album by introducing Al to Pete Seeger’s 1963 live album We Shall Overcome. John talks about how it was the first album he had ever bought and how it has shaped life and his work as a musician. He also discusses his personal relationship with Seeger and what made Seeger such an important and unique figure in folk music. John and Al wrap up by discussing John’s new album, Field of Stars, his baseball fandom and his upcoming touring and recording plans.

You can find out more about John’s music at his website, folkmusic.com. Also be sure to give him a follow on Instagram at @appalseed.

Al is on Bluesky at @almelchior.bsky.social. This show has an account on Instagram at @youmealbum. Subscribe for free to You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter! https://youmealbum.substack.com/. You can also support the show on Buzzsprout at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1542814/episodes or at the link at the bottom of these show notes.

As Al mentioned on the show, here is a list of organizations that are helping those who need assistance due to the fires in the Los Angeles area. Please consider donating to these organizations or helping in whatever way you may be able to.

American Red Cross of the Los Angeles Region: https://www.redcross.org/local/california/los-angeles/about-us/our-work/california-wildfires-response-january-2025.html

Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation: https://supportlafd.kindful.com/?campaign=1040812

Musicares: https://donor.musicares.org/page/lafirerelief

CA Community Foundation’s Wildlife Recovery Fund: https://www.calfund.org/funds/wildfire-recovery-fund/

California Fire Foundation: https://www.cafirefoundation.org/

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles: https://www.habitatla.org/

World Central Kitchen: https://wck.org/

1:31 John joins the show

2:41 John’s copy of We Shall Overcome is incredibly well-preserved

4:32 John did not buy the album because of Pete Seeger

9:10 We Shall Overcome was different from other music that John had heard

13:01 John talks about his first Seeger concert

19:17 John explains why he thinks a rift developed in the folk community during the ‘60s

21:50 Seeger took care in how he orchestrated his setlists

25:45 We Shall Overcome was John’s first taste of what a concert experience was like

31:36 John talks about Seeger’s courage as an artist

34:33 John recounts the first time he met Seeger and his relationship with him over the years

39:54 John discusses Field of Stars and being inspired by Henry Aaron

45:49 John talks about his upcoming plans

Outro music is from "Field of Stars" by John McCutcheon.

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