This is an enjoyable laid-back bit of folk rock, though I found that it went on quite long.
Arlo Guthrie (born 1947) was from Brooklyn. Like his father, Woody Guthrie, he is a singer, songwriter, and storyteller, writing songs protesting social injustice. He is best-known for "Alice's Restaurant", a Vietnam War protest song that appeared on his first album, released in 1967. His song "Massachusetts" became the official folk song of that state in 1981.
"City Of New Orleans" was Guthrie's only pop chart success, reaching #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #11 nationally in Canada. It was written by Steve Goodman, a Chicago-based singer-songwriter and Chicago Cubs fan who also wrote songs titled "Go Cubs Go" and "A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request". (Goodman died of leukemia in 1984 at the age of 36; some of his ashes were scattered at Wrigley Field.)
Guthrie continued his musical career into the 21st century, releasing his last album in 2009. He has been hampered by a series of strokes; his last touring concerts were in 2023.
Created October 17, 2026.