Showing posts with label Folk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Folk. Show all posts

Saturday, September 6, 2025

VA - The Fab Sixties Vol. 01 - Vol. 20 [2004-2005] (20 x CDs)

60s

VA - The Fab Sixties Vol. 01 - Vol. 20 [2004-2005] (20 x CDs)

Released by Musicbank UK between 2004 and 2005, The Fab Sixties is a sprawling 20CD box set that offers a panoramic sweep of 1960s pop, rock, soul, and psychedelia. With 320 tracks spread evenly across the volumes, it’s less a curated museum piece and more a jukebox explosion, capturing the decade’s sonic diversity with both chart-toppers and deep cuts.

Each disc contains 16 tracks, and while marquee names like Tom Jones, Roy Orbison, The Mamas & The Papas, and The Spencer Davis Group anchor the set, it’s the lesser-known inclusions that give it character. Artists like Pinkerton’s Assorted Colours, Vanity Fare, and Malcolm Roberts, often overlooked in mainstream retrospectives, are given equal billing, reflecting Musicbank’s democratic approach to curation.

Stylistically, the set is a kaleidoscope. You’ll hear British Invasion stompers, Motown soul burners, garage fuzz, folk-pop ballads, and even early psych-rock. Tracks like Love’s “7 & 7 Is”, Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze”, and Jefferson Airplane’s “Somebody to Love” inject grit and edge, while Dinah Washington, Percy Sledge, and Betty Everett bring emotional depth and vocal firepower. The sequencing across volumes is intuitive, often balancing upbeat numbers with slower, reflective pieces, making each disc feel like a standalone listening experience.

The packaging is modest, cardboard sleeves housed in a sturdy outer box, but functional. There’s no elaborate booklet or liner notes, which might disappoint detail-hungry collectors, but the track selection itself acts as a curatorial statement. It’s clear the compilers favored vibe over chronology, and variety over genre purity, resulting in a set that feels spontaneous and alive.

While not marketed as a rarities collection, there are alternate takes, re-recordings, and lesser-known versions peppered throughout, adding texture for seasoned ears. Some tracks appear in subtly different mixes or edits, which may intrigue audiophiles and archivists. The mastering is clean and consistent, though not audiophile grade, this is a set meant for enjoyment, not forensic analysis.

In essence, The Fab Sixties is a generous, no-frills celebration of the decade’s enduring magic. It’s ideal for newcomers seeking a crash course in ’60s sounds and equally rewarding for collectors who appreciate the charm of a well-sequenced, eclectic compilation. It doesn’t aim to be definitive, but it’s undeniably fun, accessible, and packed with personality, much like the era it celebrates. For fans of the era, it’s a generous, no-frills celebration of the decade’s enduring magic (B)

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Track lists

CD01

01 Eric Burdon - House of The Rising Sun 4:38

02 Herman's Hermits - I'm Into Something Good 2:31

03 Buddy Holly & The Picks - True Love Ways 2:50

04 Turtles - Happy Together 2:55

05 Spencer Davis Group - Keep on Running 3:05

06 Wayne Fontana - Groovy Kind of Love 2:03

07 Malcolm Roberts - Love is All 3:47

08 Dinah Washington - September in The Rain 2:08

09 Donovan - Sunshine Superman 4:05

10 Eddie Floyd - Knock on Wood 3:31

11 Brenda Lee - I'm Sorry 2:12

12 Bruvvers - Picture of You 2:23

13 Canned Heat - On The Road Again 4:34

14 Fats Domino - Red Sails in The Sunset 2:49

15 Love - 7 & 7 Is 2:34

16 Kenny Ball & His Jazz Men - Midnight in Moscow 2:53


CD02

01 The Archies - Sugar, Sugar 2:49

02 The Foundations - Baby, Now That I've Found You 2:35

03 Tom Jones - What's New Pussycat 2:15

04 Gerry and The Pacemakers - Ferry Cross The Mersey 2:46

05 Spencer Davis Group - I'm A Man 3:35

06 Billy J. Kramar - Trains and Boats and Planes 2:18

07 Jimi Hendrix - Purple Haze 3:05

08 Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Dancing in The Street 4:30

