Customer Reviews

Vol. 1-Lost 1967 Album Rarities

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To begin with, I have been a Kingston Trio fan for probably 45 years - a bit too young to catch the first releases of albums from "the Guard Years" but right at the beginning of "the Stewart Years". There is no question that the Kingston Trio was a great act and could be wonderful artists. They were great entertainers in concert - a little naughty at times but never vulgar, just a lot of fun. And anyone who has ever heard their rendition of "The First Time" (New Frontier album) knows they could produce 1st class music - no one could sing a love song better than Bob Shane. When my daughter got married, we danced the father-daughter dance to "Turn Around" (Time To Think album) - a cherished memory.

However, that said, "The Lost 1967 Album" does not deliver. First of all, the album is more of a compilation of solo pieces than it is "Trio" music. Secondly, few of the takes seem inspired; they seem lethargic. That isn't to say everything is bad. Bob Shane's rendition of "Don't Make Promises" is okay and John Stewart's "Darcy Farrow" is the same, although it doesn't hold a candle to the late John Denver's version of "Darcy..."

All in all, I was very disappointed. I was looking for some good takes. For example, some years ago when "The NEW Kingston Trio" album was released "The Lost Masters", I felt there was some junk on it but also some really good songs which made getting the CD worthwhile. I did not feel that way about this "1967" album. Like their recent release of "The Final Concert", I felt both were cynical and apathetic.

Although I am still a fan and have been blessed by many hours of listening enjoyment, I was very disappointed in these releases.

As others, I've been a Trio fan since the early 60s, and thought this would be a great collections. HOwever, this gets off to a terrible start. I think the recording of Love Me Not Tomorrow sounds like it was made in a garage, with them keeping the first take. If there is anything on this album that should have been thrown away, this is it. (It was considerably better by We Five.) However, I think after this the album does take off with some really good cuts. Dolphin is one of the best on there, and I enjoy Nashville Cats also. If I can just get back the first cut this will be fine. As this is listed as Vol 1 of rarities, I hope that they chose carefully on the next release.

This one is mainly for the true fan or to complete a collection. Some interesting takes on popular tunes of the mid-60's. I particularly like "Don't Make Promises". Track 13 sums it all up for the Trio in 1967...times are changing and the heart may not be in it anymore but try and have a good time and don't take yourselves too seriously.

The trio picked some very good material but only after those songs had been recorded well by other artists, in most cases by those singers who themselves wrote the songs. The result is that the KT sounds as though it's trying to fit its 1962-1963 Stewart sound with newer material and can't pull it off. The group was always at its best in night clubs singing "Tom Dooley," "Scotch and Soda," and "MTA" while joking That was their strength. (Songs from what might be their best later album, *Time to Think*, were never performed since that album is so unTrio-like. They weren't going to sell drinks at the Hungry i by singing "Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream.") They'd been around a long time by 1967, so it just wasn't this group's style to start doing Donovan, Fred Neil, Tim Hardin, Paul Simon, etc. Stewart went on to do (some) interesting solo work, and Shane kept things going with a pretty much stay-the-course Trio, but keeping this 1967 album wrapped up was wise. It was just too late for the KT to start changing into the sort of group that could do that material convincingly.

Long-time Trio fans know that their Do-It-Yourself Columbus Tower studio wasn't a quality recording facility -- in fact, the precipitous drop in sound quality after the Trio moved to Decca from Capitol and began recording itself was lampooned in the film "A Mighty Wind." But several of these tracks are so poor, even allowing for that, that I would suggest they were never finished. It seems likely to me that overdubs that would have added voice tracks from Bob, for example, were planned but never happened.

Two thirds of the Kingston Trio were lame-duck members when most of these tracks were recorded, so it's tempting to think their heads and hearts were elsewhere. At least this CD gives some indication where the Trio may have turned for material, had John and Nick not pulled out in 1967. Hardcore Trio fans will buy it to round out their collections, but those who are casual fans or just discovering the wonderfulness that was the Kingston Trio from 1958 to 1965 or so should give this a wide berth.

If you are in your sixties and remember the Kingston Trio from your youth, do not even listen to this album. I promise you will regret it.

I did not enjoy this item. It was too different from the beginning, songs or people. It seemed the manner was for the performers not the audience.

I have been a fan of the Kingston Trio since my college days in the early 60's. I purchased each album through "Back in town" as they came out and played them endlessly. I was excited to hear about the "Lost Album" hoping for one last platter of great and familiar music. The clips on the review samples seemed promising.

I was exceedingly disappointed and surprised at the quality of the product and sound of this effort. It is pretty easy to see why these "clips" never got put together in a finished album in 1967. there was nothing to them. The sound is nothing close to their earlier efforts including the aforementioned "Back in Town". The selection of tracks seems almost foreign to the traditional sound of the KT. Any true fan of the Trio who is used to the wonderful selections of the earlier 19 albums will no doubt find this effort a struggle.

I think this one was produced as a "money maker" not a work of art. That is a shame for all KT fans since so much great music preceded it.

Mixed emotions on this release. Usually when an artist declines to release material they usually have a good reason. The reason this material was not released is just as valid today as the day the material was sent to storage. We should have learned that lesson from the Beatles Anthology. That being said, I have no regrets buying this album. It's by the trio and I am a true fan who must have everything they make available.

This album was recorded at the Columbus Tower recording studio. On the loading dock, perhaps, just hanging out and drinking beer. It was worth it though if only for the Henry Diltz photograph and Nick's rendition of Catch The Wind.