The Folk Den Project

Roger McGuinn | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 27, 2005)
• Original Release Date: November 27, 2005
• Number of Discs: 4
• Label: April First Productions
• ASIN: B000CPGYBW
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,799 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Wanderin'

2. The Argonaut

3. Lilly of the West

4. Michael Row the Boat Ashore

5. Stewball

6. Let The Bullgine Run

7. The Gallows Pole

8. The John B's Sails

9. Willie Moore

10. St. James Infirmary

11. Kilgary Mountain

12. The Twelve Days of Christmas

13. Wild Mountain Thyme

14. New York Girls

15. Streets of Laredo

16. Mary Had A Baby

17. The House of the Rising Sun

18. Greenland Whale Fisheries

19. Shenandoah

20. The Bonny Ship the Diamond

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars McGuinn Is Heading for Mars, February 7, 2006

By 

S. F Gulvezan (Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Folk Den Project (Audio CD)

I didn't think old Rog could do anything to top last year's superb LIMITED EDITION. But he has. In this 4 - CD set he's re-arranged, and in some instances, written new lyrics to 100 folk songs. Some of them are simply sublime. May I mention "Wanderin," "Oh Freedom," and "America for Me" as just a few examples. Lots of these songs would have fit in comfortably on any Byrds album, and maybe been the highlight of the album. Cudos to you, Roger. You and Richard Thompson seem to be the 2 guys who are holding in there, just getting better and better.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "must have" for Byrds fans, April 4, 2006

By 

James Llorca (Orlando, FL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Folk Den Project (Audio CD)

I've been a Byrds fan for over 20 years, and having the Byrds' first five albums was the closest thing to folk music I had until I bought Roger's "Limited Edition" CD, and even more now with "The Folk Den Project: 1995-2005". In my opinion, this compilation brings Roger's career full circle. One of my favorites on Disc 1 is "The Colorado Trail", where Roger brings out his trademark Rickenbacker 12-string. On this tune, the solo is a near combination of "Mr. Tambourine Man" meets "The Bells Of Rhymney". It really rings out in true Byrds fashion. A couple of highlights on Disc 2: "Oh Freedom", which Roger recorded during an actual thunderstorm, and is heard in the background. Also, the closing track on Disc 2, "To Morrow", is a recording of Roger at the age of 16 singing this tune. Anyone who knows Roger's history knows that he was a graduate of The Old Towne School Of Folk Music in Chicago. "To Morrow" gives listeners a chance to hear a young McGuinn in the folk mode that he would be accustomed to throughout his life and career. Disc 3 includes Roger's versions of two traditional Christmas tunes: "The First Noel" and "Away In A Manger", to put some holiday flavor into this collection. He also sings "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" on Disc 1, and "The Twelve Days Of Christmas" on Disc 4. Speaking of Disc 4, the only Byrds tune featured in this collection is on this disc: "Wild Mountain Thyme", a song from the Byrds' "Fifth Dimension" album. The collection concludes with two folk classics: "Home On The Range" and "When The Saints Go Marching In". Chances are that if you sang folk songs in school, as did I, at least one of them is likely to be found among these CDs in true folk style that Roger has created, as he has said, "for the preservation of the music I love". This was the popular type of music people were listening to and playing until the Beatles and the Byrds and the British Invasion made rock & roll all the rage. Folk music was, for the most part, pushed aside, with the possible exceptions of Bob Dylan and Peter, Paul & Mary. Listening to Roger sing these classics, you can hear not only the influence, but the emotion of how meaningful this music is to him. Remember, the Byrds were known for creating "folk-rock", and this collection demonstrates where it all began for Roger before, and now, after the legacy of the Byrds. If you have ever been a fan of folk music, or just a diehard Byrds fan like me, to own this compilation is an absolute treat. I recommend adding this to your CD collection.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 10 years at a song a month, December 15, 2005

By 

Paul Jones "The Real Paul Jones" (Chapel Hill, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Folk Den Project (Audio CD)

The notes say:

"In November of 1995 I began a project for the preservation of the music I love, Folk Music. Each month I would record a song, print the lyrics and chords, add a personal note and put it on my web site, [...]. I wanted everyone to have the opportunity to learn the songs and to be able to sing them with their families and friends, so downloads were offered free of charge. The original recordings were 11 KHz 8-bit monophonic WAV files, far below CD quality. I have re-recorded those songs in 24-bit 44.1KHz Stereo. To commemorate the 10 year aniversary of the Folk Den, this compilation contains 100 of my favorite songs from the project with many of the original notes."

There are many surprises in this labor of love of music: A variety of instrumentation, 12 string acoustic, banjo, the famous McGuinn 12 string Rickenbacker, and the new 7-string Martin. Guest appearances on one song, "The John B's Sails," by Ridley Pearson, Dave Barry and Greg Isles. A recording made in 1958 by a 16 year old McGuinn ("To Morrow"). A thunderstorm in the background in "Oh Freedom."

A great treasury of songs by a greatr guitarist and singer.