09 Pinkertons Assorted Colours - Mirror Mirror 2:03

10 Billie Davis - Tell Him 2:19

11 Aaron Neville - Tell it Like it Is 3:04

12 Betty Everett - It's in His Kiss 2:15

13 Freddie and The Dreamers - I'm Telling You Now 2:08

14 Herman's Hermits - Wonderful World 1:59

15 Pat Boone - Moody River 2:36

16 Malcolm Roberts - May I Have The Next Dream With You 2:46


CD03

01 Bachelors - Diane 2:34

02 Jet Harris - Diamonds 2:44

03 Buddy Holly & The Crickets - Peggy Sue 2:29

04 Mamas & Papas - California Dreamin' 2:24

05 Spencer Davis Group - Gimmie Some Lovin' 2:50

06 Billy J Kramer - I'll Keep You Satisfied 1:59

07 Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Jimmy Mack 3:07

08 Roger Miller - King of The Road 2:23

09 Brenda Lee - Sweet Nothin's (Medley) 0:46

10 Freddie and The Dreamers - You Were Made for Me 2:18

11 Gene Chandler - Duke of Earl 2:19

12 James Brown - It's A Man's Man's Man's World 8:55

13 Jeannie C. Riley - Harper Valley Pta 3:11

14 Temptations - Get Ready 2:51

15 Roger Miller - England Swings 1:51

16 Neil Sedaka - Little Devil (Medley) 0:49


CD04

01 Spencer Davis Group - Somebody Help Me 2:40

02 Mike Penders Searchers - Needles and Pins 2:09

03 Tom Jones - Without Love 2:38

04 Mamas & Papas - Monday Monday 3:23

05 Roy Orbison - Only The Lonely 2:36

06 Billy J. Kramar - Do You Want to Know A Secret 2:07

07 Martha Reeves - Nowhere to Run 4:42

08 Roger Whittaker - Durham Town 2:20

09 Brenda Lee - All Alone Am I 1:42

10 Herman's Hermit's - No Milk Today 2:47

11 Freddy Cannon - Way Down Yonder in New Orleans 2:27

12 Jefferson Airplane - Somebody to Love 4:29

13 Jimmy Jones - Handyman 2:01

14 Ivy League - Tossin' and Turnin' 2:22

15 Vanity Fare - Early in The Morning 2:34

16 Temptations - Cloud Nine 3:41


CD05

01 Troggs - With A Girl Like You 2:11

02 Jimmy Jones - Good Timin' 2:09

03 Buddy Holly & The Picks - Bo Diddley 2:18

04 Percy Sledge - When A Man Loves A Woman 2:45

05 Roy Orbison - Oh Pretty Woman 3:42

06 Crispian St Peters - You Were Always on My Mind 2:42

07 Denny Laine & Wings - Go Now 3:20

08 Ronnie Carroll - Roses Are Red 2:32

09 Brook Benton - A Rockin Good Way 2:24

10 Ike & Tina Turner - River Deep, Mountain High 3:54

11 Helen Shapiro - Don't Treat Me Like A Child 2:30

12 Johnny Preston - Cradle of Love 2:16

13 Mamas & Papas - Dedicated to The One I Love 3:22

14 Tommy Roe - The Folk Singer 3:18

15 Bachelors - No Arms Can Ever Hold You 2:49

16 Canned Heat - Going Up The Country 2:55


CD06

01 Helen Shapiro - Walking Back to Happiness 2:31

02 Brian Poole - Twist and Shout 2:21

03 The Yardbirds - Heart Full of Soul 2:26

04 Billy J. Kramer - From A Window 1:57

05 Foundations - Build Me Up Buttercup 2:39

06 Dean Martin - Everybody Loves Somebody 2:43

