Definitive New Christy Minstrels

New Christy Minstrels

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 15, 1998)
• Original Release Date: September 15, 1998
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Collector's Choice
• ASIN: B00000AFSB
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #55,334 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Indie Music > Folk > Contemporary Folk

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Old Timer

2. Denver

3. Liza Lee

4. Three Wheels on My Wagon

5. Californio

6. Deep Blue Sea

7. Stormy

8. Song of the Pious Itinerant

9. Cotton Pickers' Song

10. This Ol' Riverboat

See all 23 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Green

2. Miss Katie Cruel

3. I Know Where I'm Going

4. Natural Man

5. Saturday Night

6. Today

7. Lily Langtry

8. Jimmy Grove and Barbara Ellen

9. Gotta Get a Goin'

10. Elijah Rock

See all 22 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for Christy fans., September 4, 1999

By	Steve Montgomery- [e-mail] (Seattle, Washington) - See all my reviews

First of all, the historical notes by Tom Pickles are worth the price of the boxed set if you loved the Christys like I did. I was a folk music DJ in the 60's, so this is a box full of memories. I didn't figure there were many of us who could name the first three or four line ups for the group. I'd love to have lunch with Tom! Many of us had the albums on LP's, and its great to have the songs on CD's. My significant other sold my entire vinyl collection in a garage sale! Including the rare (collectors item) Christmas Album Tom mentions. I don't agree with the complaints about the mix. Remember, some of the cuts are from live shows and concerts. I do agree that "Company of Cowards" should have been included, and where is "the Blacksmith of Brandywine?" But most of my favorites are here, as well as some great songs I hadn't thought about for years...and they sound terrific. I would have happily paid twice as much.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great pop-folk sixties group, July 30, 2002

By	Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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Staff turnover eventually took their toll on the New Christy Minstrels, but this compilation only covers the period 1962 to 1965, their peak years. Even during this period, the number of line-up changes was staggering. The extensive liner notes show all the changes. Of all the pickers and singers who were members during this period, Barry McGuire (who was only a member for a few months) is surely the most famous - he later had a solo hit with Eve of destruction - but Larry Ramos, later of the Association, was also a member.

The group's founder, Randy Sparks, set out to design a group that had it's roots in folk, but was more pop-orientated, and avoided all the controversial topics so beloved of (say) Pete Seeger. He wanted a fun group out to have a good time. That is what he achieved. Even after he quit the group in 1964 (selling his interest in the group for a large sum of money), the basic ethos remained. Once the thing no longer became fun, that's when the fortunes of the group collapsed.

So, what you get here is 45 tracks of great entertainment, including their big hit (Green green), novelty songs (Three wheels on my wagon), classic folk (This land is your land) and much, much more. The number of different singers (which also included a few ladies) also adds to the variety.

Sixties music was about many things, but above all else, it was about having fun. You certainly get that with this collection.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars All the rare singles and b-sides; they never sounded better., January 13, 1999

By A Customer

A fine collection from all the major albums. Especially welcome are some of the singles and b-sides which never made it to albums. The sound is rich and has lots of details I don't remember from the poorer reproduction systems of the 60's. It's easy to spot the earlier recordings as the group sounds more enthusiastic and energetic. The liner notes give the group's membership for each song. The notes also hint that the group wasn't as happy as their image. A must-have for any fan of the group. Although folk purists tend to trash this group, the earlier recordings really are very good, and they did bring many folk songs to a wide audience. Although the collection doesn't contain too many tracks from the end of the group's productivity, those are definitely the weakest part of the set.