Track Listing

1. Tom Dooley
2. Greenback Dollar
3. Reverend Mr. Black
4. M.T.A.
5. The Tijuana Jail
6. A Worried Man
7. Where Have All The Flowers Gone
8. Bad Man's Blunder
9. El Matador
10. Everglades
11. Scotch and Soda
12. Reuben James

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3032 in Music
• Released on: 1991-01-15
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
By 1958 "Tom Dooley" was already in circulation in the growing folk movement, but it was the Kingston Trio's hit that ignited the boom. These three clean-cut Hawaii residents may not have looked like accomplished musicians, but they were. David Guard first learned the open-G Hawaiian guitar and took up the banjo after a Weaver's concert; lead singer Bob Shane was much influenced by Harry Belefonte, and he sang with studied clarity; and Nick Reynolds contributed steady, old-timey guitar and signature harmony. Most of what the neophyte needs is here: "Tom Dooley," "Greenback Dollar," and the Carter Family tune, "Worried Man." --Roy Francis Kasten

Customer Reviews

Great Collection Of All Their Best!
One of the most stellar groups rising out of the pop woof and warp of the late 1950s was the counter-intuitive group, the Kingston Trio, who, singing traditional folk songs, popularized it to the point of creating a cottage industry with imitators by the score. Yet it was with their singular hit of "The Legend Of Tom Dooley', recounting the sad last moments of a condemned man that they caught the public imagination and lit a fire under contemporary folk music. They were sophisticated, mainly urban, and yet quite down to earth and folksy in their approach, and showed that they had a sense of humor with another hit, "M.T.A.", recounting the dilemma of a Boston commuter caught on board the "T" without sufficient money to get off.

Yet they recorded and released quite serious songs too, such as the traditional "Where Have All The Flowers Gone", an early anti-war song, "Rueben James", and "Reverend Mr. Black". Also included here are hits such as "Greenback Dollar" and a rather interesting diversion in the way of "Tijuana Jail". They also had a minor hit with "Scotch And Soda", which was mainly aimed at the late fifties-early sixties college crowd. So was one of their final hits, "Worried Man". They blazed the way for a number of other, more mainstream vocal groups like the Limelighters, the Brothers Four, and Peter, Paul and Mary. The original Kingston Trio toured for years, and in the decades since have had a number of revivals since with different group members than the originals. This is a great album including most of their best-known songs. Enjoy!

TRIO FROM KINGSTON
The VERY first record album I knew as a child in Monterey, California was the Kingston Trio's "Sold Out" (1960) I was a year old! "El Matador" is beautifully sang by Bob Shane and this group is wonderful any which way you look at them! My personal faves of this truly magnificent trio are"Adelita" "Billy Goat Hill" "Tijuana Jail" "Take Her out of Pity" "Tom Dooley" among MANY others. These guys were college friends who simply got together and sang at such places as the Hungry I in San Francisco. Their versatility and heartfelt vocals are warmly remembered by millions!

Changed the history of music
They don't make music like this anymore. It's unfortunate, becausethe folk era of the late 50's and early 60's was one of the greatestin the history of popular music.

The Kingston Trio ranks right up with the Beatles in terms of forever changing the musical landscape. They provided the inspiration and opened the door for a whole generation of performers. Not many artists can claim to have left such a mark.

Our so-called "artists" of today are worth a dime a dozen compared to those of yesteryear. I'm too young to even remember those days -- but I know what's good. The Kingston Trio is what's good. END