4CD – UK Import

100-track, 4-disc box set covering an era when folk music shed its hootenanny skin by addressing political and social issues while becoming more open to change, embracing rock, country and high-class folk pop.

Key artists: Pete Seeger, Bob Gibson, Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, Fred Neil, Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs, Barry McGuire, John Phillips, Cass Elliot, Cher, The Byrds, The Lovin Spoonful, Simon & Garfunkel, Tim Hardin, Gordon Lightfoot, Doc Watson, Townes Van Zandt and Johnny Cash.

Key songs include Where Have All The Flowers Gone?, Morning Dew, Mr Tambourine Man, There But For Fortune, What Have They Done To The Rain?, Me And My Uncle, Everybodys Talkin, High Flying Bird and Get Together.

This anthology was compiled and annotated by Mick Houghton, author of the acclaimed Sandy Denny biography (Ive Always Kept A Unicorn) and Becoming Elektra The True Story Of Jac Holzmans Visionary Record Label.

Top flight mastering by Alec Palao.

The catalyst for the folk revival in 1958 came through a most unlikely No.1 hit, the Kingston Trios take on traditional murder ballad Tom Dooley. It helped bring folk music into the mainstream adding topicality and greater substance to popular music as well as fostering a sense of getting back to the roots in myriad ways. Pete Seeger, more than anyone, was the bridge between the old and a new breed of songwriters and interpreters already emerging, such as Bob Gibson, Fred Neil, and Dino Valenti.

When Will They Ever Learn? picks up the story in 1963 just as the Kingston Trio was becoming pass and Peter, Paul and Mary were taking Dylan songs, notably Blowin In The Wind, into the charts. Among the upsurge of new talents Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs, Judy Collins etc. – Dylan may have been the figurehead, but folk music was a fruitful and competitive breeding ground. This anthology aims to identify the protagonists in all their diversity, tracking and tracing who, where, how and why they joined forces, or simply did their own thing.

It also presents plenty of powerful female voices including Malvina Reynolds, Odetta, Hedy West and Karen Dalton. By the mid-60s, more artists were making a mark, such as Tim Hardin, Richie Havens, Tim Buckley and Gordon Lightfoot. Others followed the lead taken by the Byrds, the Mamas & the Papas, and the Lovin Spoonful; the Grateful Dead, the Youngbloods, and Kaleidoscope were among these.

So many great songs came to light, both traditional and contemporary. Bonnie Dobsons oft-covered Morning Dew was one of a number of emotive songs evoking a fear of nuclear annihilation and its consequences. Other classic anti- war songs include Come Away Melinda, What Have Thy Done To The Rain, and Where Have All The Flowers Gone? where Pete Seeger presciently asked When Will They Ever Learn?.

