Another great pair
David A. Bede | Singapore | 03/19/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Tom Paxton's second pair of Elektra albums isn't quite as essential as his first (not much is!), but it's definitely a nice addition if you're already a fan. Even if you have the original albums, this set is worthwhile for the terrific bonus tracks.
"Outward Bound" appeared when the folk revival was on its last legs, and it sounds like it. Paxton was clearly trying to settle on a new style here, making for a somewhat eclectic collection - but a very innovative one. "My Son John" (essentially "Born In the USA" 20 years ahead of its time) is not only amazingly prophetic; it was a brave statement to make at all in 1966 and it's still pretty unique in the canon of Vietnam songs. "Talking Pop Art" and especially "Is This Any Way To Run an Airline?" are among the best of the biting satires he's since become known for. There is also plenty of what made his first two albums great: "Leaving London" and "One Time and One Time Only" are another great couple of love songs. "Don't You Let Nobody Turn You 'Round" may have missed the boat by a couple of years on the golden era of protest songs, but it's one of his best nonetheless.
"Morning Again" is somewhat poppier than its predecessor, but still definitely a product of the folk movement. "Jennifer's Rabbit" is an early example of Paxton's knack for children's songs that also sound great to adults, but the album as a whole is a pretty dark one. "Mr. Blue" is a rather cryptic take on paranoia, set to an ironically poppy beat. "Victoria Dines Alone" and "Clarissa Jones" are ambitious character sketches that should appeal to fans of later singer-songwriters. But the album's darkest and most accomplished moment is "Now That I've Taken My Life" a look at what Paxton calls "a case of moral suicide." You need to hear this one yourself to appreciate it.
The bonus tracks include the contents of a long-ago, British-only EP. The buried treasure of this bunch is "Beau John," a sweeping epic of black oppression in America, set to the tune of "John Hardy." Paxton refers to it in the liner notes as "just experimenting," but it's among his very best efforts. Also included are two recordings (one acoustic, one electric) of his classic "The Marvelous Toy," which rarely turns up on his own albums for some reason.
Here's hoping this means Elektra will also reissue the magnificent "Tom Paxton 6" sooner rather than later!"
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1
