Looking for the Moon

Tom Paxton | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 22, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Appleseed Records
• ASIN: B00006JTDU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #206,614 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Paste Magazine, March, 2003

"The songs are full of the low key humor and tender passion that are Paxton’s trademark."

Product Description

"Looking for the Moon" marks the first new solo studio CD for adults since 1994 by Tom Paxton, one of the greatest folksingers and songwriters of this century. On this CD, Paxton presents thirteen original songs emphasizing personal themes that encompass modern day life and the current cultural climate. Many compositions concern the inevitable and insidious march of aging and progress and their effects on average citizens. "The Chisholm Trail became the road to Disneyland," rues Tom in his modern day cowboy song, "My Pony Knows the Way." Small communities crumble beneath economic hard times in "Early Snow" and "My Oklahoma Lullaby." Nature’s curative powers are given their due in "My River" and "Come Away with Me," and the tides of love carry the tender "Me and a Couple of Angels," "Marry Me Again" and "Easy Now, Easy." "Homebound Train" is a heartbreakingly poignant account of a ten-year-old boy coping with the death of his father. An early version of the CD’s most topical song was a computer-age hit as the most downloaded song, for free, on the efolkmusic.com website – "The Bravest" is Tom’s tribute to the heroes of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, particularly the firefighters who risked (and lost) their lives in their rescue efforts at the stricken World Trade Center.

Like Paxton’s last two "grown-up" solo records, "Looking for the Moon" was produced by veteran producer/musician Jim Rooney, who has also produced CDs for John Prine and Nanci Griffith, the latter of whom adds backing vocals to two tracks here. Anne Hills, a frequent Paxton partner, contributes beautiful soprano vocals behind Tom on five songs. Other supporting musicians include dobro-player Al Perkins (previously with Emmylou Harris’s Nash Ramblers, the Flying Burrito Brothers, and Stephen Stills’ Manassas), guitarist Mark Howard, who has backed Iris Dement, Nanci Griffith and John Hartford, pianist Mark Wasner, who has written hits for Vince Gill and Garth Brooks, and relative newcomer Tim Crouch, who boosts the Nashville-recorded CD’s country tinges with his nimble mandolin and fiddle.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Park, then Listen, December 7, 2002

By 

Marc Ruby™ "The Noh Hare™" (Warren, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Looking for the Moon (Audio CD)

The first time I heard this CD was while driving and listening to the local folk music show. One moment I was a middle-aged man in a Volvo running errands, and the next I was a longhaired hippy type sailing down the highway in my VW bus, looking for dragons. By the time I got control back I had driven by my home and was on my way to California. I believe that is called spontaneous regression.

Tom Paxton was about as much a part of my post-adolescent years as was the psychedelic music of the sixties. Back in those days it was important to be stirred up by the music to the point where you all sang along and did strange things like group hugs. And nobody does that with the same evocative flair as Tom Paxton. Nowadays many would consider much of this music as a bit too hokey, but back then it brought a tear to one's eye and woke a bit of revolution in your heart.

It still does. From 'Looking for the Moon' to 'Come Away with Me' these are all touchstone songs - melodic, mostly tender, and easy to sing along with. Don't expect deep anguish or heavy sarcasm. Do expect a lot of wistful tenderness and a surprising musical complexity that underlies was initially seems to be simple tune making. I hope this album touches more people than just those liable to sudden nostalgia attacks. It seems to me that the world would be at least a little improved if more people stopped to listen.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Are you looking for the Moon, November 22, 2005

By 

Glenn W. Moore - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Looking for the Moon (Audio CD)

A great mix of songs. His "The Bravest", a tribute to the fallen firefighters of the 9/11 tragedy is the best that one could ever hope to hear. As a retired firefighter I can tell you that he "nailed" it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars McCABE'S #4 - Tom Paxton 02-14-2004, February 16, 2004

By 

Joseph Goria (L.A. CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Looking for the Moon (Audio CD)

This is my personal review of Tom Paxton's concert at McCabe's in Santa Monica on Valentine's night 02/14/2004. This was the first concert at McCabe's for my new girlfriend Julie, who had never seen a folk concert before. I was shocked at how much fun she had, as well as myself, as Tom entertained the audience with catchy small numbers and spotlighting his incredible sense of humor and incorporating fun into his music. Tom performed several of his classic songs, along with new songs from this fine album. My favorites would include the title track, "Homebound Train", "Me and A Couple of Angels" and a fine tribute to the NYC Firefighters who died on 9-11-01 in "The Bravest". Tom also did a couple of numbers for us lovers that night, including a new song "Come Away With Me". Along with Tom, special guests Carolyn Haster and her husband David Bloom joined in to perform a song or two from her incredible music library. Overall, A fine concert from one of folk's best performers. Tom honored a special guest in the audience - a man who helped get Tom (and many other folkies) started at Elektra Records 40 years ago, Mr. Jac Holzman. It was an honor to shake his hand after the show just to say 'thank you' - as well as meeting Tom and introducing him to Julie, who seemed to like very much =) He signed my CD "To Joe, Tom Paxton" - Thanks Tom Paxton for a special night. Peace - JG "Bear"