Customer Reviews

Folk Hits

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

 

 

This CD would be the greatest 60's folk compilation ever if only the songs weren't all simply covers by a group of people I've never heard of in my life. They fail to mention this anywhere in the description, and they even go so far as listing the original artists on the track listing above (which is misleading). BUT...if you listen to the samples, you can tell that these people are not the original artists you know and love. But I give it two stars because it is a great song selection...and good for singing along with.

Every song in this collection is by the original artist. Without exception. What is interesting is that many of the selections are from live recordings. The Kingston Trio songs,for instance, were recorded at the 1959 Newport Folk Festival. Great stuff. I think the previous reviewer has a hearing problem.

This interesting collection takes a broad view of folk music, including tuneful singalongs, chart hits and protest songs like Joan Baez's Joe Hill. Odetta's spiritual track adds even more flavour to the eclectic mix. My favorites are There But For Fortune by Phil Ochs, Universal Soldier by Buffy Sainte-Marie (her song Soldier Blue would have been a great inclusion too), Turn Turn Turn by Judy Collins, and the two Joan Baez duets: It Ain't Me Babe with Dylan, and Colours with Donovan, which is really superb. Ian & Sylvia, The Kingston Trio, Richard & Mimi Farina and Pete Seeker are very good too and their songs remain charming and poignant. These are definitely some of the very special voices and songs from three decades of folk. Unfortunately some major artists like Joni Mitchell and James Taylor have been omitted, and it would also have been nice to see people like Tim Hardin amongst the artists here. This enjoyable album showcases the many strands of American folk music in the 20th century and ought to interest the listener in the excellent work of these artists.