Amazon.com

Different Stripe, a welcome best-of collection from Wheeler, offers 19 tracks that span the entirety of her 16-year recording career, including two songs from her 1986 eponymous debut released on the small folk label North Star Records. Wheeler is considered by many to be one of the finest songwriters of the "New Folk" era that developed in the 1980s, and, listening to Different Stripe, it's easy to hear why. She writes haunting and beautiful ballads that, when matched to her smoky, smooth vocals, are deeply affecting. Fans should note that there are two new tracks, "Walk Around Downtown" and "Gandhi/Buddha," among the "hits" here, which include "Addicted," a No. 1 country hit for Dan Seals, and "Aces," a country Top 10 for Suzy Bogguss. --Jim Caligiuri ... Read more

Reviews (9)

this is well worth it!
This is a fantastic CD. I immediatly had a few favorites but I still continue to find songs that are equally wonderful. Cheryl Wheeler does not disappoint!

A Must Have!
Thirty-some years after my first introduction to Cheryl's music, a clip of Cheryl on a TV segment got my attention and I knew I had to hear more. (I last heard Cheryl sing locally when we both were barely in our teens.) I'm now kicking myself for all the years of listening pleasure I've been missing out on. Once in a blue moon does the recording come along that I find myself playing over and over and over again yet never tiring of, and this is that rare recording. Cheryl's voice is strong, steady and sweet, her music is thoughtful, compelling, and easy to identify with. Different Stripe is the kind of music you can listen to anytime, anywhere, and simply feel good about. My hat's off to you Cheryl, for a stunning accomplishment and this recording is a shining star. Thank you for giving us this gem of an album!

great compilation
If you've never heard her, this is a great intro.

This is Your New Favorite Singer/Songwriter
Cheryl Wheeler's music seems to be passed along from friend to friend, from year to year. Even non-folk friends always want to hear Cheryl. This collection of her "best" couldn't contain all the worthy songs, but it's a good start and a wonderful way to meet her music. (Only a live performance would be better; never, ever to be missed!) Songs like "Aces" (realities of life), "75 Septembers" (loving attempt to understand the passing of time), and "Arrow" (well... it's just great) alone should be enough to encourage new listeners to want her all-too-few other CDs, especially "Driving Home" and "Circles & Arrows." The two new tracks are a tease to those of waiting for a new CD. And don't forget about making that CD with all the best of her quirky, hysterical, so-insightful songs! Do yourself a favor and add this singer/songwriter to your music collection and live music plans.

I LOVE CHERYL WHEELER, BUT . . .
in my opinion, this is not a collection of her best songs. This CD contains the songs that could have become pop hits. Too many of the songs contain love-gone-bad lyrics. This collection also fails to showcase Wheeler's witty lyrics and sometimes off-beat melodies.

I have all of Wheeler's available albums. I would recommend the CD entitled "Driving Home" to people unfamilar with Wheeler. If you are a die-hard fan like me, however, you need to get this CD for the previously unreleased songs. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

One of my favorite folk-rock albums
Fairport Convention gave us three albums in 1969, What We Did On Our Holidays, Unhalfbricking, and this one. With Unhalfbricking, the band mostly stuck to a West Coast-style folk-rock sound with covers of Dylan songs, plus a few of their own compositions. But that album contained "A Sailor's Life" which signaled the direction the band would turn to on Liege & Lief. Liege & Lief found the band turning away from the West Coast sound and exploring roots more close to home: British folk rock. So while you get some Fairport originals like "Come All Ye" and "Crazy Man Michael", you also get some renditions of 500 year old British Isles folk songs like "Tam Lin" and "Matty Groves", giving this album a much more medieval feel than anything they done before. Liege & Lief marked a major change in the band's lineup. Ashley Hutchings left to form Steeleye Span, which basically explored the same territory of Liege & Lief but in a more traditional manner. He was then replaced by future Jethro Tull bassist Dave Pegg. Sandy Denny left to form Fotheringay, then went solo, leaving the band to have even a more horrible time with keeping a steady lineup. Liege & Lief is regarded as Fairport's best work, and I totally agree with that, so I suggest you go out and get a copy of this album.

Shatteringly brilliant, so honest, oddly powerful
Fairport Convention's last album with Sandy Denny, "Liege & Lief", stripped away the sound of their previous two albums "What We Did On Our Holidays" and "Unhalfbricking" to produce a fusion of traditional singing and rock instrumentation that can only be described as amazing.

The driving opener "Come All Ye", though the only original song on the record, was a piece so moving it really will shatter the mind: one feels the instruments blending in the most incredible manner to produce a groove possessing truly searing emotion. The third track, "Matty Groves" was maybe even better, with the tale of an woman accused of infidelity telling more over its eight minutes than most albums manage in sixty. Ashley Hutchings' basslines and Richard Thompson's guitar work burn with a sensuality rivalling the best of Kate Bush's "Hounds Of Love." Hutchings in particular benefits from the solid, stripped-down sound, whilst Sandy Denny's pure voice tells everything as it is, especially on the line "I'd rather one kiss from dead Matty's lips/Than you or your finery".

The rest of "Liege & Lief" was not half so brilliant, but mainly less accessible, notably the especially dark, beautiful and uninviting "Tam Lin" (the tale of a disobedient youngster) and the beautiful, slow "The Quiet Joys Of Brotherhood." Even on the medley of "The Lark In The Morning", "Rakish Paddy", "Foxhunter's Jig" and "Toss The Feathers" the sound remained dark but the startlingly melodic fiddle playing of Dave Swarbrick still craved attention. "The Deserter" (about a disobedient soldier) had a truly hymn-like character that served to reflect the injustice of England's early criminal justice system - along with Sandy's most emotional vocal, notably during the crescendo late in the song. "Reynardine" - though a superior version can be found on Anne Briggs' "A Collection" - was also dramatic if almost too slow.

On the whole, "Liege & Lief" must be seen as a landmark work that still possesses immense power and beauty. Should especially be heard by fans of "Lilith Fair" artists - they got many ideas from here. Essential.

I've got it on right now.
And I can tell, listening to it, why a few of the reviews herein mention only one original Fairport-penned track. (There are three.) It ALL sounds very traditional. And very rock and roll.

If you don't get what I just said, you need to get this record. Nobody (sorry, Zimmy) had ever put together folk and rock like Fairport did in its first three albums with Sandy Denny. It's taken for granted now; but Fairport was first. Can you imagine Cream covering a traditional English folk tune? Then listen to "Tam Lin." (Cream would have had to borrow Sandy, of course.) Can you imagine Jefferson Airplane doing traditional English folk? That would be "Come All Ye" (which, no, isn't a traditional folk tune. See how these people had it wired?). Can you imagine "Matty Groves"? (You can't. You have to buy this record.) Fairport were pioneers, a much greater accomplishment than their original ambition to be "the British Jefferson Airplane." They were hard-rocking, psychedelic, driving, raving quiet little British folk thunderers. (Buy the record!)