07 Drifters - Saturday Night at The Movies 2:34

08 Applejacks - Tell Me When 2:34

09 Bruce Channel - Hey Baby 2:11

10 John Lee Hooker - Boom Boom 2:30

11 Johnny & The Hurricanes - Beaynik Fly 2:07

12 Mike Penders Searchers - Don't Throw Your Love Away 2:12

13 Ned Miller - From A Jack to A King 2:07

14 Tommy Roe - Everybody 2:06

15 Applejacks - Like Dreamers Do 2:41

16 Drifters - Save The Last Dance for Me 2:08


CD07

01 Peter Sarstedt - Where Do You Go to My Lovely 5:11

02 Four Pennies - Juliet 2:34

03 Yardbirds - Spahes of Things 2:27

04 Shangri-Las - Leader Ofthe Pack 2:50

05 Troggs - Wild Thing 2:40

06 Fleetwood Mac - Black Magic Woman 6:50

07 Susan Maughan - Bobby's Girl 2:32

08 Bachelors - I Believe 1:53

09 Dave Berry - The Crying Game 2:38

10 Jose Feliciano - Light My Fire 3:08

11 Kenny Rogers - Ruby Don't Take Your Love to Town 2:54

12 Ricky Nelson - Travelin' Man 2:20

13 Eric Burdon - Don't Bring Me Down 5:11

14 Tommy Roe - Shelia 2:17

15 Temptations - I'm Losing You 2:44

16 Tommy Bruce - Ain't Misbehavin' 2:16


CD08

01 Tommy Roe - Dizzy 3:02

02 Marvin Gaye - I Heard it Through The Grape Vine 3:50

03 Yardbirds - For Your Love 2:30

04 Troggs - I Can't Control Myself 3:07

05 Swinging Blue Jeans - Hippy Hippy Shake 1:44

06 Gary Pucket & The Union Gap - Young Girl 3:17

07 Sam & Dave - Soul Sister Brown Sugar 2:39

08 Bee Gees - Spicks and Specks 2:51

09 Dave Berry - Little Things 2:24

10 Cupid's Inspiration - Yesterday Has Gone 2:38

11 Lee Dorsey - Holy Cow 2:29

12 Leroy Van Dyke - Walk on By 2:14

13 Ketty Lester - Love Letters 2:42

14 Lee Dorsey - Working in A Coalmine 2:46

15 Foundations - In The Bad, Bad Old Days 3:31

16 Four Tops - Reach Out, Ill Be There 4:05


CD09

01 Johnny Preston - Running Bear 2:36

02 Tom Jones - Green Green Grass of Home 2:23

03 Buddy Holly & The Picks - Heartbeat 2:08

04 Supremes - Refllections 5:38

05 Troggs - Love is All Around 2:39

06 Mary Hopkin - Those Were The Days 2:26

07 Sam & Dave - Soul Man 2:55

08 Caravelles - You Don't Have to Be A Baby to Cry 1:51

09 Neil Sedaka - Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen 1:33

10 Little Eva & Big Dee Irwin - Swinging on A Star 2:37

11 Lou Christie - I'm Gonna Make You Mine 2:35

12 Merseybeats - Wishin' and Hopin' 2:39

13 Applejacks - Three Little Words 1:34

14 Turtles - Elenore 2:29

15 Flying Machine - Mirror Mirror 2:02

16 Brenda Lee - Is it True 0:35


CD10

01 Gerry and The Pacemakers - You'll Never Walk Alone 2:41

02 Billy J Kramer - Bad to Me 2:17

03 Tom Jones - Love Me Toinght 2:35

04 Supremes - Where Did Our Love Go 2:21

05 Allisons - Lessons in Love 2:26

06 Mary Wells - My Guy 3:23

07 Eric Burdon - Don;t Let Me Be Misunderstood 2:19

08 Casuals - Jesamine 3:05

09 Neil Sedaka - Breaking Up is Hard to Do 4:03

