Customer Reviews

The Essential Kingston Trio

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It's about time "The Kingston Trio" got the attention and respect that they deserve. Not only were they aruguably the most influential act in musical history, they were also one of the most successful. At one point, the group had 4 albums in the Top Ten simultaneously, a feat that even The Beatles failed to accomplish. In addition to being a great album band, they were a great singles band as well. "Tom Dooley", "MTA", "Greenback Dollar", "Tijuana Jail", "A Worried Man" and countless others were MONSTER sellers.

I feel that their place in musical history has been ill-served by their record company, Capitol Records, a company that was arguably built on the success of the Kingston Trio. The company is as "corporate" as they come. They have no sense of music history. They are only interested in what can make them a ton of money in the here and now.

The Beatles catalogue is a case in point. They have refused to remaster the UK catalogue and give Beatles fans their first four albums in Stereo. I guess that project would not be "commercial" enough for their tastes.

Similarly, they have only released the first two Trio albums as a "TwoFer", further denigrating this band's status as the world-beating ground-breakers that they were. The only reason we have the Trio's albums are on CD is that Collector's Choice and Bear Familiy licensed them from Capitol!

The label that made so much money on The Kingston Trio in the late 50's and early 60's won't even release their albums on CD! The company clearly has no understanding of musical history and pays no respect to its stellar roster of artists. If they can't treat The Beatles with respect, how can we expect them to treat the Kingston Trio with respect?

At any rate, the whole British Invasion folk/rock thing was caused by the folk boom started by the Kingston Trio in the late fifties. After all, the Beatles were originally a "skiffle" band--skiffle bands turned up all over England in the wake of the American folk boom.

When the Americans responded to the "British Invasion", the first responders were all folk artists influenced by the Kingston Trio. The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, the Mamas and the Papas, Lovin' Spoonful, Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane were all transplanted "folkies", born and bred in the musical millieu created by the Kingston Trio.

And, of course, Bob Dylan. He, too, followed in the Trio's footsteps. He cites them directly in his autobiography. Groups popped up all over the place emulating the Kingston Trio, much as British bands popped up to in England to capitalize on the Beatles success. Peter, Paul and Mary, Ian and Sylvia, The New Christy Minstrels (with Barry McGuire and Gene Clark), the Chad Mitchell Trio (with John Denver and Roger McGuinn), the Journeymen (with John Phillips) all owe their careers to the Kingston Trio.

Even folkies Joni Mitchell and Neil Young were influenced by the Trio. They are even cited on the "Buffalo Springfield Again" album as musical influences and prime movers.

Even the Beach Boys (!), of all groups, were heavily influenced by the Kingstons.

The Kingston Trio introduced a ton of classics that have now become part of our musical vernacular. Songs such as "Wimoweh" (better known as "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"), "The First Time" (made famous by Roberta Flack), "It Was a Very Good Year" (Frank Sinatra), "Sloop John B" (the Beach Boys) "Shady Grove ("Quicksilver Messenger Service") and many others were introduced to the American public by the Trio.

So, the legacy of the Kingston Trio has sadly been grossly neglected by the music industry that owes them so much. This compiliaton is a welcome addition to any music lovers collection but it will do little to change this perception.

In my view, the Trio is the "missing link" between the musical progression from Elvis to the Beatles. If Capitol Records had not been their label, I believe the Kingston Trio would be regarded as highly as those other two musical giants, as they surely deserve to be.

I am a new fan to the Kingston Trio, but loved this CD set so much I felt compelled to write my first Amazon review ever. Although I didn't grow up listening to them, I did grow up listening to their music without realizing it. So many songs I've liked over the years turned out to be their songs at one time or another.

After stumbling onto a PBS special on them I immediately fell in love - with their style, their rhythm, their harmonies, their incredible energy, their musical arrangements and the sense of fun they conveyed in their performances. The local PBS station was in the middle of a pledge drive and I immediately called up and pledged the right amount to get the various Kingston Trio CD's and DVD's they were using to bribe us to contribute.