I first entered Fairport territory on the thin trail of work by Richard Thompson, one very hard genius to track down unless one is an audiophile, which I can't (yet) claim. I'd heard he was great, and underrated, etc., and that he started here. Well, following him here, I stayed for everyone else as well. I bought a ten-track collection (I'd heard "Meet on the Ledge" once, decades ago, my only other lead); unable to find the early studio albums, I settled (a very bad word in this context) for the superb "Meet on the Ledge/Classic Years" collection; and then, fully hooked after drinking deeply of Thompson's solo work, found "Liege" in my local CD pusher's stash. Hmmmm. I had five of the eight tracks on collections already. No matter; I sprung. Boy am I glad I did. The three tracks I was missing - "Reynardine," "The Deserter," and the folk medley - were worth the purchase price by themselves. They can be had together nowhere else; and they rounded out the "L&L" experience perfectly. The sequencing -- different of course from the collections -- makes the old tracks sound new. (Still can't figure out, though, why "Farewell, Farewell" isn't the final track.) Few records hold together better than this one; time will probably reveal few to be so timeless.

If you like your music mellow and hard, driving and soft, screaming, soaring and lilting; if singers are your thing; if you're a folkie who still thinks rock sucks (how have you stayed IN that cave?); hop in the time machine. Fairport Convention set you on the right road, 35 years ago. It's not too late. It never will be.

Music from the heavens!
I have always viewed Fairport Convention as kind of like the UK version of the Byrds, simply for the fact that both bands had outstanding musicians, several amazing songwriters, came up with stellar arrangements, and did wonderful folk as well as Dylan interpretations. I also think that both bands just radiate complete and total honesty in their music, almost to the point of being spiritual in a way. While at one point The Byrds went full-tilt country with "Sweethearts of the Rodeo", Fairport Convention went all-out folk-rock with this album. Both albums had stunning results, and both albums started an entire music genre. If you have ever been curious as to what UK folk rock is about, then start here! This album is simply the very best of its kind! Five stars in every way!

One of the Best
This CD is, hands down, one of the most important CDs in British folk-rock history. It sparked a musical movement, and Richard Thompson, Sandy Denny, and the rest of the "gang" are at the top of their game. It has rarely left my stack of CDs I listen to frequently since I first bought it 15 years ago. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Jammed with the politics and poetry of the sixties
This cd is everything you want in a specialized anthology. "Where Have All The Flowers Gone" is pure art and poetry. It takes you full circle and makes your heart sink. "Eve Of Destruction" is full of rage and insight and truth. It's atomic in its message and presentation. "With God On Our Side" is one of Dylan's best songs (best version is by Baez). Pure poetry again. And the whole cd goes on like that. Great sound. The somber "Society's Child" and the hauntingly barefoot on shards of glass "Abraham, Martin And John" slices you in two. "Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)" is Motown exploding. "War" keeps the message movin'. "Signs" was always one of my favorite radio songs. This is a must for anyone who lived through the late sixties and early seventies and felt the rage and fear at the destruction and insanity from sea to sea. This collections serves as both great music and powerful inspiration. Buy it!

Fun and educational!
This excellent album combines some of the greatest protest songs of the sixties in one very listenable package. One might quibble about the song selection (what, no Dylan?) but one cannot argue with the excellence of the music presented. It's a wonderful collection, perfect for a sixties enthusiast, even the tracks you don't recognize (and I knew almost all) are excellent. Many are the best tracks by the artist. Standouts include (but are not limited to) 'Sky Pilot', 'Signs' 'War' and 'Eve Of Destruction'. This album is a true relic of the period, and expresses many of the political concerns of the hippie movement. Highly recommended, especially for fans of the era.

A complete waste of time and money
One star is far too generous. This CD obviously was cobbled together from someone's old tapes, complete with audible hiss. The selections are all downhill after Eve of Destruction and Universal Soldier. Sonny without Cher? Who ever heard of that? Who can listen to that?

Almost Good
My main complaint about this disk is that Hedgehoppers Anonymous song "It's Good News Week" is an abridged version. I haven't heard the long version since the WVVX (a Chicago-area FM station) dropped its "oldies" format in the early 1980s. Surely Rhino could have tracked down the long version.

Otherwise, this is a nice period piece

The Sixties Weren't Just About Peace And Love
As a child of the Sixties, I have a very strong emotional connection to these songs and as such find this a very enjoyable collection. If, however, you were to unearth these songs from a time capsule and listen to them for the first time thirty-plus years after they were first recorded, you might wonder what the fuss is all about. Certainly some of these songs were of the moment. To use an old cliche: You had to be there. After all, at age 30, Sonny Bono was a bit long in the tooth to play the angry young man. And "It's Good News Week" sounds more comical than biting satire.

But many of these songs retain their potency. Certainly, the carnival sound of "The 'Fish' Cheer/I Feel Like I'm Fixin'-To-Die Rag" is the perfect antithesis of the brutality of the Vietnam War. The Rascal's "People Got To Be Free" evokes John Lennon's sentiment that "All You Need Is Love." The Kingston Trio's version of "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" is a sad reminder of the price to be paid for war. Dion's "Abraham, Martin And John" still gives me chills. The one really glaring omission from this set is Dylan's "Masters of War." Only Edwin Starr's "War" comes close to matching Dylan's outrage.

If you need to remind yourself that the Sixties weren't all peace and love, this collection does a more than adequate job of showcasing the protest genre. RECOMMENDED ... Read more

Amazon.com

Though written in the early 1950s and never previously recorded, Woody Guthrie's "Peace Call" provides a timely conclusion to this collection of politically pointed material. Trading verses with Texas troubadour Eliza Gilkyson on the pacifist anthem are kindred spirits Patty Griffin, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Iris DeMent. Much of the rest of the album finds Gilkyson applying her vocal warmth and buoyant melodies to lyrics that probe the darker recesses of the human condition, from the terrorism evoked within the luminous "Tender Mercies" (with Gilkyson's son and daughter joining in harmony) to the revenge by a lifelong abuse victim in "Ballad of Yvonne Johnson" to the Shaker-style hymn of mankind's folly, "Milk and Honey." While Gilkyson brings a light touch to the album's weighty social concerns, the pop buoyancy of "Wonderland" and the rock & roller's ballad "Dark Side of Town" (with its Band-like horn arrangement) extend the album's range beyond topical broadsides. --Don McLeese ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A lot to like (and think about) on this album.
Eliza Gilkyson rolls right off the top with "Hiway 9", a bona fide anti-Iraqi war protest song with a great melody and catchy lyrics. " Dark Side of Town" is another excellent song that brings some insight to some of the seedier sides of Texas. "The Ballad of Yvonne Johnson" is a poignant story about a life gone terribly wrong. You can almost feel the subject's pain in the voice of the singer."Wonderland" is an up tempo, pop-like tune similar to several which Mary Chapin Carpenter recorded to success on a number of occasions . The album closes out with the Woody Guthrie song "Peace Call". "Land of Milk and Honey" is a quality effort that fits right in with the times. This is a very notable effort by a fine singer/songwriter.

God Bless Eliza
It's appropriate that a Woody Guthrie song, "Peace Call", ends this album that is so true to the music and causes he fought for. This album is strong on style and clear on message. "Tender Mercies" could be Eliza's best song ever. HIghly recommended.

An alternative perspective to Roy's
Insofar as these reviews might tilt you toward or against purchasing a CD, I'd like to offer another perspective to Roy's impressions above (and suggest that beauty must be in the ear of the beholder). To my ear, some of these works are among the many particularly good recent releases by singer/songwriters. Land of Milk & Honey, The Red Thread and Afterglow are my favorite releases of Ms. Gilkyson, Kaplansky and McLachlan. 2004 has been a fantastic year: Mindy Smith, Patty Griffin, Norah Jones, Lizza Connor... And try Tori Amos' post-911 recording -- really nice.

