Presenting/In Person

New Christy Minstrels | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 8, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Collector's Choice
• ASIN: B00008A8HX
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #119,007 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. This Land Is Your Land

2. Deep Blue Sea

3. Don't Cry, Suzanne

4. The Cotton Picker's Song

5. That Big Rock Candy Mountain

6. Oh! Shenando

7. Whistle

8. Railroad Bill

9. Californio

10. I Know Where I'm Goin'

11. Springfield Fair

12. In The Pines

13. Wellinbrook Well

14. Nine Hundred Miles

15. Denver

16. (The Story Of) The Preacher And The Bear

17. Liza Lee

18. The Dying Convict

19. The Invalids

20. Fire

See all 27 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Their first two albums! Presenting actually won a Grammy, and In Person kept the group’s momentum despite the loss of Jerry Yester (of course, when your replacement is Barry McGuire, you’re doing okay)! Includes from "Presenting"—"This Land Is Your Land," "Deep Blue Sea," "Don’t Cry, Suzanne," "The Cotton Picker’s Song," "That Big Rock Candy Mountain," "Oh! Shenando," "Whistle," "Railroad Bill," "Californio," "I Know Where I’m Goin’," "Springfield Fair," "In the Pines," "Wellinbrook Well," and "Nine Hundred Miles." From "In Person"—"Denver," "(The Story of) The Preacher and the Bear," "Liza Lee," "The Dying Convict," "The Invalids," "Fire," "Louisana Lou," "You Know My Name," "Golden Bells," "the Bits and Pieces medley," and "Saints’ Train." Plus the unreleased "Susan Jane (live)" and "Dance Me a Jig." A Collectors’ Choice Music exclusive!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have Collection Of Folk Songs For All Ages, July 13, 2003

By 

"bob_beck" (Norman, OK United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Presenting/In Person (Audio CD)

If you want folk music with biting social/political commentary/messages, read no further -- this CD isn't for you. However, if your musical taste includes folk songs telling stories that cover the range of humorous, dramatic, faith affirming, poignant, and whimsical -- played by extremely talented singers/musicians -- then this CD is a must for you.

"The New Christy Minstrels" was the first large folk group, a mega-popular 60s folk ensemble formed by Randy Sparks. A musical genius, Sparks -- who also wrote/sang "Today" [considered one of the world's greatest love songs in the same category as Paul McCartney's "Yesterday"] and gave the late John Denver his professional name and musical start [though not as a member of the Christys as has been widely misreported] -- put together a musical ensemble that was a combination of "The Kingston Trio" and "The Norman Luboff Choir". The group brought together 10 musicians -- each a major musical talent who could have been a popular headliner as a solo act -- and became a success far exceeding his wildest dreams.

Prior to the British rock invasion, the Christy ensemble was one of the most popular musical acts in America. Over a three-year period starting in 1962, the group released 11 albums that spent time on the Billboard charts, including "Merry Christmas" which remains a seasonal classic. In addition to being regular performers on THREE television series -- "The Andy Williams Show", "Hootenanny" [bi-weekly hosts], and "Ford Presents The New Christy Minstrels" -- and musical guests on many others, for years the group kept a killer schedule of sold-out concert performances. A little-known but telling fact is that in Playboy's 1965 Music Poll, two groups received enough write-in votes to place among the Top 25 vocal groups. One was "The Beatles" at No. 21 -- the other was "The New Christy Minstrels" ranked 16th, reportedly still the highest finish ever for a write-in vote.

During the 60s through early 70s, the group was a springboard for the careers of artists such as Barry McGuire [best remembered as the co-writer and gravel-voiced soloist of the group's first major hit, "Green, Green", and later for "Eve Of Destruction"], Larry Ramos [later a member of "The Association"], Gene Clark [later a member of "The Byrds"], Mike Settle, Kenny Rogers, Kim Carnes, Karen Black [Academy-Award-nominated actress], Bill Zorn [later a member of "The Kingston Trio" and "The Limeliters"], Christine Andreas [Broadway/opera star], and Terry Anne Meeuwsen [later Miss America 1973].

