Customer Reviews

Sold Out/String Along

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The Kingston Trio are arguably the defining group of the American folk revival. Woody Guthrie was the grandfather and Pete Seeger and the Weavers would pass the tradition down to a new generation for which Bob Dylan would be the poet laureate. But when you talk about who made folk music popular you are talking about the Kingston Trio. From 1957 to 1963 (in other words in the period before the Beatles) they were the most popular music group around. This CD from 2000 pairs up a couple of classic albums from the Kingston Trio from the year 1960 and you should know going in that the album that makes up the second half of the CD is the better one.

You would think that "Sold Out" is a live Kingston Trio album, but it is not, and the album made it to #1 on the Billboard charts. The common denominator for the dozen songs is that they are mostly fast tempto songs, most notably "El Matador" and "Don't Cry Katie," one of the group's better songs featuring banjo playing. For those that like the Trio's humor "Sold Out" offers up "With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm." This is not to suggest that there are not some nice ballades included in the mix as well, namely "The Mountains O'Mourne" and an alternative version of "Raspberries, Strawberries." Otherwise what makes this album stand out is that you will not have run across most of these songs because they have not popped up on the sundry Kingston Trio hits collections.

Also making it to #1 on the album charts in 1960 was "String Along," which offers "Full Dimension Stereo." I am sure someone can give an appropriate technical explanation for why this album literally sounds a bit different than previous Kingston Trio albums, but I cannot do anything other than say it is noticeable to my ear (I can only hear out of one, which would be the right and not the wrong one, so it is not too bad). This album also offers the last pair of charting singles by the original Kingston Trio lineup, "Bad Man's Blues" and "Everglade." But the two songs that really stand out are "Leave My Woman Alone," a Ray Charles composition, and, of course, "The Tatooed Lady." Otherwise, attention should be paid to the group's original compositions "When I Was Young" and "Buddy Better Get On Down the Line," and a couple of tunes that have the distinction of having lyrics by Carl Sandburg, "This Mornin', This Evenin', So Soon" and "Colorado Trail." This is a great mix of tunes that showcase the group in the last stages of its first and arguably best incarnation.

As an avid fan of the Trio, and owning all of their original LP's I was glad to see all of my original albums available on CD. Rather than purchase the required hardware and software to make my own CD's I ordered the three double album CD's from Amazon. They are crisp and clear...much better than I would have been able to produce from my old LP's.

A combination of two of the Trio's better albums. "Sold Out" has two of their best: "El Matador" and "Mountains O'Mourne" and 4 - 5 other good cuts. That's more that most albums give you. This batch has more "real" folk music than pseudo-folk from the 60's.
"String Along" has little authentic folk music, but has no poor tracks and few weak ones. "Everglades", "Bad Man's Blunder" and "Colorado Trail" alone make the album worth the money.
All in all, the best of their combination CD's.

A perfect compilation of all the songs I remembered growing up. I bought this for my Dad because it had one song on it that he really wanted a digital copy of. His old 45's are worn and scratchy. Upon receiving the cd, he was like a kid at Christmas and giddy. He immediately turned it on and to my surprise, I still new the words to every song on this album because these are the songs we sang growing up. A must have for anyone who is a Kingston Trio fan or just wants to reconnect with the past. Every song will bring a smile to your face like just as it did for my Father and me.

CDs sound better than my original record albums. Am glad to have the convenience of 1 CD for 2 albums which takes up much less space.It's great to be able to play my old favorites in the car, at home or on the go.

If you are tired of the music being produced today, this is for you. The Kingston Trio cover everything: funny songs, traditional ballads, unusual finds, etc.

always wanted these lps and glad to get them on a cd will use the seller asgain

Brought back great memories of the 1950's folk music era, with Nick Reynolds, Dave Guard, and Bob Shane, strumming and harmonizing to great folk songs. The sound quality was very good and lended itself to a singalong quality that I have, to the shagrin the family, participated in since receiving the albums. I bought these albums many years ago and thought them to be lost forever. It is great to be able to play and sing along again with the original Kingston Trio!

I was in high school when I first heard the original Kingston Trio's El Matador on the radio. It wasn't the first Trio song I'd ever heard, but it was then and remains to this day my favorite. Bob Shane provides a stirring rendition of a bull fighter facing possible goring and death before a crowd that includes the woman he loves. Doesn't get more romantic than that. Other great songs on Sold Out include: The Hunter, With You My Johnny, With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm, and Farewell Adelita.

String Along has two more of my favorites: South Wind and When I was Young. South Wind has more complex instrumentals and is sung in a minor key, adding to its haunting sound. I could listen to that one indefinitely without getting tired of it. When I Was Young exemplifies the Trio's great harmonizing vocals. This album also includes a western song, Colorado Trail, that I like to imagine cowboys singing after a long cattle drive.

i grew up listing to 'string along' and was excited to see it available on cd. while it has been enjoyable to hear some of my old favotites - which i highly recommend to anyone who loves a little tounge in cheak guitar/banjo/harmonizing goodness - this album was recorded way to high and has some serious distortions in it. painful to listen to.