TRACK LISTING

DISC ONE

Take Me For A Walk In The Morning Dew

1 The Kingston Trio – Where Have All The Flowers Gone?

2 The Brothers Four 500 Miles

3 The Limeliters John Riley

4 The Journeymen All The Pretty Little Horses

5 Anita Carter Fair And Tender Ladies

6 Odetta Long Time Gone

7 Peter LaFarge Ira Hayes

8 Dave Van Ronk Candy Man

9 The New Christy Minstrels Green, Green

10 The Big 3 Come Away Melinda

11 Simon & Garfunkel – Last Night I Had The Strangest Dream

12 Bob Gibson Fare Thee Well (Dinks Song)

13 Paul Clayton Spanish Is A Loving Tongue

14 Hamilton Camp Pride Of Man

15 The Simon Sisters Motherless Child

16 Tom Paley – The Cuckoo

17 Dian & the Greenbriar Boys – Cannon Ball Blues

18 The Even Dozen Jug Band On The Road Again

19 The Jim Kweskin Jug Band Minglewood

20 John Koerner Southbound Train

21 Hoyt Axton Bring Your Lovin

22 The Mugwumps I Dont Wanna Know

23 Dick Rosmini 900 Miles To Go

24 Martin and Neil Morning Dew

25 Malvina Reynolds – What Have They Done To the Rain?

26 Pete Seeger The Bells Of Rhymney

27 Tom Paxton – I Cant Help But Wonder Where Im Bound

DISC TWO

Where Im Bound

1 Judy Collins Me And My Uncle

2 Bonnie Dobson – Country Girl Blues

3 Hedy West The Davison-Wilder Blues

4 Judy Henske High Flying Bird

5 Jackie de Shannon – When You Walk In The Room

6 The Modern Folk Quartet The Bells

7 Au Go Go Singers -Where Im Bound

8 Koerner, Ray & Glover – Fine Soft Land

9 Jesse Colin Young Four In The Morning

10 Fred Neil -The Water Is Wide

11 Bob Dylan Mr Tambourine Man

12 Paul Simon The Sound Of Silence

13 Barry McGuire – Eve Of Destruction

14 PF Sloan Take Me For What Im Worth

15 Cher See See Rider

16 Len Chandler Shadow Dream Chaser Of Rainbows

17 Mark Spoelstra White Winged Dove

18 Kathy & Carol Green Rocky Road

19 Richie Havens Morning, Morning

20 David Blue Grand Hotel

21 Boz Scaggs Baby Let Me Follow You Down

22 Tim Rose Hey Joe (You Shot Your Woman Down)

23 We Five You Were On My Mind

DISC THREE

Leaving The Folk Music Behind

1 The Mamas And The Papas Creeque Alley

2 The Byrds – I Come And Stand At Every Door

3 Gene Clark – The French Girl

4 The Lovin Spoonful Rain On The Roof

5 Scott McKenzie Like An Old Time Movie

6 Bob Lind – Mister Zero

7 M.F.Q. Night Time Girl

8 Ramblin Jack Elliott Danville Girl

9 Doc Watson- Worried Blues

10 Phil Ochs There But For Fortune

11 Fred Neil Everybodys Talkin

12 Gordon Lightfoot For Lovin Me

13 Tim Hardin Reason To Believe

14 Bobby Darin If I Were A Carpenter

15 Norma Tanega Walkin My Cat Named Dog

16 Pat Kilroy Cancereal

17 Tim Buckley Once I Was

18 Nico – Ill keep It With Mine

19 The Grateful Dead Cold Rain And Snow

20 The Leaves Codine

21 The Youngbloods – Get Together

22 The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Buy For Me the Rain

23 Jim & Jean Changes

24 Jesse Lee Kincaid – Baby You Come Rolling Cross My Mind

25 Billy Edd Wheeler High Flying Bird

26 Kaleidoscope Banjo

DISC FOUR

Take Off Your Thirsty Boots

1 John Stewart You Can’t Look Back

2 Johnny Cash & June Carter Pack Up Your Sorrows

3 Porter Wagoner And Dolly Parton The Last Thing On My Mind

4 The Dillards Close the Door Lightly

5 The Holy Modal Rounders – Dame Fortune

6 Bonnie Dobson Morning Dew

7 Mickey Newbury Just Dropped In

8 H.P. Lovecraft Spin, Spin, Spin

9 Pearls Before Swine These Things Too

10 Danny Kalb and Stefan Grossman – Requiem For Patrick Kilroy

11 Taj Mahal Corinna

12 The Insect Trust Mountain Song

13 Vince Martin Summerwind

14 Dino Valente – Time

15 Karen Dalton Little Bit Of Rain

16 Tom Rush Tin Angel

17 Steve Noonan Shadow Dream Song

18 Jerry Jeff Walker- Mr Bojangles

19 Arlo Guthrie Coming In To Los Angeles

20 Linda Ronstadt & The Stone Poneys Wings

21 Eric Andersen – (We Were) Foolish Like The Flowers

22 Townes Van Zandt -Tecumseh Valley

23 Judy Henske & Jerry Yester – Three Ravens

24 Anne Murray – Thirsty Boots