# Odetta, House of the Rising Sun

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odetta-house-of-the-rising-sun/429422>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [December 9, 2007, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odetta-house-of-the-rising-sun/429422 "2007-12-09T22:13:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2007, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odetta-house-of-the-rising-sun/429422/1 "2007-12-09T22:13:29Z")

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I just heard a performance of “House of the Rising Sun” by a blues singer named Odetta on _A Prairie Home Companion_ It was a really moving rendition.

My question is for anyone, but especially those who have heard both the PHC performance _and_ the recorded version I can buy from itunes. The question is, is the recorded version as effective and moving as the performance I just heard?

In the PHC performance, she does two or three of the verses solo–no accompaniment. Is this the case in the recorded version as well?

Thanks,

-Kris

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**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odetta-house-of-the-rising-sun/429422/2 "2007-12-10T16:57:21Z")

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If anyone’s curious, I found a video of her performing the song on [Youtube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WKs-8MMvKE). My favorite part of the performance begins at 2:23.

-FrL-

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**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odetta-house-of-the-rising-sun/429422/3 "2007-12-10T17:08:21Z")

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Odetta played here not too long ago. I really wanted to go but couldn’t. It was a real pity. I was blown away by her power when I saw her [do this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSDeROnTq64&feature=related).

The power is probably all but gone but the passion remains. In her day though that woman sang with POWER.

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**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odetta-house-of-the-rising-sun/429422/4 "2007-12-10T17:43:45Z")

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[QUOTE=yojimbo]

The power is probably all but gone but the passion remains. In her day though that woman sang with POWER.  
[/QUOTE]

Saw her sing about six years ago. At least then, the power was, I’d say, about 70% there, which surprised me, too.

P.S. I love her “Saro Jane” and “Another Man Done Gone” from that early-'60’s concert recording.

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**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odetta-house-of-the-rising-sun/429422/5 "2007-12-10T18:39:38Z")

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I just bought tickets to see Odetta!! She’ll be coming here in January. She’ll be backed by a gospel choir. I was surprised to see that she was still around. She was a huge influence on Dylan and Joan Baez and many of the other folkies who came of age in the early 60’s.

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**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odetta-house-of-the-rising-sun/429422/6 "2007-12-10T23:44:18Z")

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She’s a national treasure.

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**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odetta-house-of-the-rising-sun/429422/7 "2007-12-10T23:53:35Z")

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Here’s the [Animals](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRV9QCXLtHQ) performing it in the 60’s.