Another gem from a great artist
This is a wonderful CD, one that is very reflective of the times it was written in. Eliza has a truly beautiful voice. She explores tunings on her guitar that give her the room to use her voice in ways that are unique and very soulful. If you like her past works, you'll appreciate this effort. If you are new to her music, you are in for treat.

Hard years for singer/songwriters
The post 9/11 years seem to have been hard ones for female singer/songwriters. Lucinda Williams continued her precipitous musical decline after Car Wheels on a Gravel Road with the execrable World Without Tears. Sarah Maclachlan's Afterglow was all sweet aural delights and no content. Dar Williams Beauty of the Rain was a dismal spot on an otherwise remarkably consistent and challenging career. And Lucy Kaplansky (The Red Thread) and Jonatha Brooke (Back to the Circus)seemed to have retreated into competence. Brooke's, in particular, seemed to tread water with inexplicably chosen cover tunes (a Super Tramp hit) and sound effects. Now, Eliza Gilkyson comes drifting in from the Land of Milk and Honey, with another defeatist record.
Gilkyson can be a bracing, sexy singer/writer. She can rock, she can be funny and she can write brooding, heartbreaking ballads. With this record, though, she's gone for the Big Statement--and it's not interesting. It's earnest, dull, monotonal. The melodies ride the same midtempo throughout. It's a record that's curiously muted. The highly touted song on the record is a newly discovered Woody Guthrie tune. Several years ago, Billy Bragg and Wilco showed how to bring Guthrie to a new audience--by rocking like madmen. Gilkyson, joined by an all star chorus of sister singers, wants to lullaby us. It's not bad--it's just not particularly fun or uplifting or inspiring. And I don't think that's where the man's music was meant to go. I wouldn't go back to this particular land either. ... Read more

Reviews (41)

Grammy Winning Masterpiece
Those who said this was a bad album, and I think there were only 2, are way off. Everyone should own it. I was first familiar with Janis because I bought "Stars". I saw her on the "Mike Douglas Show". I remembered "Society's Child", but didn't know who did it, and I did not buy this album because of "At Seventeen". I bought it because I loved "Jesse" and it came out right after her "Stars" album was finally released in the U.S. The best songs are "Bright Lights & Promises", "Tea & Sympathy" (gorgeous string arrangement) and "In the Winter", which was the best Live performance I've ever seen. Although this isn't even my favorite of her albums, (I have a huge collection of everything she's ever done), I still say it's her masterpiece and she deserved all the awards it ran off with!

Songs of strength and hope
I found this album when I was 27 and had just separated from the first man I ever loved and had been with for 8 years. It's true, the songs are mostly melancholy, but somehow they comfort and give you strength. I've never been able to say why the lyrics affect me that way, as most of her lyrics in subsequent albums do as well; she must be an angel. I played this album over & over and over, then the tape, now the CD. It is one of the few that I still enjoy and find new things in every time I play it. The lady is a genius, literally and musically.

At Seventeen
I love the song "At Seventeen" but I would really love the words to it. I would like to inspire some co-workers with a presentation and the words with it. PLEASE PLEASE send me the words ASAP....THANK YOU!!!!!!

JANIS ALWAYS DELIVERS
I have worn out an LP and cassette tape of BETWEEN THE LINES. Every song is a jewel -- to be held up to the light and viewed from all angles. It affects me (now) as much as the first time.

Between the shadows and the light
When "At Seventeen" first hit the top 10 it was played until everyone knew the words by heart. What no one realized was that Janis was inspired by her own life, dealing with the unspeakable...and she found a voice, her voice, to share emotions that none of us could even begin to put down on paper let alone sing. I admire her now, thirty years later, still knowing "At Seventeen" by heart, reading her life story through her music. From Janis's song book from her web site, one can read the words that are raw, sometimes extremely painful and morose but she shared and in doing so helped not only us, but herself. She found her way to healing the hurts of her past, made amends with her mother and hopefully has found her place in the sun. A neighbor of mine said once, "I don't know what to do with the emotion"...and I can relate. Janis knew what to do with the emotion, she wrote songs, and she shared them with all of us. This entire album/CD is bittersweet and thought provoking, to be listened to in the quiet of your day. ... Read more

Album Description

Long after the one-two punch of Dylan and the Beatles rendered traditional material unhip, folk’s influence continued to assert itself on the airwaves, as folk-schooled artists transported the songs and sounds of the coffeehouse into a new era of musical electricity.

This collection serves as your window to a time when folk music was as much (or more) of a fixture on the pop charts as rock ’n’ roll.

These tracks were all once major hits or became standards in their own right or both and every one is by the original artist.

Some have been forgotten, some were reviled by purists at the time of their release and some can still be heard on oldies stations (or around campfires) to this day. But taken together, they reveal the glorious elasticity of the folk idiom, while refuting the notion that all great folk music must necessarily be politically oriented. If these tracks don’t put a smile on your face, you must have been suckled by a lemon. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Terrific Collection of Folk-Pop Hits
Only five of these songs were recorded outside the time frame of 1960-1965, and only "Both Sides Now" was written after that time. During this time period, folk music usually fell within one of two groups. There was the political/protest music camp. And then there was the folk/pop group. Nearly all of these songs fall in the latter category. In fact, all but Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land" and Joan Baez's rendition of the Phil Ochs-penned "There But for Fortune" landed in the Top 40 of the pop charts.

While several of these artists have the pedigree as protest singers (Joan Baez, The Weavers, Woody Guthrie), the focus here is clearly on listener-friendly songs. But even with the compiler's intent to put the focus on folk-lite, it seems a bit of a stretch to include Gale Garnett's "We'll Sing in the Sunshine," and The Wonder Who's version of Dylan's "Don't Think Twice" is almost unlistenable. [Note: The Wonder Who is Franki Valli and the Four Seasons, who took this song to No. 12 in 1965!]

With that said, if you like your folk music sanitized and the rough edges smoothed over, this is a very listenable and enjoyable album. The only glaring omission from this collection is the absence of anything by Peter, Paul and Mary. [It would have made more sense to use THEIR hit version of "Don't Think Twice"!] All things considered, this is a delightful album from start to finish. RECOMMENDED

The happy side of the Sixties Folk Movement
"Folk Hits of the 60s" is strongly skewed towards the lighter side of the movement. Granted, you do have Woody Guthrie and Joan Baez, but they are not exactly signing vehement protest songs and you will not find Bob Dylan or Phil Ochs in these twenty tracks. Instead you will find Harry Belefonte and Bobby Darrin, along with a cover of a Dylan song by Wonder Who? This collection came out in August 2003, after the film "A Mighty Wind" successfully lampooned and honored the happy peppy side of the folk movement, and it is not difficult to see a collection. The faux groups of the (New) Main Street Singers, the Folksmen, and Mitch & Mickey would fit right in with the Serendipity Singers, the Kingston Trio, and...okay, there really are no counterparts to the pretend sweethearts of the folk movement, so that analogy falls apart at that point..

