Customer Reviews

Dear Companion

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Alertnate album takes featuring Bob Dylan and Ravi Shankar, the complete tracks from two of Hester's out of print Decca albums, an insight into the recording of different versions of songs in the days when studio tracking was a lot simpler than it is now-all this plus a liner notes booklet with lots of infomation and comments from Hester and others about her own career and the folk music revival. This is by no means a recording of historical interest only. It's a vibrant collection by a great singer, which stands on its own as well as providing a base for understanding what Hester is doing with her music today, and the work of the many artists-Dylan, Nanci Griffith, Emmylou Harris, the Kennedys, Rory Block among others-she has touched in her career.

Although I didn't begin buying records in earnest until about 15 years after the height of the folk era, I'm surprised I missed Ms. Hester until recently. I only knew of her as a footnote to Dylan's career (his harmonica backing on a couple tunes are his earliest commercial recordings) until I read about her role (and mistreatment by Richard Farina) in David Hajdu's excellent Positively Fourth Street.

Columbia signed Hester to be their Joan Baez when Baez was selling so many records and creating such a stir for much smaller competitor Vanguard. However, they don't really sound much alike. If anyone, I'd have to say that Hester sounds like Mary Hopkins ("Those Were the Days" "Turn Turn Turn") with a Texas inflection.

I don't think Hester is quite as good as some of the better remembered icons of the Folk era, but for those of us who have listened to the limited cannon of great pre-electric albums way too many times, a new voice on some old and new tunes is a must have.

This collection is a typically all-inclusive and meticulous Bear Family compilation. Sixty tunes crammed are onto 2 cds, and the sound quality is very good, so the high price is not entirely unjustified.

I thought that the early sessions from 1961 were mostly enjoyable, but at times Hester's voice could be a bit thin. While she let the songs speak for themselves, she didn't always contribute a lot of herself to them. Three and a half stars for these.

The middle sessions I adored. Her singing is more mature, both expressively and technically, and there's a wonderful choice of material, much of which has not been done to death by others. Five stars.

As for the later pop sessions, let's just say that I'm glad I sprung for a CD player with remote control. Ms. Hester's singing is strong, but it's wasted on inappropriate ditties with horrible dated pop arrangements. One star only. Luckily, this is only about 20% of the collection.

The set comes with a nice booklet that has detailed discographical information for the recordings on the disc and an interesting interview with Hester. There are also many gorgeous photos of her, although they're mostly from two sessions so they needn't all have been included.

These are timeless songs sung by a timeless and beautiful voice. I listened to Carolyn Hester when I was a teenager in the sixties, and recently purchased this album. She is the most memorable singer I have heard, and her music leads one to discover other great singers [e.g. Nanci Griffith, on whose Other Rooms, Other Voices Carolyn Hester sings] and great songs one would otherwise never have heard. Truly an inspiration. I cannot recommend this recording strongly enough. Food for the soul. I hope she continues to perform and record.

I bought this CD set for my wife after she expressed an interest in Carolyn Hester. She's enjoying the songs, listening to a few of them every morning. A gift that makes the wife happy makes the husband happy!