Search - Kingston Trio :: Stay Awhile

Stay Awhile

John Govi | 03/03/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I have been a trio fan for over 35 years, collected all their Lp's, including all the Decca issues. I always enjoyed Stay Awhile because of the song selection. My favorites are Rusting In The Rain, Three Song and Stories Of Old. Here you have a few songs written by Rod McKuen and Mason Williams,where the vocals and guitar work are excellent. I will agree that Decca's recording quality doesn't come close to Voyle Gilmore's well produced sessions at Capitol, but they're still a pleasure to listen to. I say to all Kingston Trio fans new and old, do not nix or reject the Decca years of the Trio, as there are some recordings that should be reviewed and appreciated."

The best Kingston Trio LP of the Decca Years

Timothy L. Smith | Fontana, CA United States | 02/11/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Recorded in 1965 in the same studio that produced the We Five, this LP comes closest to the old Capitol-Voyle Gilmore sound. It is also some of the kickingest folk recorded after the Beatles Invasion. Some of my all-time favorite trio songs are here, with very little filler. The trio is at the top of their craft with "Gonna Go Down the River" and "Hanna Lee" on the loud side and "Yes I can Feel it" and "Rusting in the Rain" on the soft side. "Dooley" is a Dillards cover that foreshadows their foray into electrified folk. Four of the best cuts from the folk-rock "Something Else" LP round out this essential CD."

Echoed Gold

Christopher | Wengen-en-esprit | 03/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a younger fan, but I love the Kingston Trio like I love my modern music. My father played their records often (not often enough) and took me to several of their concerts. I am proud to have attended the last concert in Denver with Nick, before he stepped down and the horrible Bobby Hayworth replaced him. No offense, but he's no Kingston. Even my parents hated the last concert (I didn't go).



This being a review of Stay Awhile, not the history of the Trio, I should add that Stay Awhile is the only album I own. The rest I purchase collectively with my father and leave with him, since he has the nicer stereo.



Of all the albums I decided to choose for myself, I chose Stay simply because Early Morning Rain was on it. When I heard this live, I was moved to tears, it was performed so beautifully. The album version is far different, of course, but still retains that hollow feeling of loneliness.



Naturally, as one grows older with an album, the rest of the songs become a part of him. So too did Hanna Lee, an amazing song to sing along with -- the transition into falsettos during the chorus puts shivers in my spine -- and Stay Awhile, an upbeat, fun drinking song. Three Song, Rusting in the Rain, Where I'm Bound, and They Are Gone are beautiful songs to listen to. But none are so moving as:



If I Had A Ship, a simple tale that ends in a massive build-up of guitars with the Trio singing at the top of their voices. I sang this to my girlfriend while driving down a lone winding road at night. It was wonderful!



Yes I Can Feel It...about love like the wind. The guitar here is touching and has inspired my own playing; and Last Thing On My Mind...are you goin' away with no word of farewell... somewhat a sequel (albeit a sad one) to Yes I Can Feel It, and one that evokes the emotions of past loves. The two songs are some of the Trio's best.



The whole album is submerged in a funky resonance, a sort of reverberation and echo throughout. This makes the album individually stand out from the rest of KT's entire collection. While it may not be their best or most personal album as a compilation of folk songs, it is truly one of their most reflective ones."