Most of the songs are certainly recognizable, although a few, such as "Day-O," are actually from the 1950s. The main reason for not considering these songs to be "real" folk songs is simply because most of them were commercially successful, from Judy Collins' "Both Sides Now" and "Guantanamera" by Sandpipers to "You Were On My Mind" by We Five and "Walk Right In" by the Rooftop Singers. You also get signature songs by the Kingston Trio ("Tom Dooley"), the New Christy Minstrels ("Green, Green"), and the Weavers ("Goodnight Irene"). You might do a double take at Trini Lopez being the one artist to get two tracks on the album, but that is a minor complaint all things considered. The main thing here is that you have to be appreciative of happy folk music going in, because you there are a lot of feel good songs here, like "We'll Sing in the Sunshine," "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," and several others already mentioned. But if you are not the sort to roll your eyes at such music, this is a very solid collection.

Still in love with the old tunes
Folk Hits of the 60's is a great CD. It consists of 20 of the best songs written in that era. Some of them could be considered 50's music also. All of the artists and songs bring back great memories of the times.

Fantastic survey of sixties folk!
This is the perfect complement to Sony's latest reissues of Dylan's classic albums: a collection of folk tunes, many of which either influenced Dylan--like Woody Guthrie or the Weavers--or were influenced by him--including Judy Collins and the We Five.

Note that this collection shies away from much of the topical and political material of the period, and instead focuses on folk-influenced songs that hit big on the pop charts. There's even a hint of the nascent world-music scene in Harry Belafonte's track, and hits by a number of lesser-known artists that I'm too young to remember. This disc is well programmed and provides an very enjoyable listen. Recommended for anyone who wants a good overview of folk music. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

The greatest Canadian album I have ever heard!
Very rarely has the marriage of Cohen's lyrics and music been in bonds of such holy matrymony as it is on "Songs of Love and Hate". And even those albums that come close - most notably "Recent Songs (1979)" - can still not match the brilliance of the songs on "SOL+H". This is by far Cohen's greatest album.

I even love the album's ugly cover of a jaggedly cut-out B+W picture of Cohen against a stark black backdrop amidst large bold white lettering - it rightfully gives the impression that what you are about to hear is Leonard Cohen in it's purest form.

The album opens with the chilling "Avalanche"; and then moves onto one of my all-time favourite Cohen songs: an elegantly gorgeous piece called "Last Year's Man".

The album then drastically shifts gears with an angry, brilliant, statrtlingly unflinching look at the mind-set of a man contemplating his own death in "Dress Rehearsal Rag". The next song is a curious and ultimately funny song called "Diamonds in the Mine" which states that everything has gone to hell, including Cohen's voice which he sings deliberately loud and off-key.

And then comes another quiet, excellent song called "Love Calls You By Name". Then, on track six, comes Cohen's mastepiece: a song about a man writing, what is more or less a love letter to the man who had an affair with his woman in "Famous Blue Raincoat".

The album is then capped off by a great song performed live called "Let's Sing Another Song, Boys" and finally, the classic Cohen tune, "Joan of Arc".

This album is certainly a singular achievement in Cohen's career. And one which he will most-likely never match.

Christ
It would seem that the progression of album purchases of the leonard Cohen fan leads them 'Song of Love and Hate' and stops there - In my case anyway -
A stand-out beyond... - Although, not for its oft mentioned classic 'Avalanche' but I instead believe the trilogy of "Love Calls You By Your Name" - "Famous Blue Raincoat" (exceptional) and the live recording of "Sing Another Song, Boys" - unfortunatly not all here in the Amazon mp3's...
If you are not a fan yet - perhaps start with his first album or maybe 'Recent Songs' a good example of his newer albums, but not yet over-produced like the others that followed - but please include 'Song of Love and Hate' at some stage - please

Death Folk
Without a doubt this is one of Cohen's best records. His most ambitious & perhaps his most depressing. I think he inadvertently created a whole new genre here---Death Folk. Self proclaimed fans range from Kurt Cobain to Nick Cave. So, if you're looking for the flower child nostalgia of of "Suzanne", proceed immediately to the latest greatest hits collection.

"Avalanche" definitely veers on the hate side of things. Lyrically speaking, it's like stumbling across Richard The Third in an abandoned mineshaft. Toss in some stark, flamenco guitar & you get the picture. A dark start to a harrowing album. "Last Year's Man" is a fitting tribute to any old Casanova whose seen his 15 minutes come & go. If that doesn't lift your spirits, how about a nice little ditty about suicide? Don't worry it's just a "Dress Rehearsal Rag". The only thing missing is a knout & a hairshirt. On "Diamonds In The Mine" he sounds like he just gargled with Drano. Dino eat your heart out.If you're feeling angry & disgusted, crank this one up. "Love Calls Your Name" has to be one of Cohen's most epic & underated ballads, while "Famous Blue Raincoat" is perhaps one of his most devastating. Jaded sarcasm comes to a fore on, "Sing Another Song, Boys" & "Joan Of Arc" ends it all on a superaltive note.

Pretentious, cynical & pissed off---this is the sound of Cohen strumming his six-string with an open vein. He's never done anything like it, before or since.

Bittersweet, Brooding & bleak....and utterly brilliant!!!...
Ultimately the title gives you a fair idea of what to expect from this title...but the delivery will certainly take you by surprise, as anyone that can sing about Santa Clause, Orgies, Blue raincoats, Betrayal..in a deceptively angst-ridden way, that at first seems like an apparently sparse & Gentle song of Love, emotion and poignant melodies, and then gradually digresses into a bitter, gloomy, brooding tale of hate, distrust, melancholy & contempt...with an unobtrusive string arrangement lending weight to Cohen's nihilistic rhetoric, that on several occasions, fools the listener into believing that somebody may have Changed the Cd, is fantastically realised, in the same way "Lou Reed" can take relatively simple subject matter, and inject it with venom & Bile, in a way few other artists can perform so charismatically.

Ageless Music
Like all Cohen's early albums, Songs Of Love & Hate has grown in stature down the decades. Famous Blue Raincoat was beautifully covered by Jennifer Warnes on her album of the same name which also contains a duet with Cohen on a longer version of Joan Of Arc. Sing Another Song Boys is Cohen at his bitter best, its harsh chorus atypical of the image of the subdued folkie but pointing to later songs like Lover Lover Lover on 1974's New Skin For The Old Ceremony. Diamonds In The Mine is in the same vein, where the celestial female vocals are particularly effective in balancing Cohen's raw voice on this tale of stunning imagery. (In retrospect, in tone and delivery these two songs are not too far removed from tracks like Iodine or Paper-Thin Hotel on his much-criticized Phil Spector produced album Death Of A Ladies Man). Besides those to, the other track are typical early Cohen. With astonishing elegance and simplicity, the haunting melodies, poetic lyrics and ragged voice have a way of establishing themselves in the consciousness of the listener. Few other artists touch the strings of the soul in the way that Cohen does. Perhaps Richard Thompson comes close now and again, as do Nick Drake, Lou Reed on Berlin, Nick Cave and definitely Swans and Angels Of Light. "Love and Hate" is another jewel in Cohen's crown of ageless music. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A third generation American classic
I remember many of these songs and Burl Ives' warm and friendly voice from my own childhood, played on a heavy vinyl LP. My children and I listened to a tape of Little White Duck over and over. Now I am buying this classic recording of American children's songs, in CD form, for my two year old granddaughter.

