Customer Reviews

Definitive New Christy Minstrels

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Staff turnover eventually took their toll on the New Christy Minstrels, but this compilation only covers the period 1962 to 1965, their peak years. Even during this period, the number of line-up changes was staggering. The extensive liner notes show all the changes. Of all the pickers and singers who were members during this period, Barry McGuire (who was only a member for a few months) is surely the most famous - he later had a solo hit with Eve of destruction - but Larry Ramos, later of the Association, was also a member.

The group's founder, Randy Sparks, set out to design a group that had it's roots in folk, but was more pop-orientated, and avoided all the controversial topics so beloved of (say) Pete Seeger. He wanted a fun group out to have a good time. That is what he achieved. Even after he quit the group in 1964 (selling his interest in the group for a large sum of money), the basic ethos remained. Once the thing no longer became fun, that's when the fortunes of the group collapsed.

So, what you get here is 45 tracks of great entertainment, including their big hit (Green green), novelty songs (Three wheels on my wagon), classic folk (This land is your land) and much, much more. The number of different singers (which also included a few ladies) also adds to the variety.

Sixties music was about many things, but above all else, it was about having fun. You certainly get that with this collection.

First of all, the historical notes by Tom Pickles are worth the price of the boxed set if you loved the Christys like I did. I was a folk music DJ in the 60's, so this is a box full of memories. I didn't figure there were many of us who could name the first three or four line ups for the group. I'd love to have lunch with Tom! Many of us had the albums on LP's, and its great to have the songs on CD's. My significant other sold my entire vinyl collection in a garage sale! Including the rare (collectors item) Christmas Album Tom mentions. I don't agree with the complaints about the mix. Remember, some of the cuts are from live shows and concerts. I do agree that "Company of Cowards" should have been included, and where is "the Blacksmith of Brandywine?" But most of my favorites are here, as well as some great songs I hadn't thought about for years...and they sound terrific. I would have happily paid twice as much.

A fine collection from all the major albums. Especially welcome are some of the singles and b-sides which never made it to albums. The sound is rich and has lots of details I don't remember from the poorer reproduction systems of the 60's. It's easy to spot the earlier recordings as the group sounds more enthusiastic and energetic. The liner notes give the group's membership for each song. The notes also hint that the group wasn't as happy as their image. A must-have for any fan of the group. Although folk purists tend to trash this group, the earlier recordings really are very good, and they did bring many folk songs to a wide audience. Although the collection doesn't contain too many tracks from the end of the group's productivity, those are definitely the weakest part of the set.

It's a good overview of the group's history (although some of my favorites are missing (e.g. "Good-bye Suzanne")), but the re-mix balance is pretty bad. For some reason, the person doing the remixes decided that one channel of the masters didn't need to be as prominent as the rest. Unfortunately, in many songs, this channel had the women's voices...on these tracks, it sounds like the women are in the back of the studio with no mike (the balance is much better on the original vinyl). There are also a couple of tracks where important vocal lines are submerged under the rhythm "section". A good selection, but be prepared for less than optimal mixing.

This is one of the best collections of any single music group I have ever listened to. This two CD set contains nearly 50 songs, many of which are no longer available in any form. The material is presented roughly in chronological order, from their peak years in the early 60's during the folk boom, to their waning years in the mid-sixties when their material leaned towards pure pop instead of the folk material they were best known for. The set is accompanied by some very interesting liner notes which chronicles the rise and decline of the NCM. Definitely a must for a NCM fan.

This is the New Christy Minstrels at their best. However, it only includes a few of their albums, and there are a couple of songs that, had they been included, would have truly made this a "Greatest Hits" album, including "In the Hills of Shiloh" and "Red Clay Country". Interestingly, both of these songs were on the Minstrels' "Cowboys and Indians" album, which features other songs in this collection. I'm puzzled as to why such songs as "Three Wheels On My Wagon" and "Silly Old Summertime" (which also were on the "Cowboys and Indians" album, and which were frankly not as good as the other two songs I mentioned) made it to this collection, and "Hills of Shiloh" was left out...

In my opinion, listening to the New Christy Minstrels is similar to listening to classical opera - you have to put up with a bunch of humdrum music to get to the fantastic arias. Most of the Minstrels' music is rather bland - but they have a dozen or so songs that are absolutely superb. A few of those great songs are on this album, such as "Deep Blue Sea", "Julianne", "Lily Langtree", and "Ramblin'". However, with a total of over 40 songs on this double album, it's still a great bang for your music dollar.

A great CD for the NCM fan because this contains most of the favorite songs from all the albums! All on one CD, this is a must for the NCM fan!

I was delighted with the selections on this CD.
A good overall combination of their best works.

I remember the sounds of the New Christy Minstrels in my younger years. What a great group with Barry McGuire and Kenny Rogers among others. I especially liked their renditions of "Green Green", "Today" and "Saturday Night". FIRST RATE STUFF!!!

This albume set is a must for folk fans and in particular Christy Minstrel fans. My only regret is they didn't include 'Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dog Around' and 'Company Of Cowards'.