This particular CD set is by far my favorite of the two we received. I've had the two discs permanently in my car disc changer for well over a month now and haven't gotten tired of listening to them. The energy and sense of fun so evident while watching them on TV somehow came through even while just listening to them on CD.

Most of their songs just grabbed me from the beginning and I couldn't stop humming them - especially Early in the Mornin', Reuben James, Buddy Better Get On Down the Line, Desert Pete (which is inspiring, hilarious and toe-tapping all at the same time!), El Matador and Reverend Mr. Black. In addition are old familiar favorites that I'd heard others sing (e.g. Sloop John B, that I knew from The Beach Boys). I now know many of them by heart and can't help singing along while in the car. I only wish I'd "discovered" them sooner.

One of the best CD purchases I've made. It was worth the price for the first disc alone. I generally prefer the earlier hits, mostly on disc 1. I would have liked "Early Mornin' Rain", "Fast Freight", "Scarlet Ribbons" and "Three Jolly Coachmen". That would have made the purchase just about perfect for me.

I've always enjoyed their folk-style music for the very meaningful lyrics, upbeat rhythm, and the occasional, classy touch of humor at just the right time it the song. This album has all my favorite hits and then some more. The Reuben James, Everglades, Bad Man's Blunder, Rev. Mr. Black, and Greenback Dollar are so descriptive that one can actually visualize the unfolding of a sometimes very serious, sometime very humorous, and even sometimes very spiritual experience. If you enjoy country/folk or simply just good popular music, this album will satisfy your needs. For me it's the kind of music that creates a variety of moods for the listener, such as humor, sadness, romance, valor, spirituality, and a sense of history. I guess it's a generational preference as I listened to most of their hits during the fifties and sixties and that led me to buying most of their albums. It's difficult playing those old 33 1/3 albums but this CD recaptures most of their best work.

I have been a fan of the Kingston Trio for more than 40 years, and this compilation album features some of their best work. I especially enjoy hearing some of the songs I knew as a child - Tom Dooley, Desert Pete and M.T.A. If you have never listened to the trio, this album would be a great place to start.

Brings back so many memories, and I now have my grandchildren listening to this CD and there are 7 songs that they want me to play over and over. That's a good thing.

The "Kingston Trio" emerged on the music scene in 1957,had a Gold Record with "Tom Dooley" in 1958, and the rest is history.54 years later they are still on the road performing over 30 weeks per year.They are arguably one of the best and most popular groups in American Music,and Folk Music in particular.
The 40 songs on this 2-CD collection are from their most glorious decade of 1957-1967;which also happens to coincide with most popular time for Folk Music.
It is a great collection of their most well known and loved songs and includes those written by them and others.
To anyone who has been a fan of popular and/or folk music from the late 50's to the present ;you'll be thrilled hearing again all these wonderful songs;and even though you've probably heard each of them a countless number of times,you just never tire of them. It would be an understement to say that they are some of the best loved songs of America.
Since the decade of 1957-1967,the members making op "The Kingston Trio" have changed for various reasons,but the music and enjoyment you will get from one of their continuing concerts remains.However;if you really want to hear this famous group at the height of their popularity;then this is an excellent choice.

I'm a little disappointed in this collection, the live recordings from the Hungry i are a little weak, almost timid, and sound quality is not so good. I wanted the real stuff, and there ARE some of those familiar great hits, but I guess I should have read the CD information more closely. I could have skipped this one, purchased a "greatest hits" compilation and been a lot happier. Buyer remorse, I guess.

I have a lot of KT CD's-the single CD best of and the large Boxed-Set..but this collection is really hard to beat--it's realy my favorit with a good mix of the Guard and Stewart years. Don't think twice about adding this to your collection!!

What is not to love about The Kingston Trio. If you're a product of the 60's (or not) you'll love the fun and craziness of these three wonderful guys and their memorable music. Go back a few decades and have a little fun!