One of the greatest childrens albums of all time
"Little White Duck" is a compilation that was first released on LP on CBS's Harmony budget imprint in the 1950's, recorded in the 1940's and features some of the greatest childrens songs about animals including the title track, Froggie Went a Courtin', The Grey Goose and Two Little Owls plus tracks about other topics that kids are interested in such as "The Little Engine That Could," a medley of Mother Goose songs, and "Fooba Wooba John." Quite a few of the tracks do have Burl telling stories behind the songs as well. The artwork on this CD is the same as the 1974 LP reissue of the album, not the original Harmony album pressing, and uses "rechanneled" sources for all the songs so while this CD isn't exactly "audiophile" quality as quite a few of the songs do have surface noise, it serves the purpose of a great childrens album in Burl Ives fashion. It is a great album to learn nursery rhymes as well, just like another reviewer said, so if you come across this CD or LP anywhere, please pick it up and enjoy. Even older people can enjoy this album as well as children.

The soundtrack of my childhood!
I almost cried when I found this CD. I never thought it would be available after all these years. I had the LP as a child and my brothers and sister and I listened to it constantly. It was THE soundtrack of my childhood. Even as adults, we'd sometimes comment about this song or that song. It made such an impact on our growing up years. So when, just on a lark, I did a search for it and actually found it I was ecstatic! I've now had the opportunity to not just tell my kids about these songs, but to let them experience them for themselves. And they love them today just as much as we did 30 years ago. And I think what I like most about it is that it is just a man singing. And unlike so many other kids albums, it is not high pitched and sugary, like so many adults do when they talk to kids. He just uses his regular, beautiful voice to talk and sing, this time through songs kids (and adults) love over and over and over again. Theses are timeless. THIS IS A MUST HAVE CD!

I got tears in my eyes
just listening to sample of this album that Amazon.com provided. I remember the LP vividly from my childhood - my sister and I listened to it over and over. One time our mother sat on it and broke it and we cried so much that she went out that same day and bought a new one.
Now I have my own 3-year old son, and the other day I sang the song about Sarah the whale for him as well as I could remember it. He wants to hear it all the time now! I didn't really expect that the album would be available after all these years, but there it was! Since I now live in Germany, I'm just sad that it's not listed on Amazon.de, only on the US Amazon.com
I can only recommend this album. The songs are clever and fun for adults as well as kids, and Burl's voice is just magical. I hope it will be around for a few more generations!

Great songs!!!
I bought this CD for the song "Little White Duck" but I found much better songs included on it. My daughter has loved this since she was 3 months old, the songs have lots of fun sounds like trains and whistles, besides how can you go wrong with Burl Ives singing children's songs! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

An excellent selection of folk's "Greatest Hits"
This is a very cleverly arranged cd; the biggest hits of the folk decades are all here. If you are interested in the folk phenomenon, look no further. I got a huge kick listening to these dusty favorites again. Only one warning, some of the tunes are "sticky" ("Oh, no don't let the rain come down", for one) and you run the risk of them playing inside your skull on an endless brain-loop until you banish them with some Led Zeppelin.

As Advertised!
CD was great, and entire order/receipt process was swift and without any hastle. Just what I look for and expect from a quality sight like Amazon.com!

As Advertised!
Orded from tekateren (I reco this Marketplace seller) via Amazon. Delivered in perfect shape as advertised-quickley! Content/Artists on CD were 100% "as shown" on Amazon & Sellers web pages, so it was exactly as I'd ordered/previewed. Every phase of purchase/order/charge/receipt process went smoothly, without ANY hitches... Thus, I'm 110% satisfied with process and CD from A to Z!

Great CD!
This CD is great! All of the songs are the original recordings and sound wonderful. It also has an equally wonderful selection of hard to find Folk Hits, such as "Washington Square" and "The Unicorn." All in all, this is a wonderful CD!

A nice collection.
This CD does a good job of sampling many of the best songs of Folk Music. "I'll Never Find Another You" by The Seekers is one that is not anthologized very often. You also get a small dose of Irish Folk with The Rovers. This is not a bad introduction into the Folk Music genre. But, you will want to purchase albums by these artists once you get this. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer take a convincing step forward on their third release, which at various times echoes the music of Robin and Linda Williams and a twangy version of Richard and Linda Thompson. Although gifted on banjo, guitar, fiddle, organ, and mandolin, the duo has placed a premium on the songwriting, with considerable payoff. "Tillman Co." details the ordinary terrors of rural working-class life, "Gentle Arms of Eden" evokes a mystical gospel vision, and "Ordinary Town" offers one of the best opening lines heard this year--"Common cool, he was a proud young fool in a kick-ass Wal-Mart tie"--and then somehow sums up the mysteries of small-town life. Now and again, the philosophical trappings can feel rather starched and pretentious, abetted in part by Carter's penchant for faux-Shakespearean syntax and imagery--"Hail the wayward werewolf howlin' / Haints and shades and goblins growlin'" is one such clumsy exertion--but the overriding musical and lyrical eloquence makes Drum Hat Buddha one of the more original Americana releases of the year. --Roy Kasten ... Read more

Reviews (21)

THIS is what folk music is all about!
Over the last several months, five folk music fans, as well as Amazon and CDNow's Best of 2001 lists, have told me that this is one of best albums of this year. Finally, I decided to listen. And upon finishing my first listen of this album, I only had one question for myself: "What the heck took you so long?"

I'm going to put this plain and simple: BUY THIS CD. There is not a track to be skipped on this album, and even if one doesn't find all the songs pleasing the first time, eventually he will. DRUM HAT BUDDHA represents everything that all music should be--Dave's music and lyrics and the harmonious combination of the two's voices make this an album not to be missed. From the phenomenal opening track "Ordinary Town" to the uplifting "236-6132," to the hypnotizing "Love, the Magician," each song possesses a unique charm and pleasing quality all its own. This CD is a true musical journey--you will be enthralled by the haunting "Tillman County," moved by the gorgeous "Gentle Arms of Eden," and if you don't at least tap your toes during "Highway 80 (she's a mighty good road)," you might want to check your pulse because you might be dead. Every song on this album is an absolute gem.

However, the most important thing to keep in mind about this album is that one must not be mislead by the folk genre--this album is so unbelievable that anyone who doesn't find at least one thing they like about it, regardless of what kind of music they like, needs to have his head examined. DRUM HAT BUDDHA is surely one of the best of 2001 and is not to be missed!

Bound for glory
There is something special about Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer. It's evident in songs like "Gentle Arms of Eden," which may be the best love song about evolution ever written, and "Highway 80 (she's a mighty good road)," a high-energy truck-drivin' singalong. You can hear it in "The Disappearing Man," with its haunting, echoey refrain, and in "236-6132," which you will be singing for days. Dave Carter's songs sound like Lyle Lovett channeling Joseph Campbell, or like a more pagan Richard Shindell; and what would the songs be without Tracy Grammer's soaring violin and sly vocals? This is beautiful music, people, and silly too. Dave & Tracy don't take themselves too seriously. It's folk music, yeah, and it's cosmic American postmodern mythic cowboy country music. This is something special, and I count myself lucky to have come across it.

New to Carter and Grammer?
I make it easy for you: listen to the MP3 "Ordinary Town". Most people are hooked right there but if you need more check out their web site. Some of the best song writting since Dylan picked up a pen, played with passion and soul by two great artist. It's the best mix of country, folk, and a little bluegrass. Each of their CDs is brilliant.

