The Weavers at Carnegie Hall [LIVE]

The Weavers

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: April 1957
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Vanguard Records
• ASIN: B000000EFX
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #37,316 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Folk > Live Albums > Traditional Folk

Track Listings

1. Darling Corey [Live]

2. Kisses Sweeter Than Wine [Live]

3. Pay Me My Money Down [Live]

4. Greensleeves [Live]

5. Rock Island Line [Live]

6. Around the World [Live]

7. Wimoweh [Live]

8. Venga Jaleo [Live]

9. Suliram (I'll Be There) [Live]

10. Shalom Chaverim [Live]

11. Lonesome Traveler [Live]

12. I Know Where I'm Going [Live]

13. Woody's Rag/900 Miles [Live]

14. Sixteen Tons [Live]

15. Follow the Drinking Gourd [Live]

16. When the Saints Go Marching In [Live]

17. I've Got a Home in That Rock [Live]

18. Hush Little Baby [Live]

19. Go Where I Send Thee (One for the Little Bitty Baby) [Live]

20. Goodnight Irene [Live]

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

Peter, Paul & Mary, Bob Dylan, and the Kingston Trio were youngsters next to the Weavers, but without these acoustic elders, the aforementioned artists may have never found their folk voices. The Weavers were the main catalyst behind the folk explosion of the '50s and early '60s. This album captures the spark that led to that detonation. Certainly the foursome was responsible for the leftist political bent associated with folk music to this day. The Weavers were one of the few musical entities blacklisted during the McCarthy hearings in 1952 after a witness named them as Communists, probably a result of members Lee Hays and Pete Seeger's labor-union activities. In 1955 the quartet reunited for this historic show--and you can still hear the triumphant spirit in the air that night as the group (and audience) delight in the Weavers' brand of eclecticism, moving from Leadbelly and Woody Guthrie covers to old English ballads, African music, New Orleans spirituals, and songs that would soon influence rock & roll. --Bill Holdship

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An essential piece of Folk Music!, February 20, 2000

By A Customer

This is one of the best Folk albums ever and definately the place to start your collection of Weavers material. When you hear their version of "Sixteen Tons" you'll quickly forget the one by Ernie Ford. "When The Saints Go Marching In" is also great. And, of course, "Wimmoweh" and "Goodnight Irene" are excellent. Add "Rock Island Line" and "Follow The Drinking Gourd" and you have a classic album. But, there are 20 cuts total, so this just barely scratches the surface. The songs, Seeger's instrumentation, and the harmonies of the four is simply outstanding. Definately get this one and enjoy some of the finest Folk Music ever recorded.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I DARE YOU NOT TO SING ALONG, April 13, 2001

By	MOVIE MAVEN (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

I never saw/heard The Weavers live, but I have many of their albums and have played this particular one, literally, hundreds of times. No, I am not a big folk music fan. In fact, I cannot think of one other so-called folk album in my collection of CD's.

The first thing one notices about this live concert, recorded in February of 1955, is that the sound is so terrific-- as if recorded in that great concert hall yesterday. At the same time, the sense of pure joy coming from the stage and then back from the audience is palpable.

The four voices that make up the group are individually so fine & so idiosyncratic: the big, booming bass of Lee Hayes, the sweet baritone of Fred Hellerman, the totally unique sound of Pete Seeger and, best of all for me, the warm alto of Ronnie Gilbert whose every note is just about perfect and whose enunciation is superb. You understand every single word she sings on every single song.

From Ireland, Africa, Indonesia, the American South, Israel, etc. every song is chosen perfectly and matchlessly performed....and I promise you that you'll never listen to "Greensleeves" ever again, without slyly smiling. It is easy to hear that the audience is having the time of their lives. The Weavers are a national treasure. I dare you not to sing along. Highly Recommended.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A triumphant return to fame after the blacklist!, July 31, 2004

By	Matthew G. Sherwin (last seen screaming at Amazon customer service) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

This CD is a wonderful record of the triumphant concert by The Weavers given at Carnegie Hall on December 24, 1955. After a three year hiatus because they had been blacklisted by McCarthy, The Weavers began to play again in 1955 and played Carnegie Hall to a packed audience! This CD records both the concert and the electric atmosphere in the concert hall that night.

Of course, The Weavers sing their hits "Goodnight Irene" and "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine" as well as songs from around the world such as "Suliram (I'll Be There)" from Indonesia and "Shalom Chaverim" from Israel. The group believed that folk music included more than just American songs. This belief is shown again when they sing "Around The World."

Although one reviewer says the sound is "so terrific," in my opinion the sound quality varies throughout the CD. Although sometimes it does seem as if they're in my living room, this concert seems to have been recorded in mono originally for LP and also if you listen very closely there seems to be several times when the singers are cut off just as they end the last note of the song. The recording of the concert is strictly speaking not complete since the applause is very obviously edited.

Overall, this CD is a great addition to any collection. The Weavers sing a broad variety of songs set in the folk style, such as "Greensleeves" and "Sixteen Tons." This CD is no longer so easy to find. Get it now-it is harder to find for a GOOD reason! GRIN