The group's outstanding talents took the music world and public by storm in the early 60s. Its first album, "Presenting The New Christy Minstrels", won a Grammy for "Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal" and stayed on the Billboard charts for more than two years. Among this entertaining collection of 14 songs are tunes ranging from the upbeat ["This Land Is Your Land"], to humorous ["That Big Rock Candy Mountain", "Whistle"], to poignant ["Deep Blue Sea", "Don't Cry Suzanne", "In The Pines"].

Its second album, "The New Christy Minstrels In Person", was recorded three months later during the group's extended engagement at a popular Los Angeles club, "The Troubadour". Featuring more step outs by individual members than the first album's tracks, it accurately captures the showmanship and energy that made a Christys' performance an enjoyable event for fans of all ages. A good case can be made that "The Dying Convict" [featuring a powerful step out by Barry McGuire] should be considered the group's defining song -- it's every bit as good, perhaps better, than the group's best-remembered hits: "Green, Green", "Today", and "Chim Chim Cher-ee". The inclusion of this song alone justifies making this CD a part of any serious folk-music collection.

The 27 tracks on the "Presenting"/"In Person" CD include all the songs from both albums plus several bonus tracks recorded during the same sessions as the albums' songs but never released until now. As an added bonus for those interested in musical history, the CD includes outstanding liner notes written by Tom Pickles detailing the group's formation and early membership.

All-in-all, this CD is one you will play over and over again.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the Best, July 13, 2003

By 

Colin Burgess (Sydney, AUSTRALIA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Presenting/In Person (Audio CD)

I first discovered the New Christy Minstrels back in the 1960s, when I heard Barry McGuire, leading up this incredibly talented group of young men and women, belting out their biggest hit, "Green, Green." The first album I ever bought of theirs was the one which has remained my favourite album to this day - In Person. Everything anyone could ever want in just a single album is in here - the wistful through to the foot-tapping extraordinary, the patriotic through to the downright hilarious, and all played by the most amazingly talented ensemble of musicians and singers ever assembled. The album begins with the sheer harmonious delight of "Denver," and finishes up with a collection of fun tracks that truly illustrates the prodigious talents of these men and women. Everyone has heard tracks by this group before, but never with such clarity - I am hearing songs I have loved for decades transformed by the skilful work of sound engineers. Just as it did the first time, Barry McGuire's powerful reading of "The Dying Convict" sent shivers up my spine when I heard it for the first time on a CD without all the familiar crackles and pops on my beloved mono vinyl album. It is an undoubted show-stopper performed by a legendary artist. As a single album this CD would be highly recommended, but the news just gets better - this album is not just "In Person" - it also contains their first album, and in here are recorded many of the greatest American folk songs ever composed, now lavishly sung by the some of the most talented young singers of that time. If you think you've heard the best version of "This Land is Your Land," wait until you hear it sung by the New Christy Minstrels. You can thrill to the songs of the great America of the 1960s all over again in what I consider to be the most exciting compilation album ever put together. I know I love these albums, and I hope my praise is as infectious as the music of this awesome, wonderfully talented group.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable!, July 17, 2003

By 

Gordon Adams (Chesterfield, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Presenting/In Person (Audio CD)

This collection is a work of art! What a difference it makes going from the vinyl album to the CD. It is so clear that you would think the performers are in your living room performing "LIVE".
But this review is about the group as well as the CD. The New Christy Minstrels didn't sing anti-war songs that many of the folk performers of the 60's did. The music had to be simple and could easily be hummed, as Randy Sparks once said. That's what made this group so unique!
This CD, especially the 'IN PERSON' album, shows the true character of this group. Each member was outstanding as a singer and instrumentalist. Whether they performed as a solo, or a group within the big group, they were outstanding!
This album also shows the creative talent behind the founder of the group, Randy Sparks. His talent...is heard in the arrangements..in the songs that he wrote...in his leadership.
The song 'DANCE ME A JIG' is performed by Dolan Ellis and is not on the original album. Yet, it is truly a terrific piece of work!
From the opening song, 'DENVER', to the final song, 'SAINT'S TRAIN', this album is one of the best by this group and it comes highly recommended to those that are looking for a full, robust sound!
Thank you, Randy Sparks and the New Christy Minstrels, for a great album!