Dave Carter passed away in July of 2002 just shy of 50, the victim of a heart attack. I know that one day he will be remembered as one of the great musicians of our time. Yeah, he's that good. Tracy Grammer is making certain the music lives on, but if you want to hear what the two of them could do... well this is about as good a place to start as any.

You'll buy the rest of the CDs soon enough.

Wonderful - Take a chance on this CD
What can I say, from hearing Crocodile Man a few times on a 'sampler disk', I was so impressed that I bought this CD and also Tanglewood Tree (which has the Crocodile recording).

These songs are full of soul and you cannot miss the virtousity of the musicians - the strings ache and bring tears to your eyes in places. If there was a single theme here it would be that all of the songs tell stories - some of them contain familiar legends, others are a new viewpoint on the familiar or rather humourous/sad observations of modern rural life.

I highly recommend this and Tanglewood Tree. If you are looking for traditional folk or country, look elsewhere - this has an entirely different feeling though it shares from those forms. The songs are original and fresh even though many speak of times long past.

As Good As It Gets
Pure Magic - That's the only way to describe the way Dave Carter's lyrics circle and entwine, mystify and delight, dance and mourn while his partner, Tracy Grammer, navigates through furious fiddling and then sings in the most simple, sweet, honey tones. Each of Dave and Tracy's three albums was a progressive improvement upon the one before, as their experience and resources expanded. Drum Hat Buddha is a rich, intricate expression and resonates long after the last song ends. The songs and arrangements are too varied and complex to be called merely "folk" or "roots". The world lost a beautiful and unparalleled songwriter when Dave Carter passed this year, but we must be thankful that he left us this music before he went. None of their albums (see also "When I Go", "Tanglewood Tree") should be missed, but you can't miss if you buy only this album. Notable tracks (if you really have to choose a few): Ordinary Town, Tillman County, Disappearing Man, I Go Like the Raven, Gentle Soldier of My Soul...oh, heck--they're all really, really good. Just buy it. You'll like it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Until his untimely death, Jim Croce was a force to be reckoned with on radio playlists. Photographs & Memories repackages some of his best work. Romantic acoustic-oriented songs were his hallmark, and songs like "Time in a Bottle," were huge hits because of their easy sentimentality. "I Got a Name" was the singer as well-worn folk traveler, while "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" and even "You Don't Mess Around with Jim" followed standard boogie chord progressions, albeit with Croce's softer rock feel. There wasn't much really separating the overt emotions of "I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song" and "Operator" from his sap-dripping contemporaries, but there was just enough of an edge in Croce's warm voice to elevate his love songs to another level. Like a, oh, moderately priced wine, Croce remains a classic--accessible, affordable, and easy to enjoy. -- Steve Gdula ... Read more

Reviews (21)

An excellent collection of Croce
Photographs and memory's is an excellent collection of Jim Croce's hits in the early 70's. The album remembers the artist well and portrays his unique style to the listener. In an era where soft rock dominated the airways Croce was the best of the best.

His unique singing style, voice and guitar paved the way for some classic upbeat, downtown songs like "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" and, "You Don't Mess Around with Jim," where Croce always seemed to sing to the underdog. He also created some of the best ballet classics "Photographs and Memories", "Time In A Bottle", and "I Got A Name."

If your only going to buy one Croce CD pick up this one, it's an excellent collection of Croce's hits that portrays his style and versatility very well.

The Great, Late & Marvelous Jim Croce!
For those of us who watched the incredible rise of pop folk and country singer Jim Croce, this was the album that encapsulated his all too brief living of the life of his dreams. Sadly, he was cut down just as his career was reaching its pinnacle, and he left us to sing and perform in other, more ethereal venues. I'm sure he has the angels snapping their fingers and tapping their toes. With the songs that are included her Jim sang his way into our living rooms, automobiles, and our hearts. He was a true original, another of the incredible group of singer songwriters who not only performed so brilliantly, but also wrote the lyrics and composed the music as well.

Here we have every thing from "I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song" to "Photographs and Memories", from "Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown" to "You Don't Mess Around With Jim", from "One Less Set Of Footsteps" to "Operator". This is a wonderful album, one filled with all the thoughts and ideas and emotions he evoked so well in his lyrics and his songs. Those of us who came to appreciate his talent and his art were saddened by his death, but are yet thankful he left behind such wonderful photographs and memories, such priceless and timeless reminders of the good times he gave us. That why I wanted to weigh in with this review; I just had to say I loved him in a song... Enjoy!

His "Greatest Hits".
This is pretty much your typical hits album, though a very good one. "Jim Croce" the man may not be well known, but his songs surely are. Half of these tracks most people probably know word for word. Included are the upbeat hits "Bad Bad Leroy Brown" and "You Don't Mess Around With Jim", and his soft rock/folk hits "Time In A Bottle", "I Got A Name", and "I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song". Plus my favorite "Operator (that's not the way it feels)". Overall it's a great collection for most casual fans. It will go great with your "James Taylor" and "Cat Stevens" albums.

fantastic singer
jim croce[rip]is one of the best singers i ever heard.i must admit this type of music is usually not my cup of tea but this cd is the exception.this was the first but most certainly not the last jim croce cd i'll purchase.personal favs on this disc are the classic bad bad leroy brown,time in a bottle and you don't mess around with jim but all tracks on this cd is enjoyable to listen to.i think this is an album anyone can enjoy ,no matter your musical tastes .awesome cd.

A good introduction to Jim Croce
This is the first Jim Croce CD I got and I would recommend the same to any newcomer to this style of music. If you are just beginning this is a good place to start. The songs all sound beautiful and the quality is great even though there aren't as many songs on here as I would have liked. Be sure to get the rest of his CD's if you want to complete your collection. This just skims over the tippy top of his greatest hits, but there were also a couple that I didn't remember when I got it. Even though you, as a newcomer, might only want this CD for the well knowns like Bad, Bad Leroy Brown and Time in a Bottle (beautiful all by itself of course), don't bypass the lesser known ones, which deviate a bit in style from his most typecast songs. You will defintitely get a fuller view of Jim's music, as in New York's Not my home, and Workin at the Car Wash blues. But still get other collections eventually. Stay open minded as you listen, you might be pleasantly surprised at how much you can get out of these songs! ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Lightfoot At His Best
Gordon Lightfoot came to my attention back when I was in Jr. High. I first heard him on old San Diego adult contemporary station KDEO and have been a fan ever since. He played in San Diego while Don Quixote was current and seeing him live then gave me an unshakable attachment to the album. Lightfoot has rarely received the commercial acclaim he deserves although the romantic "Beautiful" was a minor hit. While a very good song, it is not the best on Don Quixote. There is something for everyone here: Lightfoot the romantic, Lightfoot the storyteller, Lightfoot in tune with the outdoors, and Lightfoot man of peace. All songs are well-written and well-arranged and performed in vintage Lightfoot fashion. My favorite cuts are "Looking at the Rain", "Ordinary Man", "Big Blue", and "Second Cup of Coffee". The album is so good, you can see that Lightfoot was inspired. He has given us much through the years, but Don Quixote ranks as one of his best.

