Woody Guthrie

Guthrie's discography is a mess, spread over a handful of labels that regularly repackage his music in bite-size chunks rather than producing a sweeping anthology. Luckily, this changed when Smithsonian/Folkways released the Asch Recordings boxed set in 1999. In addition to great sound, these four discs offer the most comprehensive overview of Guthrie's slyly complex oeuvre. He was more than a folk singer; he was an encyclopedia of American roots music. Monumental stuff.