An essential album by an essential artist.
oldtimerocker | 07/05/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There are many albums out there by Pete Seeger, and this one is one of my favorites. It has songs written by Woody Guthrie and others, but also features many Seeger staples, such as "Guantanamera" "Bells Of Rhymney" "Wimoweh" and "Little Boxes." Seeger is an artist that needs to be heard and he is getting that respect by the release of this and other Seeger classics."
Wonderful collection of story songs
Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 08/10/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This may be considered as a companion volume to another fine Pete Seeger compilation, If I had a hammer - songs of hope and struggle, which I've already reviewed. Whereas that compilation was firmly focused on political songs, this one is billed as a collection of topical songs, but many of the topics on these songs are political anyway.Of course, there are a few non-political songs, like The Titanic, perhaps the most famous sunken ship. It's not the only sunken ship to get a song here, but unlike the Titanic, the sinking of the Reuben James is a political story, as it was the first American ship torpedoed by the Germans in World War II.Little boxes was inspired by urban sprawl. Its writer, Malvina Reynolds, had offered the song to several other folk singers and groups before it came to Pete's attention. Pete loved it immediately and it has become one of his most famous recordings. Sadly, it is even more relevant today than it was forty years ago, as urban sprawl continues to eat up the countryside. Unlike so many of Pete's political songs, Little boxes is a song that many people can relate to, whatever their political believes, because it merely states the problem and offers neither cause nor solution.There are many other excellent songs here. All the essential Pete Seeger songs can be found here or on the other compilation, If I had a hammer - songs of hope and struggle."