10 Mamas & Papas - Creeque Alley 3:52

11 Lou Christie - Lightnin Strikes 2:56

12 Fourmost - A Little Lovin 2:00

13 Merseybeats - I Think of  You 2:23

14 Herman's Hermits - Silhouettes 2:06

15 Freddie and The Dreamers - I Understand 2:39

16 Danny Williams - Moon River 2:40


CD11

01 Marmelade - Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da 3:01

02 Gerry & The Pacemakers - How Do You Do It 1:48

03 Tom Jones - Deliah 2:39

04 Santana - Jingo 9:52

05 Supremes - You Can't Hurry Love 3:07

06 Sammy Davis Jr. - What Kind of Fool Am I 3:05

07 Eric Burdon - We've Gotta Get Outa This Place 3:21

08 New Vaudville Band - Winchester Cathedral 2:11

09 Nei Sedaka - Calendar Girl 1:50

10 Mike Penders Searchers - When You Walk in The Room 2:23

11 Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs - Stay 1:50

12 Merseybeats - Don't Turn Around 2:42

13 Swinging Blue Jeans - Good Golly Miss Molly 2:18

14 Temptations - Beauty is Only Skin Deep 2:47

15 Marth Reeves & The Vandellas - Heatwave 4:38

16 Johnny & The Hurricanes - Rockin' Goose 1:48


CD12

01 Billy J. Kramer - Little Children 2:48

02 Gerry & The Pacemakers - I Like It 2:12

03 Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Handsome Man 3:05

04 Supremes - Baby Love 1:46

05 Ricky Valence - Tell Laura I Love Her 2:47

06 Rick Nelson - Hello Mary Lou 2:18

07 Sam & Dave - Soothe Me 2:37

08 Dixie Cups - Iko Iko 2:01

09 Pat Boone - Speedy Gonzales 2:35

10 Rick Nelson - Fools Rush In 2:38

11 Neil Sedaka - Stairway to Heaven 1:11

12 Nina Simone - Ain't Got No-I Got Life 4:39

13 Temptations - I Can't Get Next to You 2:56

14 Swinging Blue Jeans - You're No Good 2:16

15 Drifters - Up on The Roof 2:14

16 Mike Penders Searchers - Sweets for My Sweet 2:24


CD13

01 Dixie Cups - Chapel of Love 2:45

02 Ivy League - Funny How Love Can Be 2:08

03 Chip Hawkes [Formely of The Tremeloes] - Here Comes My Baby 2:48

04 Fourmost - Hello Little Girl 1:56

05 Roy Orbison - Lana 2:24

06 Eric Burdon & The Animals - Don't Bring Me Down 3:16

07 Applejacks - Three Little Words 1:36

08 Johnny & The Hurricanes - Ja - Da 2:06

09 Johnny Preston - Feel So Fine 2:08

10 Drifters - Please Stay 2:13

11 Percy Sledge - Warm and Tender Love 3:14

12 Van Morrison - Spanish Rose 3:53

13 Mary Wells - Two Lovers 3:42

14 Tom Jones - Release Me 2:20

15 Sam & Dave - Can't Find Another Way 2:36

16 Ike and Tina Turner - A Fool for You 5:04


CD14

01 Ronnie Carrol - Say Wonderful Things 2:35

02 Roy Orbison - Dream Baby 2:40

03 Ivy League - Tossin' and Turnin' 2:23

04 Gene Chandler - Nothing Can Stop Me 2:56

05 Sammy Davis Jnr - Somethings Gotta Give 0:22

06 Dritters - I Need Your Love 3:19

07 Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen - The Green Leaves of Summer 2:42

