Customer Reviews

Pete Seeger's Greatest Hits

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

There hasn't been another that's walked among us that has been quite like Pete Seeger. Pete's 83rd birthday was in the last week, and I thought I would write this note of thanks to him for all that he has given us.

My Mom used to sing me "Little Boxes" (originally Malvina Reynolds) when I was quite young--a memory I realized when this CD began to play for the first time in my player. I now sing this song to my children. It's great to hear these songs sung by the source..."Turn Turn Turn" and "Guantanamera" are wonderful. There isn't a bad song on the disc.

This man has led a folksinger's life, and his voice is warm like a Pendleton blanket in the Fall. Don't stop with this CD...get some by The Weavers, too. Pete sounds awfully good with Lee Hays, Ronnie Gilbert and Fred Hellerman. There's a VHS tape out there, too, about The Weavers and is quite good.

Thank you, Pete Seeger.

First off, 5 stars to Pete Seeger for popularizing many songs that went on to become hits for other artists (Seeger, himself, actually only wrote 2 of the songs in this collection). My problem with this set is that most of the songs are live recordings which I find to be annoying. You can sometimes hear the audience make noises during Seeger's performances. Also, the offering is skimpy, only 52:46 minutes of music. Much could have been done to beef up this collection, including offering a full version of "Where have All The Flowers Gone?", though the 2 minute a cappella version is beautiful and a highlight of the CD. The liner notes and photos are good.

With all the hubbub about Bruce Springsteen's latest CD (a worthy purchase I might add) I thought I'd also send a kind note thanking Pete Seeger. Being a child of the '60's I saw Pete Seeger more times than I can count at every protest rally, do-gooder function, event celebrating freedom of speech, protesting war, injustice, violence, pollution, environmental issues, human decency, and down right good neighborliness. Always wearing a well-worn paisley cotton shirt, rolled up sleeves, cordoroy cap, and lived in jeans. If we have a troubador in this lifetime, Pete's it. His heart and soul is in his music. It's also in the right place. Listening to Pete Seeger can't help us to be better human beings. This is as good a place to start. He's as close to Woodie Guthrie as we're going to get in this century. Cherish him.

Decided it was time to add Pete Seeger to my CD collection while working on a paper titled "Profiles in Activism: How and Why People Get Involved". I conducted a series of interviews for this project, and one of my questions was "Who inspired you?" Over and again Pete's name came up.
Now I have the CD (listening as I key this in) and I can see why. The first song alone is worth the price ("Little Boxes" - written by Malvina Reynolds). "We Shall Overcome" is a classic from the Highlander school and the civil rights movement. Shoot, all of these songs are classics.
If you care about community, fancy yourself an activist, and want music that helps refill the well, or if you just like fun music with intelligent lyrics, click the 'ADD TO SHOPPING CART' button now.

I have reviewed some of Pete Seeger's other albums elsewhere, including some remarks concerning our political differences. Whatever those differences may be there is no denying that brother Seeger has for more time than I care to remember been central part of the progresive protest folk music tradition. I actually first hear him with the old Weavers group and I believe that the first song was Leadbelly's Goodnight Irene. Some of the songs on this album were sung by that group,as well. Bells of Rhymney is timeless. I would pay special tribute to Knee Deep in the Big Muddy that is about his World War II military service and written and sung during Vietnam. Except in changing it to the Big Sandy we could be singing it today about the quagmire in Iraq (and seemingly about Afghanistan, as well).

The CD is OK. I bought it mainly for "Waist deep in the Big Muddy" since I am constantly reminded of the tune with the present situation in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, I have to agree with Pete Seeger on what are considered "Greatest Hits". Surely he didn't pick some of them. His repertoire is truly so vast that covers of other people's songs is not needed. It's rare that I enjoy live recordings as well and I skip the filler "Lion Sleeps Tonight" live recording every time because it's barely audible with all the noise at the concert. I'll remember next time to listen to the audio samples more closely before making a choice. Pete Seeger is a national treasure and I have a "Weavers" CD as well. I guess this could be termed a primer for some unfamiliar with his work.

Decided it was time to add Pete Seeger to my CD collection while working on a paper titled "Profiles in Activism: How and Why People Get Involved". I conducted a series of interviews for this project, and one of my questions was "Who inspired you?" Over and again Pete's name came up.
Now I have the CD (listening as I key this in) and I can see why. The first song alone is worth the price ("Little Boxes" - written by Malvina Reynolds). "We Shall Overcome" is a classic from the Highlander school and the civil rights movement. Shoot, all of these songs are classics.
If you care about community, fancy yourself an activist, and want music that helps refill the well, or if you just like fun music with intelligent lyrics, click the 'ADD TO SHOPPING CART' button now.

This CD represents one set of Pete Seeger's most well known works. No single CD can encompass the broad body of Seeger's work. But this does provide a sense of his art. Seeger wrote some of the songs; some were created by other artists. But he was able to make them his own. As one listens to the sings, there are a few basic characteristics: simplicity of his singing, simplicity of his guitar work, and a genuine earnestness.

"Little Boxes" was not one of his own compositions, but he provides an inimitable and good-humored version. The live audience laughs at some points, as he proceeds from verse to verse in this satirical piece.

"Where Have All the Flowers Gone" is one of his best-known compositions. This classical political sung is well sung; he takes it at a slow pace, and this adds a degree of power to the work.

One of my personal Seeger favorites. . . . "Turn, Turn, Turn" uses language from the Biblical book, "Ecclesiastes." As so often, he uses those words to make some political points. As usual, his simply singing and guitar playing is effective and the effect telling.

"Which Side Are You on" is an old union song. It was someone else's composition, but Seeger makes it his own; the audience sing-along is attractive.

Then, there is "We Shall Overcome." This civil rights anthem is eloquently sung by Seeger.

Four songs were added to the original album, with two of the best addenda being "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy" and the redoubtable and enchanting "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore."

Wonderful! If one like Seeger, this is a good compilation to refresh your memories of his work. If you never really knew much about Seeger, this is a very nice introduction.

This CD is just a mostly live 60's Pete Seeger data point, and I'm sure not his best singing or playing is represented. But Pete's genuineness and affection for the human condition is ever-present. In terms of production values, I enjoy less the pre-/post-song applause and enjoy more his commentary and unique speaking voice. Personally, applause in the soundtrack doesn't make the music be more alive to me; it just interjects 5-15 seconds of loud static. I also lose focus when the audience sings along in a recording, even a folk recording, but I do like it when the artist tells an inside joke or anecdote and the audience chuckles. I like to hear children exclaim. Having raised several children, our family has in one place or another a couple of Seeger LPs targeted to children and adolescents -- in horrendously scratchy overly-loved condition, completely eaten up with love as it were. While acknowledging the inwardly private and family identity of a touring musician, with its built-in conflict to the need for physical presence and daily normalcy to ones most needful, in Seeger's outward face I see inspiring self-actualization and a recognition of a greater thing, powered not by ambition but by honesty, gentleness, endurance, belief that each man is an ordinary man, and a twinkling eye. Pete Seeker is a buoy and a beacon, a minstrel who makes children happy and strong and a revolutionary who reminds us of our personal and political reason to exist.

I am a great fan of Pete Seeger, but there were just too many " kiddie" nonsense songs on this CD.