Customer Reviews

Song Book / Big Folk Hits

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

 

 

When I was born, my dad drove a city bus in Seattle, so I have heard the music of The Brothers Four all my life. Their harmonizations have had a shaping influence on me, and I eagerly awaited the release of the Big Folk Hits album, so I could share it with my son. To me, theirs is the authoritative "El Paso!" And what would life be without "Tie Me Kangaroo Down?" Paired with "Music Book," this is a superior collection of the Brothers Four sound.

As a child, I remember Columbia records putting out a patrioc album of artits on that label. "Rock Island Line" and "The Driller's Song" were both included. They are both contained here, after many years of searching for them.

It's a bit discouraging why a boxed set has not been released from this tremendous group, which skyrocked to fame with "Greenfields" and "The Green Leaves of Summer." I have since purchased every lp they've put out, and put them on Compact Disc myself. Perhaps one day this will be corrected, but this twofer, combined with the Big Folk Hits is a must have for ANY fan of the great Brothers Four. Don't miss it!!

Perhaps one day we will have "Rally Round", "More Big Folk Hits", "Roamin'", "Let's Get Together", "A New World's Record" and "The Honey Wind Blows" out on CD as well. There is also a Japan only release, in '73 of the Brothers Four in concert. These contain tremendous performances as well.

Given the way CDs go out of print so fast, I'd grab this one. I've given many as gifts to those who have never heard them, and all respond with loving comments, and even order more for themselves. The recordings on these albums will never be topped!!

I grew up with folk music, and one of those old records I still have is "Big Folk Hits". For me, this was the quintessential Brothers Four LP, and I've been waiting for years for it to be available on CD. It has, for me at least, the definitive renditions of "Jamaica Farewell", "Darlin' Corey", and "Scarlet Ribbons", and their "El Paso" rivals Marty Robbins' own performance. First rate!

I really like Brothers Four. I have been listening to these in their original LP version for the last year several times per day to put my infant son to sleep. The LP was wearing out so I purchased the CD. I was very disappointed. The speed was slow. On some songs the harmony was made louder than the melody. Who ever did this did not listen to the original album. I can compensate somewhat by boosting the bass while decreasing the treble. But overall I am not happy with this CD version. I highly recommend getting these in their original album form.

I listened to this on LP as I was growing up. I longed listen to it again after I moved away from home. It is a great find for those who love vintage folk music.

I'm not sure where the previous preview states that "Big Folk Hits" are not the original Brothers Four but having owned the original record album since I was 5 (and still di) I assure you that they are the original 4 guys....although the "Tokyo Tapes" are not( 2 are). Big Folk Hits has been listened more by me than even the Beatles. As owner of 1000's albums, cassettes, and CD's this is my #1 of them all. and the arrangements of songs, though on some other albums, are my favorite!

Knowing of "the Brothers Four" while I was growing up during this folk era of 1959-to 1964 and enjoyed their big hit in the late winter of 1960, it was fun singing with these "sing-along" tunes that all of these groups that wrote and played folk songs of this era released. Now, we come to the present day - a day that has some fun behind it. Last week, at a thrift store and finding, in the record selection in this one store, two of their stereo vinyl albums in an excellent condition. The self titled "Brothers Four" that contains their greatest hit "Greenfields", and the "Brothers Four Songbook"-complete with written music and lyrics. Might have to keep this as collectables in my collection of great records.

I had enjoyed the Songbook for years on LP and then decided to buy a stereo that does not have a turntable, so I bought this. The sound transfer is good. The folk songs were a nice bonus. So often when LP albums are transferred to CD, only that album is included, making for a really short CD. A good choice for Brothers Four fans.