08 Troggs - Night of The Long Grass 3:06

09 Champs - Too Much Tequila 2:13

10 Coasters - Little Egypt 3:35

11 Percy Sledge - You Send Me 4:27

12 Van Morrison - Madame George 5:16

13 Mary Wells - I'm A Lady 4:56

14 Tom Jones - He Stopped Loving Her Today 2:55

15 Sam and Dave - Don't Pull Your Love 3:05

16 Ike and Tina Turner - Baby Get it On 3:12


CD15

01 Turties - Happy Together 2:55

02 Temptations - My Girl 2:54

03 Troggs - Little Girl 2:58

04 Gene Chandler - Rainbow 2:22

05 Eric Burdon & The Animals - I'm Crying 2:52

06 Johnny & The Hurricanes - Rockin' Goose 1:50

07 Drifters - On Broadway 2:58

08 Roy Orbison - Devil Doll 2:09

09 Archies - Jingle Jangle 2:43

10 Percy Sledge - If Loving You is Wrong 3:51

11 Van Morrison - The Smile You Smile 2:56

12 Mary Wells - Money Talks 4:20

13 Tom Jones - Georgia on My Mind 3:24

14 Sam and Dave - When Something is Wrong With My Baby 3:17

15 Ike and Tina Turner - Come Together 3:28

16 Buddy Holly & The Crickets - Listen to Me 2:20


CD16

01 Betty Everett - Getting Mighty Crowded 2:10

02 Shangri Las - Remember Walking in The Sand 2:07

03 Roy Orbison - In Dreams 2:56

04 Kenny Rogers - But You Know I Love You 3:02

05 Sammy Davis Jnr - I've Gotta Be Me 2:54

06 Skeeter Davis - The End of The World 2:38

07 Coasters - Run Red Run 2:53

08 Troggs - Give it to Me 2:12

09 Drifters - Dance With Me 2:11

10 Percy Sledge - Just Out of Reach 3:31

11 Van Morrison - Ro Ro Rosey 2:59

12 Mary Wells - To Feel Your Love 3:40

13 Tom Jones - Fools Rush In 2:15

14 Sam and Dave - You Got Me Hummin 2:51

15 Ike and Tina Turner - Gimme Some Lovin 2:39

16 Buddy Holly and The Picks - Learning The Game 1:59


CD17

01 Roy Orbison - Cryin 2:56

02 Drifters - There Goes My Baby 2:11

03 Foundations - Back on My Feet Again 2:52

04 Animals - Boom Boom 5:03

05 Percy Sledge - Warm & Tender Love 3:14

06 Ronnie Carroll - Say Wonderful Things 2:36

07 Roy Orbison - Leah 3:00

08 Archies - Bang Shang A Lang 2:31

09 Champs - Tequila 2:17

10 Van Morrison - Goodbye Baby [Baby Goodbye] 2:59

11 Mary Wells - Make Up Break Up 3:17

12 Tom Jones - Release Me 2:20

13 Sam & Dave - I Thank You 2:55

14 Turtles - You Baby 2:18

15 Ike & Tina Turner - Don't Look Back 4:01

16 Buddy Holly & The Picks - You're The One 2:02


CD18

01 Roy Orbison - Penny Arcade 3:09

02 Temptations - Ain't Too Proud to Beg 2:49

03 Troy Shondell - This Time 2:36

04 Bobby Darin - If I Were A Carpenter 2:21

05 Jimmy Jones - I Told You So 2:06

06 Johnny & The Hurricanes - Down Yonder 2:06

07 Drifters - Under The Boardwalk 2:36

08 Jewel Akens - The Birds and The Bees 2:08

09 Percy Sledge - Behind Closed Doors 2:49

10 Van Morrison - Who Drove The Red Sports Car 5:33

11 Mary Wells - The One Who Really Loves You 3:40

12 Tom Jones & Paula Anka - Nights on Broadway 2:19

13 Yardbirds - Good Morning Little Schoolgirl 2:47

14 Ike and Tina Turner - Mississippi Rolling Stone 3:10

15 Buddy Holly and The Picks - Love is Strange 3:04

16 Marvin Gaye - God is Love 2:34


CD19

01 Billy J Kramer - From A Window 1:58

02 Troggs - Anyway That You Want Me 2:47

03 Roy Orbison - Blue Angel 3:22

04 Chuck Berry - Nadine (Is That You) 4:01

05 Johnny & The Hurricanes - Beatnik Fly 2:10

06 Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen - March of The Siamese Children 2:42

07 Drifters - When My Little Girl is Smiling 2:05

08 Ad Libs - The Boy From New York City 3:01

09 Percy Sledge - Take Time to Know Her 2:59

10 Van Morrison - Chick-A-Boom 3:11

11 Mary Wells - You Beat Me to The Punch 3:41

12 Tom Jones & Gladys Knight - Guilty 2:35

13 Sam & Dave - Hold on I'm Coming 2:39

14 Hank Locklin - Please Help Me I'm Falling 2:21

15 Buddy Holly & The Picks - Love Me 2:06

16 Marvin Gaye - God is My Friend 1:59


CD20

01 Bobby Darin - Mack The Knife 3:10

02 Lee Dorsey - Get Out of My Life Woman 2:22

03 Johnny Adams - Reconsider Me 3:50

04 Eric Burdon - San Franciscan Nights 3:50

05 Freddie & The Dreamers - If You Gotta Make A Fool Out of Somebody 1:58

06 Betty Everett [With Jerry Butler] - Let it Be Me 2:51

07 Roy Orbison - Blue Bayou 3:02

08 Drifters - I Count The Tears 2:03

09 Burl Ives - A Little Bitty Tear 1:59

10 Percy Sledge - Baby Help Me 2:27

11 Van Morrison - He Ain't Give You None 5:47

12 Mary Wells - Oh Little Boy What Did You Do to Me 3:59

13 Tom Jones & Dusty Springfield - Upside Down 2:11

14 Sam & Dave - You Don't Know What You Mean to Me 2:28

15 Ike & Tina Turner - Golden Empire 3:35

16 Buddy Holly & The Picks - Everyday 2:07

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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Monday, August 4, 2025

