Arlo Guthrie - When the Cactus is in Bloom

As the snow melts up here in the Berkshires, it’s starting to feel as though spring is just around the corner. In an effort to hurry it along, we have chosen Arlo Guthrie’s cover of “When the Cactus is in Bloom” as our song of the week!

Though this song has been covered time and again, it was first written and performed by the notable American singer-songwriter, Jimmie Rodgers, in 1931. In the lyrics of this piece, Rodgers paints that peaceful feeling that comes from the rebirth of the land each spring.

Arlo’s cover of this jem made it onto two of his own albums. The first time was on the album, “Arlo Guthrie”, released in 1974. It was later covered again for the “Son of the Wind”, a cowboy album featuring David Grover and Ed Gerhard on guitars; Dan Velika on bass; Terry Hall on drums; Rick Tiven on fiddle and mandolin; Paul Kleinwald on banjo; Tim Gray on hammered dulcimer; John Culpo on accordion; Zip Zantay on clarinet; and background vocal of Mike Joyce, Jim Labbee, Bob Bowes, and Dick Delmolino.

 Click here to listen!