Gordon Lightfoot's Perfect Album!
I have always been a fan of Canadian Gordon Lightfoot's music. From the first time eI heard Peter, Paul and Mary's wonderful covers of Lightfoot songs like "Early Morning Rain" and "For Loving Me", I knew anyone who could write songs like that was a huge talent. So when I got turned onto his own voice and music I was astonished by just how good he was (and still is). This is a perfect album because, like several of his other releases, each of the dozen songs included is something you smile at as it first comes on because it is a special favorite. So the song cycle here is unforgettable. The first song is "Christian Islands, and friends of mine who sail say Lightfoot must be a sailor because he had caught the essence of the experience here. "Don Quixote" is a special statement much along the lines of other works like "If You Could Read My Mind" etc that is done in a colorful and unique prose style that leaves the listener to interpret what Lightfoot is talking about.

And so on with each of the songs here. My personal favorites are the two mentioned above as well as "Ode To Big Blue" "Second Cup Of Coffee", and "On Susan's Floor", but I really love them all. If one listens to all of the similarly terrific albums Lightfoot put out over a seven or eight-year period one comes up with literally dozens and dozens of wonderful and memorable songs that could fill several double albums. This guy was far more prolific than anyone else producing work in the sixties and seventies. Buy this album, and after listening to it for a week or so you will be back for "Sundown", "Summertime Dream", "Cold On The Shoulder" and "If You Could Read My Mind". They are all great. Enjoy this one of a kind artist and his amazingly consistent flood of terrific and appealing mainstream folk albums.

Top of his Game
I'm like most of the other reviewers in that I think that this is Lightfoot's best album by far!! I have had this LP for over 30 years and have worn it out, so it's time to buy the CD.

Nevertheless, this album does have its weak points. Three songs are mediocre at best. Patriot's Dream is a good antiwar song but the music and the lyrics don't work together. Ode to Big Blue is dull and repetitive, reminiscent of Edmund Fitzgerald. On Susan's Floor is neither lyrically or musically inspiring.

On the other hand, the other 8 tracks are nothing short of outstanding. The best cuts are the title track, Second Cup of Coffee, Alberta Bound, and Beautiful. "Beautiful" is probably the finest love song ever written, with stunning acoustic guitar work.

I just can't get enough of this album. It reminds me of how good I feel when I visit Canada. Very uplifting and entertaining!!

One of Gordon Lightfoot's Finest Efforts, a Superb Album.
I have been listening to and enjoying "Don Quixote" since 1972. All eleven of these songs are gems, and many of them continue to be performed live even now, more than 30 years later! The Gord's Gold set of "best of's" replicate several of these songs, but nowhere do they sound as fresh and good as on this album. It is on my "20 albums to have if stranded on a desert island" list, and has been for years. I highly recommend this wonderful work to any music fan, you won't be disappointed.

A beautiful, highly original piece of work
Being a teenage girl, I guess people wouldn't be expecting me to like this album, let alone have even heard of Gordon Lightfoot.

I first heard this album when I was 13 (I'm 16 now). I was staying at my Dad's house and my uncle put it on, saying that it was a really nice album, and the minute I heard the first song, I had no choice but to instantly agree with him.

Gordon's voice has a warm, rich feel to it, and, combined with his beautiful but simple poetic lyrics, the combination just takes my breath away every time I listen to this album.

1. DON QUIXOTE: More of a story than a song about the legendary Don Quixote and the conflicted people in life. Surprisingly catchy for a folk-song and the guitar is magical. 8.5/10

2. CHRISTIAN ISLAND: A much slower song about spending a summer on an old, faithful boat in the Christian Islands. Very soothing melody. 8/10

3. ALBERTA BOUND: Not one of my favourites as is kind of disrupts the relaxed feel of the album and the guitar doesn't sound as good as the other songs, but still not a bad song. 6.5/10

4. LOOKING AT THE RAIN: One of my all-time favourites. It's more of a poem about the thoughts that go through your head while staring at the rain out of the window. Just a beautiful song. 9/10

5. ORDINARY MAN: A rather strange but still quite nice ballad about a man who claims he's not your typical man and always feels the presence of the lady he loves stalking him. Has a rather haunting underlayer. The guitar riffs complete the song, making it near perfect. 8/10

6. BRAVE MOUNTAINEERS: This would definately have to be my favourite song as the lyrics make me remember my life when I was younger and have an sweet, innocent manner. 10/10

7. ODE TO BIG BLUE: An ode to an ancient whale that the fishermen could never catch. Is actually darker than I make it sound and the guitar riffs have an almost haunting quality. 8.5/10

8. SECOND CUP OF COFFEE: I just LOVE this song to death. Basically, it's about all the problems we think about first thing in the morning, wondering how we can face the day, remembering how we dealt with things and people in the past, and also thinking about all the good and the bad things that life gives us and is still offering us. 10/10

9. BEAUTIFUL: Just a simple ballad for a longed-for one and about how they've been friends for such a long time and how beautiful that person is. 7.5/10

10. ON SUSAN'S FLOOR: A rather sad song, actually, about a woman (Susan) who would take in the homeless at night and allow them to sleep by her fireplace.

Seems to be written from the POV of an alcoholic homeless who stayed there every night, remembers the happiness Susan and her fireplace bought him and many others. He left because he began to fall in love with Susan and often wonders what would've happened if he'd stayed one more night to share his music with Susan and the other derelicts. 10/10

11. THE PATRIOT'S DREAM: This song takes on a different quality to most of the other ones in this album. In fact, not only is it extremely sad, it's also quite dark. It's a song about the Civil War in America and how all the Patriotic Men lost their lives fighting for "The Patriot's Dream" and how it affected those who loved them such as their wives/fiancees, children and parents. 9/10

It's surprising that so few seem to have heard of Gordon except through his song "If you could read my mind" (A sweet, sad song that was later updated into disco-feel song for the movie "54").

It's actually a big disappointment since Gordon has proved in this album that not only does he have a wonderful voice, he also has the rare talent to write beautiful, memorable lyrics that stay in your head long after hearing his songs. If you haven't heard any of his songs yet, I highly recommend you look for this album (Unfortunately, it's hard to find) or his 'Greatest hit's' album "GORD'S GOLD." ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Dillards combine accomplished picking and harmonizing with a forward-looking approach to bluegrass. These 28 songs follow them from 1963's tradition-based quartetto 1965's fiddle-soaked instrumental virtuosity to open-minded country rock. In a way, their progression makes perfect sense: With their Ozark Mountain upbringing as the foundation, the Dillards absorbed a variety of influences from their new big-city home. The early quartet-with guitarist/vocalist Rodney Dillard, amazing banjo picker Doug Dillard, and mandolinist Dean Webb-offer rousing gospels, a Dylan cover, and classic folk and bluegrass originals such as "The Old Home Place." Fiddler Byron Berline joins the fray in 1965 for potent hot-picking displays. Their later work, featuring Herb Pedersen, adds drums, pedal steel, electric guitar, and even orchestras. Few bands balance the past and the future as successfully. --Marc Greilsamer ... Read more

Reviews (15)

A gem.
Like most of the reviewers, I first heard The Dillards on "The Andy Griffith Show" and for years never thought of them until Nick at Night began running the show again. I bought this particular cd because it has "There is a Time" on it and I can still see Charlene and the boys singing this in Andy's living room.