VA - California Acid Folk [1981]

ACID FOLK

VA - California Acid Folk [1981]

California Acid Folk (Penguin Records, 1981) isn’t just a bootleg, it’s a portal. It opens with a 1967 Byrds radio session that’s all shimmer and shadow, then slides into Country Weather’s smoky demos. Kaleidoscope’s live set from Berkeley twists acid folk into Middle Eastern spirals, and pulls you deeper with Lowell George, Gram Parsons, and more offbeat companions.

Despite its scrappy origins, it’s stitched together with curatorial care. You don’t just hear songs, you feel the undercurrent of California’s psychedelic folk roots bending into garage, country-rock, and the avant-garde. It’s a sonic flea market full of ghosts. (B)

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Track list

01 Byrds - Hey Joe, My Back Pages, Mr. Tambourine Man, He Was A Friend of Mine, So You Want to Be A Rock & Roll Star, Roll Over Beethoven 17:52

02 Country Weather - Time is Leaving Me Behind 3:26

03 Country Weather - New York City Blues 4:10

04 Country Weather - Carry A Spare 4:32

05 Country Weather - Fly to New York 6:06

06 Kaleidoscope - Oh Death 5:43

07 Kaleidoscope - Taxim 7:36

08 Kaleidoscope - Egyptian Gardens 4:45

09 Factory - No Place I'd Rather Be 2:31

10 Factory - Smile, Let Your Life Begin 2:26

11 Mystery Trend - Johnny Was A Good Boy 2:39

12 Dino Valenti - Birdses 2:36

13 International Submarine Band - Sum Up Broke 2:16

14 Misfits - The Uncle Willie 2:15

15 Vibra-Sonics - Thunder Storm 2:55

16 American Four - Lucy Baines 2:35

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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Wednesday, July 23, 2025

VA - The Greenwich Village Folk Scene, Original Album Series [2014] (5 x CDs)

FOLK

VA - The Greenwich Village Folk Scene, Original Album Series [2014] (5 x CDs)

Pull up a chair and pass the coffee, released by Elektra Records as part of their Original Album Series line, The Greenwich Village Folk Scene, Original Album Series feels like settling in for a long, winding story from the heart of Bleecker Street itself. This five-CD box gathers full, original albums from five artists who didn’t just play the Village, they were the Village. No glitz, no filters, just pure, honest folk in all its scrappy glory.

What makes this set sing isn’t just the familiar names, it’s the hidden corners and rare threads that remind you this was a living, breathing scene. You’ve got the Even Dozen Jug Band, a joyful noise featuring pre-fame Maria Muldaur and John Sebastian, mixing jug band revivalism with wild charm. There’s a rare acoustic version of The Blues Project, long before they plugged in, stripped-down bluesy cuts with Dave Van Ronk and Danny Kalb that capture the scene’s gritty roots.

Then you’ve got Phil Ochs’ protest fire on I Ain’t Marching Anymore, as biting now as it was in '65. The title track, “Draft Dodger Rag,” and “Here’s to the State…” are still some of the sharpest pens ever put to song. Fred Neil’s Bleecker & MacDougal? That one’s a deep, moody drift into the Village’s late-night soul—his voice alone could stop traffic on MacDougal Street. And Tom Paxton’s Ain’t That News weaves wit and heartbreak into songs that still feel startlingly relevant today.

The real power of this set is how it threads it all together, protest and poetry, heartbreak and humor, community and defiance. It’s not a “best of” it’s a portrait. A rare one, too, these are full albums, not cherry-picked singles, so you get to hear the flow, the context, the heartbeat of what folk sounded like as it was happening.

