Customer Reviews

Folk Hits of the 60s

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Only five of these songs were recorded outside the time frame of 1960-1965, and only "Both Sides Now" was written after that time. During this time period, folk music usually fell within one of two groups. There was the political/protest music camp. And then there was the folk/pop group. Nearly all of these songs fall in the latter category. In fact, all but Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land" and Joan Baez's rendition of the Phil Ochs-penned "There But for Fortune" landed in the Top 40 of the pop charts.

While several of these artists have the pedigree as protest singers (Joan Baez, The Weavers, Woody Guthrie), the focus here is clearly on listener-friendly songs. But even with the compiler's intent to put the focus on folk-lite, it seems a bit of a stretch to include Gale Garnett's "We'll Sing in the Sunshine," and The Wonder Who's version of Dylan's "Don't Think Twice" is almost unlistenable. [Note: The Wonder Who is Franki Valli and the Four Seasons, who took this song to No. 12 in 1965!]

With that said, if you like your folk music sanitized and the rough edges smoothed over, this is a very listenable and enjoyable album. The only glaring omission from this collection is the absence of anything by Peter, Paul and Mary. [It would have made more sense to use THEIR hit version of "Don't Think Twice"!] All things considered, this is a delightful album from start to finish. RECOMMENDED

"Folk Hits of the 60s" is strongly skewed towards the lighter side of the movement. Granted, you do have Woody Guthrie and Joan Baez, but they are not exactly signing vehement protest songs and you will not find Bob Dylan or Phil Ochs in these twenty tracks. Instead you will find Harry Belefonte and Bobby Darrin, along with a cover of a Dylan song by Wonder Who? This collection came out in August 2003, after the film "A Mighty Wind" successfully lampooned and honored the happy peppy side of the folk movement, and it is not difficult to see a collection. The faux groups of the (New) Main Street Singers, the Folksmen, and Mitch & Mickey would fit right in with the Serendipity Singers, the Kingston Trio, and...okay, there really are no counterparts to the pretend sweethearts of the folk movement, so that analogy falls apart at that point..

Most of the songs are certainly recognizable, although a few, such as "Day-O," are actually from the 1950s. The main reason for not considering these songs to be "real" folk songs is simply because most of them were commercially successful, from Judy Collins' "Both Sides Now" and "Guantanamera" by Sandpipers to "You Were On My Mind" by We Five and "Walk Right In" by the Rooftop Singers. You also get signature songs by the Kingston Trio ("Tom Dooley"), the New Christy Minstrels ("Green, Green"), and the Weavers ("Goodnight Irene"). You might do a double take at Trini Lopez being the one artist to get two tracks on the album, but that is a minor complaint all things considered. The main thing here is that you have to be appreciative of happy folk music going in, because you there are a lot of feel good songs here, like "We'll Sing in the Sunshine," "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," and several others already mentioned. But if you are not the sort to roll your eyes at such music, this is a very solid collection.

Oh joy! Like being back in Albuquere NM in 1964-67 and listening to my beloved folk station 24/7. There are a couple of songs here from the late 50's that carried over to the 60's The sound quality is pretty good too.It doesn't have that scratchy sound that some of the music that was originally on vinyl does.If you're an old hippie or maybe just hip get this CD.Almost makes me feel like I'm 19 again!

This is serious. This is the kind of thing folk lovers would be DELIGHTED to have! The selection of songs from classics by Woody Guthrie, the Godfather of Folk to the Kingston Trio will leave many humming, strumming and just plain feeling good! These are timeless classics that have been deeply woven into the world's historic fabric.

Trini Lopez' 1963 smash, "If I Had a Hammer" was the campaign song Robert Kennedy used for his 1968 campaign; indeed, the then-senator, out there on the campaign trail, singing this folk staple certainly brought many smiles to many faces. See, music has the power to change and influence the world and people for the better. It is also deeply intwined in the lives of all people and this collection will attest to that fact.

Just walk right in and treat yourself to this collection. It's a damn good one and you will be mighty glad you did!

If you grew up during the 1960's you might recall that the Billboard charts were a veritable smorgasbord of sounds. Think about it. The British invasion was in full swing and Berry Gordy's Motown proclaimed that it was "The Sound of Young America". Perhaps that was true but pop artists like Petula Clark, Englebert and even Sinatra were cranking out big hits as well. Yes, it was an exciting time for pop music. Yet there was one more genre that was making an impact that was perhaps a bit less obvious. Folk music and later in the decade folk-rock gained significant popularity in the 1960's. Shout records has chronicled many of the decades most popular folk tunes in their 2003 release "Folk Hits Of The '60s".

Perhaps the most noticable shortcoming in this set is the absence of any tunes by the two biggest folk artists of the decade, namely Bob Dylan and Peter Paul and Mary. What we a left with could most aptly be described as "The Best of The Rest". Even so, this remains a pretty impressive collection featuring a dozen Top Ten sounds as well as a handful of slightly less successful but equally enjoyable tunes. Among my favorites are the We Five's 1965 reading of Ian and Sylvia's "You Were On My Mind" and the legendary Bobby Darin's unlikely 1966 hit "If I Were A Carpenter". "Greenfields" was a monster hit for the folk-pop quartet The Brothers Four in the spring of 1960. And who can ever forget Glenn Yarborough's remarkable vocal performance on "Baby The Rain Must Fall" from 1965? There is a hit by the Kingston Trio, a pair from Trini Lopez as well as Judy Collins' 1968 Top Ten smash "Both Sides Now".

As a collector, I am always interested in learning more about the songs and the artists so liner notes are an important consideration. Shout Records has provided a neat 12 page booklet that fills the bill nicely. And I would be remiss if I failed to mention that this set also includes 3 important recordings that were not made in the 1960's. Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land" is considered by many to be the granddaddy of all folk recordings. You will also find the Weavers classic "Goodnight Irene" from 1951 and Harry Belafonte's "Day-O" from 1957. All in all, this one is a excellent addition to any collection. Recommended.

Although I had some of these songs, I felt this collection would allow me to have a few songs from artists I may not wish to buy a whole CD from. I have enjoyed this collection, and often listen to it - sometimes straight through, but often just picking out a song or two I want to hear again.
The only reason I gave it 4 rather than 5 stars, is that the audio quality from some of the older material is not up to what we have come to expect these days, but considering how long they've been around, it's just an indication of how the technology has changed in the mean time.
Enjoy!

Not all the best but enough so that you will definately get your money's worth. This is one you should have.

Overall a good CD with a nice variety. Only downer for me though is that the "Banana Boat Song", "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"; and "Goodnite Irene" are not my idea of folk music and just didn't seem to "fit" with the other songs on the CD.

If you watched the ABC Hootenanny TV show during the Sixties this CD will seem a pleasant drive down memory lane. Although only a handful were true coffee house songs, this is a nice mix of the lighter songs of folk music. These were songs that played the airways of AM radio and could be heard on top 40 stations. Listening to this made me think of the political outcries and the dreams of youth making a better world. This will appeal not only to those that joined the Peace Corp, but anyone that likes music with good melodies and light to languishing verses. A must have for any pop or folk music collector. I have collected a number of folk music CDs and this is a favorite. I highly recommend this CD.

Teriffic CD that younger crowd today would appreciate since

majority of these great tunes go unplayed by mainstream radio.