Product Details

• Actors: Kingston Trio, Tommy Smothers
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: White Star
• DVD Release Date: May 13, 2003
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000094Q1K
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #97,076 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "The Kingston Trio and Friends Reunion" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Together on stage for the first time since 1961, the original members of the Kingston Trio (Nick Reynolds, Bob Shane, and Dave Guard) perform a thrilling concert of their greatest hits. Joining the renowned folk group are Tommy Smothers, Mary Travers of Peter Paul and Mary, Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, John Stewart, and recent Trio members George Grove and Roger Gambill. Since their debut in 1958 with the gold record song Tom Dooley, the Kingston Trio has had a powerful musical influence on such artists as Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, and dozens of folk groups of the late 1950’s and 1960’s. This historic reunion concert, filled with the unique and vibrant sound that millions of Kingston Trio fans have loved for over a generation, preserves the tremendous legacy of this group that has become an American musical legend. Program: Three Jolly Coachmen, Early Morning Rain, Medley – Blowin’ in the Wind/Lonesome Traveler/Hangman, Leavin’ on a Jet Plane, Reuben James, Where Have All the Flowers Gone, Scotch and Soda, Down Among the Sheltering Palms, Greenback Dollar, Chilly Winds, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Pleasure for All Trio Fans, July 15, 2004

By 

Mark Wylie (Spokane, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Kingston Trio and Friends Reunion (DVD)

I really enjoyed this reunion concert when I watched it on PBS over 20 years ago, and am delighted to find the complete concert finally available (the VHS version, as other reviews have noted, has several numbers cut).

For those not familiar with the background, this concert was recorded in 1981 at an outdoor theater in California. Present were the then-current Kingston Trio lineup of Bob Shane, Roger Gambill and George Grove, as well as former Trio members Dave Guard, Nick Reynolds and John Stewart.

Each lineup of the Trio performs several numbers. We get to here several of their signature tunes--"Tom Dooley," "Scotch and Soda," "Greenback Dollar," and "MTA" among them.

Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary makes a special appearance and joins the trio for two numbers. Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, who had just produced Stewart's hit album "Bombs Away Dream Babies," plays bass on several numbers and joins Stewart for a duet of "Spinning of the World." Stewart also does a solo performance of one of his best songs, "You Can't Go Back to Kansas."

Tommy Smothers acts as MC, quite humorously, attempts to join the Trio on "Chilly Winds,"also quite humoursly, and does a short solo turn, less humourously.

At the end, all six Trio members team up for several numbers, and the entire cast joins in on the big finale of "MTA."

While the entire performance is enjoyable, the segments with the current Trio are perhaps the most important reason to have this recording. Since the Shane/Gambill/Grove Trio did virtually no recording, this is perhaps the only document we have of the contributions of Roger Gambill, who died only a few years after this concert. It is also nice to have a momento of the late Dave Guard.

Any Trio fan will want this concert, and the more complete DVD version is the one to own.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I was surprised to see what had been left out!, March 24, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Minneapolis, Minnesota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Kingston Trio & Friends Reunion [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I first saw this concert on television in the early eighties. I taped it at that time on an old antique VCR and was really looking forward to a clean copy minus the pledge drive. The picture and sound quality is much improved, but I was surprised to see that a lot of the talk between songs had been cut, leaving very little of the chemistry the various members of the three Kingston Trio generations had shown that night. Also missing was "Chilly Winds", a great song made hilarious by the intrusion of Tom Smothers as "the sound of the chilly wind", but alas, it is not on the tape. If you're a Kinston Trio fan you'll still enjoy seeing everyone from the various groups. It's a treat to see Dave Guard again and I always enjoyed the energy that John Stewart brought to the group. In fact, John Stewart made a comment that night, something to the effect that "it's Adrenalin City up here", but that was cut. And when he commented after one song that "I flubbed the banjo solo" Nick Renolds shot back "Well, you always did!" All this fun stuff was cut. I guess this bothers me so much because there was no need...it's only a 50 minute tape. In conclusion : If you're a Kingston Trio fan, you'll enjoy this tape, but if you've seen it before, you'll be disappointed with how much they left out.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The 25th Anniversary Concert w/all the Players now on DVD!, February 7, 2004

By 

forrie (Nashua, NH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Kingston Trio and Friends Reunion (DVD)

This was 1981 the 25th Anniversary of the Legacy of "The Kingston Trio" now on DVD for the first time.

"The Kingston Trio" personified folk music in the 1950's & 60's. Paving the way for many singers (Bob Dylan, Joan Baez & Peter, Paul & Mary to name a few) and the Folk Music Revolution!! Their niche was the folk ballad and thus they were "The Balladeers" recording folk songs from all countries around the world.

The Original Trio, Nick Reynolds, Bob Shane & Dave Guard began the groups long and successful carrer in San Francisco at the "Hungry I" night/folk club. With hits "Tom Dooley" - Grammy Winner - Scotch & Soda, M.T.A., Greenback Dollar and Zombie Jamoree to name a few. In 1961 Dave Guard left the group and was replaced by John Stewart and had hits like - Chilly Winds and many many more. In 1967 after ten years Nick Reynolds left and so did John Stewart. Bob Shane has carried the group on for over 40 years with various other singers & musicians filling the void left by the original players.

Well this 90 minute Standard Format DVD (really 74 without commercials) is a fantastic but brief flashback into the golden years of folk music with this 1981 "The Kingston Trio and Friends Reunion" show now on a Collector's DVD.

Special Guests/Friends include; Host Tommy Smothers, Mary Travers (from Peter, Paul & Mary), Lindsey Buckingham of "Fleetwood Mac" playing bass and trio members, Dave Guard (first time with group in 20 years), John Stewart, George Grove and Roger Gambill.

20 of the Trios Greatest Hits are included. A brief musical experience from their hundreds of great songs they recorded.

This is a keeper and a must for your musical DVD library. Enjoy!