If you’re building a mix with heart or want to breathe life into a set that captures the why behind the folk revival, not just the hits but the soul of the thing, this is a perfect place to begin. (B)

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Track lists

CD1

01 The Even Dozen Jug Band - Take Your Fingers Off It 2:23

02 The Even Dozen Jug Band - Come on In 2:39

03 The Even Dozen Jug Band - Mandolin King Rag 1:44

04 The Even Dozen Jug Band - Overseas Stomp 1:42

05 The Even Dozen Jug Band - Evolution Mama 3:16

06 The Even Dozen Jug Band - The Even Dozens 2:53

07 The Even Dozen Jug Band - I Don't Love Nobody 2:53

08 The Even Dozen Jug Band - Rag Mama 2:11

09 The Even Dozen Jug Band - France Blues 2:39

10 The Even Dozen Jug Band - On The Road Again 3:15

11 The Even Dozen Jug Band - Original Colossal Drag Rag 2:56

12 The Even Dozen Jug Band - All Worn Out 2:49

13 The Even Dozen Jug Band - Lonely One in This Town 2:59

14 The Even Dozen Jug Band - Sadie Green 2:10


CD2

01 The Blues Project - Fixin' to Die 3:49

02 The Blues Project - Blow Whistle Blow 2:45

03 The Blues Project - My Little Woman 2:12

04 The Blues Project - Ginger Man 2:07

05 The Blues Project - Bad Dream Blues 3:54

06 The Blues Project - Winding Boy 3:28

07 The Blues Project - I'm Troubled 2:30

08 The Blues Project - France Blues 2:30

09 The Blues Project - Don't You Leave Me Here 2:48

10 The Blues Project - Devil Got My Woman 4:08

11 The Blues Project - Southbound Train 4:05

12 The Blues Project - Downtown Blues 2:30

13 The Blues Project - Leavin' Here Blues 4:50

14 The Blues Project - Hello Baby Blues 2:02

15 The Blues Project - She's Gone 2:07

16 The Blues Project - Slappin' on My Black Cat Bone 2:15


CD3

01 Phil Ochs - I Ain't Marching Anymore 2:35

02 Phil Ochs - In The Heat of The Summer 3:06

03 Phil Ochs - Draft Dodger Rag 2:11

04 Phil Ochs - That's What I Want to Hear 3:10

05 Phil Ochs - That Was The President 3:25

06 Phil Ochs - Iron Lady 3:35

07 Phil Ochs - The Highwayman 5:41

08 Phil Ochs - Links on The Chain 4:21

09 Phil Ochs - Hills of West Virginia 3:23

10 Phil Ochs - The Men Behind The Guns 3:03

11 Phil Ochs - Talking Birmingham Jam 3:13

12 Phil Ochs - Ballad of The Carpenter 3:55

13 Phil Ochs - Days of Decision 3:12

14 Phil Ochs - Here's to The State of Mississippi 5:51


CD4

01 Fred Neil - Bleecker & Macdougal 2:15

02 Fred Neil - Blues on The Ceiling 2:26

03 Fred Neil - Sweet Mama 2:39

04 Fred Neil - Little Bit of Rain 2:24

05 Fred Neil - Country Boy 2:29

06 Fred Neil - Other Side to This Life 2:58

07 Fred Neil - Mississippi Train 2:22

08 Fred Neil - Travelin' Shoes 2:19

09 Fred Neil - The Water is Wide 4:19

10 Fred Neil - Yonder Comes The Blues 1:53

11 Fred Neil - Candy Man 2:30

12 Fred Neil - Handful of Gimme 2:16

13 Fred Neil - Gone Again 3:16


CD5

01 Tom Paxton - Ain't That News! 1:34

02 Tom Paxton - The Willing Conscript 2:33

03 Tom Paxton - Lyndon Johnson Told The Nation 2:59

04 Tom Paxton - Hold on to Me Babe 3:12

05 Tom Paxton - The Name of The Game is Stud 1:59

06 Tom Paxton - Bottle of Wine 2:22

07 Tom Paxton - The Natural Girl for Me 2:36

08 Tom Paxton - Goodman, Schwerner, and Chaney 2:42

09 Tom Paxton - We Didn't Know 2:22

10 Tom Paxton - Buy A Gun for You Son 2:31

11 Tom Paxton - Ev'ry Time (When We Are Gone) 3:10

12 Tom Paxton - Georgie on The Freeways 3:09

13 Tom Paxton - Sully's Pail 3:12

14 Tom Paxton - I'm The Man That Build The Bridges 2:48

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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Monday, July 7, 2025

