The Early Carolyn Hester
Wayne Choma | Winnipeg, Canada | 01/12/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Despite the shortcomings of this disc - it has a magical charm of its own. Of course if you want the best collection of her performances then you must get her two disc set, "Dear Companion", but this disc perserves her early performances and has some of her best material which includes the haunting Irish ballad, "She Moves Through the Fair"(which captures your heart with its moving beauty),"Malaguena Salerosa"(which is worth the price of the disc alone),"Go Away from My Window"(which has a bite and sorrow and rawness that even Joan Baez or Judy Collins could not capture) and even includes "Summertime" from "Porgy and Bess" - the rest of the songs are well chosen gems. If you are a diehard folk junkie then you must have this disc, but I am certain many others will derive much pleasure from this recording as well. It might have been better recorded but its simple directness and raw flavour(which has been digitally remastered)is more than adequate and lends this music an authentic feel."