I was overwhelmed by how much I like the whole album. From "Copperfields" to the end of the album appeal more to me than some of the others. "She Sang Hymns Out of Tune" entranced me and maybe enchanted me too. I think many of us who became politically aware in the '60s will have a real connection to this album.

All in all it's a treasure.

"Sensational CD!"
Sensational CD! The first half consists of traditional bluegrass tunes which display The Dillards superb instrumental and vocal talents. These charming down-home classics showcase their rich harmonies and impressive banjo/mandolin solos. In a nutshell, no one does it better than the Dillards! Favorites (although it's almost impossible to narrow it down) include "Dooley," "There is a Time," and "The Old Home Place."

The last half of the CD is a delightful surprise. Once you let yourself get past your fond memories of the Darlings, you can appreciate and enjoy this blend of bluegrass, country, rock, folk, and contemporary sounds of the late 60s. As an added element of richness and depth, they have incorporated beautiful orchestrations in some of these selections. The Dillards have shown their versatility and bravery by experimenting outside their signature sound, especially in the two Lennon/McCartney compositions, "I've Just Seen a Face" and their a cappella version of "Yesterday" (What harmony! My only complaint with this song is that it's just not long enough!). Other stand-outs include "Copperfields," "Hey Boys," and "She Sang Hymns Out of Tune. Every song is a treat! Enjoy!

Outstanding
This is a great CD. I did not care for a couple of the folk songs, but they did not detract from the hearty mix of mountain music on the whole CD.

The classic tunes made popular on "The Andy Griffith Show" are excellent (Dooley; Ebo Walker; There is a Time).

The Definitive Compilation.... Almost!
Any Dillards fans should buy this right away. At the moment it's the ONLY Dillards compilation out there, and it contains 28 tracks from the bands Elektra years ('63 - '69). Some great songs are missing("Cold Trailin'" and "Old Joseph" from the "Back Porch Bluegrass" album, "Touch Her If You Can", "Sundown" and "Pictures" from the "Copperfields" album just to name a few) and had this project been expanded to two CDs it could pretty well cover all they recorded for Elektra (save "Pickin' and Fiddlin'" an album which might turn off some listeners). The first two Dillards albums (Back Porch Bluegrass and Live!!!! Almost!!!) are available on 1 CD as an import (the latter album is essential!). Maybe the complete Dillards catalog will make it to CD. Let's hope so. Two early 70's albums are available on CD as well...

I got yer bluegrass bible & country-rock primer right HERE!
'There Is A Time' is a very satisfying chronicle of The Dillards in the Sixties, with heaping helpings of music representing their growth from journeymen paying homage to the bluegrass gods, to adepts tweaking the same gods' noses and, ultimately, to their most interesting incarnation: cracker-barrel mystics on their seminal albums "Wheatstraw Suite" and "Copperfields," evoking lush earth tone idylls to rival The Beatles' psychedelic ones

The salad days of The Dillards and The Beatles, in fact, were roughly concurrent, but otherwise their stories couldn't be more different. In the beginning (1962), The Dillards were just a little old bluegrass band out of Salem, Missouri who happened to play better, sing better and write better than just about any of their contemporaries. Then, when all but one of the founding members (preternaturally gifted banjoist Doug Dillard, who left in a huff) began to feel like they had mowed all the color out of bluegrass and wanted to try something different, The Dillards recruited Herb Pedersen and midwived a cool, rootsy new musical critter. Somebody with no imagination dubbed the sound 'country rock.' What it was, really, was Dillards Music. And it sounded like nobody and nothing else.

The upshot? In the 1970s, psuedo country-rock bands (especially The Eagles) made a mint homogenizing The Dillards' straight-from-the-cow sound. The Dillards, meanwhile, languished in relative obscurity, even as they continued to experiment and embrace a more electric sound on such LPs as "Roots and Branches," "Tribute to the American Duck" and "The Dillards vs. the Incredible Flying L.A. Time Machine."

If you're an early Eagles fan, I urge you to do yourself a huge favor: Buy this album and hear the difference between real mooing (so to speak) and a See & Say toy.

There's nary a mutt in the bunch and every song is sure to be someone's favorite. For me, one of those is 'Old Man at the Mill,' a song The Dillards transform from a hickish hoedown tune into the first - maybe only - example of square-dance rock. Heaven help me, it makes me want to put on yellow socks and a purple tie with acorns on it and dance like Gomer Pyle. I'm also partial to 'Nobody Knows,' 'Listen to the Sound,' 'Rainmaker' and 'Copperfields,' all of which deserved to be huge radio hits and would have been, had fate been kinder to the star-crossed Dillards.

Oh, and please tell Rod Stewart that Rodney Dillard sang the definitive version of 'Reason to Believe' long before anyone thought he (Stewart, that is) was sexy.

My only complaint: There ain't a single one of Mitch Jayne's knee-slapping monologues from 'Live!!! Almost!!!' Folks, I assure you, this is a sacrilege.

One more thing. If you can listen to overgrown choirboy Herb Pedersen sing the daylights out of 'She Sang Hymns Out of Tune' - a song so hauntingly sad, it not only would've made sentimental TV sister Charlene Darling cry, but probably want to hurl herself off the Robert E. Lee natural bridge in despair - and not miss your mama...my friend, your heart is a brick. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Inspired by 1992's 'Til Their Eyes Shine: The Lullaby Album, an all-female collection of sleepy-time songs for children, Daddies Sing Good Night proves that men are no less tender in nurturing their wee ones. Or at least that's true of these men--including Jesse Winchester, Doc Watson, Peter Rowan, and the late Townes Van Zandt--who wrote the songs for their own offspring, and, in their day jobs, rank among the finest practitioners of folk, country, and bluegrass. In guiding their young charges to dreamworld, these fathers visit exotic lands, lonesome prairies, and even the wide heavens on the gossamer wings of horses. Parental listeners will likely detour into the recesses of their own hearts, in exploring the special bond and soothing strength of fatherhood. --Alanna Nash ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Faithfully puts my son to sleep
Though I'm not a country music fan, I enjoy listening to this CD, too. It's very soothing, and the songs are hearfelt with some truly precious lines. "Green-pea toes" comes to mind, along with "today you have the hands of a baby, tomorrow the hands of a lady."

Tender Fathers Sweetly Sing
Such a wonderful collection of loving songs, sung mostly by bluegrass and folk singers inspired by their own children. The words and melodies are both soothing to our baby and also so moving to her parents. Truly our favorite lullaby cd-- I would buy it for any parents who like good, folksy music and who have tender hearts.

Our *favorite* lullaby CD!
This is absolutely our favorite lullaby CD. Adults can enjoy the music as much as children can! We played this CD on the way home from the hospital with our son, and love it as much now that he is 6 months old as we did then. Some of the songs, such as "Little One," bring tears to my eyes, while my husband has a great time singing "My Little Buckaroo," to our son. A fantastic collection of songs!

My all-time favorite
The baby might be tired of this one, but, I can't stop listening to it. A must own for babies and parents who hate banal "baby" music.

I never get tired of this CD!
I love, love, love this CD! I don't care for those typical, sappy lullaby CDs, but this CD is different. It has a wonderfully earthy, bluegrass feel to it. I get teary-eyed every single time I hear "Little One," and songs like "My Little Buckaroo" are so much fun! Mommies and Daddies both will love this CD. ... Read more