The Kingston Trio/ From the Hungry I

Kingston Trio | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 11, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B00000DRCW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,493 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

the kingston trio

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The KT's first two albums, December 29, 2001

By 

Smallchief - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Kingston Trio/ From the Hungry I (Audio CD)

Forty years on I can discern an influence of the Kingston Trio. My closet is still full of striped, button-down collar shirts -- just like the Kingston Trio made mandatory for stylish college boys circa 1960. "Button down" describes the Trio: apolitical, un-serious, insouciant, a little naughty, but never vulgar.

It's hard to recall how revolutionary their music was at the time. "Folk music" suddenly became all the rage for the college crowd. How does their music hold up? Pretty well, although the sound is not fresh any longer. Generations of grittier folk musicians have made the Kingston Trio sound a little smooth, cocktail-loungy, and superficial. But their songs couldn't be better. "Tom Dooley" is the best murder ballad ever; "Scotch and Soda" and "Hard, Ain't it Hard" have never been equaled. "The Merry Minuet" ("They're rioting in Africa,") is an unforgettable example of 50s gallows humor.

This CD includes their first two albums: "The Kingston Trio" and "From the Hungry I" which was recorded live in San Francisco. The live album is a little better. The boundless energy of the Trio comes through on songs like "Shady Grove/Lonesome Traveler" and "Zombie Jamboree" and their politically incorrect patter between songs is of sociological interest. In one short concert, they insult Mexicans, French, Appalachian folk, Southern Californians, Chinese, Africans, and a few other groups. (Back in those days you could be secure in your superiority to non-University people from places other than San Francisco. Nowadays, such feelings have to be covered up by a veneer of multi-culturalism.)

The Kingston Trio were forerunners of Bob Dylan, the Beach Boys (who copied their shirts), and Peter, Paul, and Mary. They're important; the world would be a slightly different place if the Kingston Trio had never existed.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You want green peppers?, August 5, 2002

By 

Paul Garcia "andy_capp" (Decatur, Georgia USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Kingston Trio/ From the Hungry I (Audio CD)

I was first introduced to this album nearly a decade ago by a friend who said his father was a big fan of the Kingston Trio. We would laugh and sing with the album while working together at the University. The intellectual humor and brilliant vocals were just the thing for us as college students eager to reject the popular music of our generation. Now, as a parent, I often think of my old friend and his father singing along with the album, as I sing my girls to bed with "Scotch and Soda", "Fast Freight", or "Shady Grove". The timeless lyrics about traveling to far off places and the spirited melodies are more recognizable to my daughters (1 and 3) than any tv character. Even my wife cannot get tired of this album, and since we met I have played it at least one or more times each week.

The CD is actually the first two LPs released by The Kingston Trio. The liner notes give much information about the band's popularity and widespread influence in the late 1950s early 1960s. About how Frank Sinatra would not record "Scotch and Soda" because it had already been "perfected" by Bob Shane. The 2nd album is recorded live from the infamous "Hungry i" cafe/bar in San Fransisco, I suspect favorite hang out of those interested in the "beat" generation. I imaginge I would have enjoyed traveling around North, Central, and South America researching colonial sea shanties and local traditionals in order to arrange music so classic that it will always transcend generational and cultural lines.

Although, there are some obvious clues as to the time in which the albums were produced (I believe it was recorded in mono, and the patter between songs on the live album is quaintly dated) it all comes together because some songs are modern and relevant while others are almost ancient. "Merry Minuet" is a humorous, satirical commentary on nuclear weapons. While the Bible is represented on "Dorie" from Song of Songs (Solomon) and a Zulu hunting chant is the inspiration for "Wimoweh". I don't know how long I will continue to get requests for "Scotch and Soda" maybe when my children are teenagers they will reject the music we raised them on; but hopefully they will come back to it when they have a real interest in quality music performances. Maybe then, they will remember some of these songs and sing them while they are working their way through college or maybe as they are driving home for vacations.

Note: The collector's edition of this double LP (on one CD) came out in 2001 with an extra song. It is slightly more expensive than this album - I recommend if you want to take a chance on the Kingston Trio take the less expensive one. If you have heard some of it and know you will like it, then it may be worth getting the collector's edition.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for 50's Kingston Trio fans, August 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Kingston Trio/ From the Hungry I (Audio CD)

All the songs that made growing up in the Kingston Trio era a joyful experience. This album brought back so many memories. If you are my age (late 50's), and remember the Ivy League image, you have to have this!