Buffy Sainte-Marie - 'It's My Way!' (1964)

Versions:
LP
CD
CD (2005 reissue, signed)

Tracklisting:

Side One:
1. Now That The Buffalo's Gone
2. The Old Man's Lament
3. Ananias
4. Mayoo Sto Hoon
5. Cod'ine
6. Cripple Creek
7. The Universal Soldier

Side Two:
1. Babe In Arms
2. He Lived Alone In Town
3. You're Gonna Need Somebody On Your Bond
4. The Incest Song
5. Eyes Of Amber
6. It's My Way

Best tracks:
All of Side One
It's My Way

Currently listening to: LP

This was Buffy Sainte-Marie's first album, and the first of her albums I owned. I bought it on a whim from Mr V about 6 or 7 years ago (it's a beautiful American pressing and I only paid about $8 for it). I'd never heard her before. I had vague recollections of someone telling me I should check her out, and that I'd really like her.

I can't remember who it was, but fuck me, they weren't wrong.

The record opens with 'Now That The Buffalo's Gone', a song about the mistreatment of Native Americans, and it hit me straight in the gut. It still does. Before this record, I didn't realise folk could be so angry. Sure, most protest music is passionate, but I'd never heard anything quite like this. There's an underlying, seething anger, both in the songs and in her performance. She evens seems to play her guitar with more vigour and passion that most folk singers I'm used to. Even listening now, it still completely blows me away, such is the impressive power of this record.

The songs themselves are equally as impressive as their delivery. 'Universal Solider', 'Cripple Creek' and 'Cod'ine', three of her best known and most covered songs, are all there. And this was her first album. There's also some pretty heavy subject matter in these songs, even by 2014 standards, let alone 1964 standards. Most striking perhaps is, 'The Incest Song', the tale of a brother impregnating his sister, then killing her on his wedding day. Then there's 'The Old Man's Lament', where the old man's wife is a "plague on his life". Of course, 'Cod'ine' and 'Universal Solider' are also highlights, both brilliantly written. Donovan's reading of the latter pales in comparison to Buffy's version. It seems unfair that he was the one who made it a hit.

I was lucky enough to see Buffy perform over two nights in London in 2012. The first night, a spoken word performance, was truly inspiring. During the performance, she mentioned that when It's My Way was originally released in the UK, the record label had a red tinge added to the cover art to market her as a little Indian girl with a guitar. Buffy, of course, had none of it and forced them to change it. That this record was released in such a climate, by a Native American woman singing about drug abuse, war, incest and the mistreatment of her people, makes it even more remarkable. It was certainly a bold statement from a bold artist.

During the second night in London, I was lucky enough to see Buffy plays some of the songs from this album. She was brilliant, and I was lucky enough to meet her after the show. Since all my albums were back in Australia, I bought a CD from the show to get signed. I didn't have to think twice about which one I wanted. And I was very happy to get to her sign It's My Way for me.

It's hard to believe this album is 50 years old. Most of the songs are still relevant all these years later, and it still makes for a compelling listen. I highly recommend it.