VA - May Your Song Always Be Sung, The Songs of Bob Dylan Vol. 1+2 [1997-2001] (2 x CDs)

TRIBUTE

VA - May Your Song Always Be Sung, The Songs of Bob Dylan Vol. 1+2 [1997-2001] (2 x CDs)

May Your Song Always Be Sung: The Songs of Bob Dylan Vol. 1 (1997) and Vol. 2 (2001) are fascinating explorations of Dylan’s songwriting legacy, brought together by BMG Ariola. These tribute albums feature a diverse roster of artists reinterpreting Dylan’s work, offering fresh perspectives on songs that are often inseparable from Dylan’s own delivery.

Volume 1 opens with Michael Hedges’ atmospheric rendition of All Along the Watchtower, while José Feliciano gives a poignant take on Masters of War. The set is a mix of faithful tributes and ambitious reimaginings, including The Box Tops’ I Shall Be Released, a country-soul hybrid, and the rugged Subterranean Homesick Blues from Harry Nilsson. Rare gems surface in versions of Blind Willie McTell by The Dream Syndicate and Seven Days by Jimmy Barnes, songs not often covered and offering fresh angles on Dylan’s lesser-known catalog.

Volume 2 continues the journey with equally eclectic selections, featuring interpretations from artists across genres. These compilations are notable for bringing together mainstream and underground musicians, proving Dylan’s influence stretches far beyond folk and rock.

For listeners who appreciate well-researched, deep-dive collections, these albums deliver an intriguing mix of celebrated classics and overlooked treasures. These are solid examples of Dylan’s songs adapting to different voices over decades. (B)

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Track lists

CD1

01 Michael Hedges - All Along the Watchtower 3:01

02 Josè Feliciano - Masters of War 4:45

03 Bobby Bare - Blowin' in the Wind 2:57

04 Phil Carmen - Chimes of Freedom 4:05

05 Steven Keene - Never say Goodbye 3:29

06 Zimmermen - Series of Dreams 5:38

07 Thomas Helmig - Memphis Blues Again 3:46

08 Jeff Healey Band - When the Night Comes Falling From the Sky 4:54

09 Jimmy Barnes - Seven Days 4:11

10 Carlene Carter - Trust Yourself 3:22

11 Rita Chiarelli - Highway 61 Revisited 4:36

12 Nilsson - Subterranean Homesick Blues 3:22

13 Sports - Ballad of a Thin Man 4:46

14 Hooters - All I Really Want to Do 3:56

15 Jennifer Warnes - Sign on the Window 2:45

16 Box Tops - I Shall be Released 2:48

17 Dream Syndicate - Blind Willie McTell 5:28

18 Gotthard - Mighty Quinn 3:17

19 Leningrad Cowboys - Knockin' on Heaven's Door 6:21


Vol. 2

01 Etta James - Gotta Serve Somebody 6:50

02 Articolo 31 - Come una Pietra Scalciata (Like A Rolling Stone) 4:12

03 Patti Smith - Wicked Messenger 3:48

04 Cowboys Junkies - If You Gotta Go, Go Now 3:08

05 Elvis Presley - Tomorrow is A Long Time 5:23

06 Barbara Gosza - Just Like A Woman 5:33

07 Nina Simone - Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues 4:52

08 King Candy - Simple Twist of Fate 3:28

09 Heartland - T.V. Talkin' Song 4:02

10 Gary Burton - I Want You 3:29

11 Steve Young - Don't Think Twice, It's Allright 4:09

12 Ann Christy - Walk Out in The Rain (live) 3:33

13 Odetta - Paths of Victory 2:26

14 Melanie - Sign on The Window 2:27

15 Kiko Veneno Con Juan Perro - Memphis Blues Again 4:36

16 Gerd Köster - Muse feife inne Wind (live) 3:49

17 Stone Country - Million Dollar Bash 2:17

18 Vacels - Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window? 2:35

19 Kenny Wayne Shepherd - Everything is Broken 3:55

20 Harry Belafonte - Midnight Special 3:45

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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