The suffering and compassion conveyed by Odetta’s voice made her an enduring folk legend. Prior to her passing in December 2008, she recorded a formidable body of work ranging from traditional material to contemporary tunes. Best of the Vanguard Years gathers outstanding tracks from the early ‘60s, when her music was finding a new audience among young folk fans. Combining the wail of primal blues with the grandeur of American theater, Odetta rendered even familiar songs with immediacy and passion. Her readings of “No More Auction Block for Me,” “If I Had a Hammer” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic” invoke the glories of the Civil Rights movement, while “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho” and “He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands” soar with timeless gospel fervor. Odetta’s skills at dramatic narrative (and her unique guitar-playing style) are captured on the haunting “He Had a Long Chain On.” She could display a jazzy touch as well, as shown by a previously unreleased version of “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out.” Odetta sang with a brooding, canyon-deep resonance that knew no emotional limits. This collection gives a sense of the heights this archetypal talent could reach.