Alice's Restaurant Revisited

I grew up with Arlo Guthrie's "Alice's Restaurant" as a Thanksgiving tradition. The rock station I listened to as a teen played it every year. I understand other rock stations around the country did this, as well, at least from time to time. So I like to think I'm not alone. To be honest, though, I have no idea how this song became a rock staple (and I believe some classic rock stations continue to play it annually).

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Originally, there was just that first version of "Alice's Restaurant" from 1967, which clocked in just shy of eighteen-and-a-half minutes. Arlo revisited it for a 1995 album, adding to the story, and the track grew by another four minutes. About ten years later, he sang about the song while on tour in Australia, not going through the entire song, but rather singing about the next generation carrying on the tradition (for a brief nine minutes). And in another ten years, Arlo revisited (and reworked it) for an album called Rehashed, and the song grew by a couple more minutes. Shortly after that, he recorded another live version of the song's 50th anniversary (and that one was around nineteen minutes long). 

I get that not everyone shares this tradition. My wife had no idea this song even existed before she met me. She puts up with it each November, with her characteristic good humor. Come to think of it, other members of my family do that, too.

And if you aren't familiar with "Alice's Restaurant", I hope you'll do the same.

I'm continuing the Sounds of Christmas tradition of playing this song once again this year. Actually, twice again. 

I'll be airing the original version of Arlo's tune on Thanksgiving Day between 12:00pm and 1:00pm (Eastern). And later on Thanksgiving evening, I'll be playing Arlo's 50th anniversary edition of that same song (between 10:00pm and 11:00pm Eastern).

Whether you've enjoyed this as part of your own Thanksgiving tradition, or it's something brand new to you (or you're somewhere in between), I hope you can tune in later this month. Even if you're listening outside the U.S., and none of this makes any sense at all to you.

Thanks so much for spending part of your holiday season with us!

And may you always believe in Santa Claus!

​Ken