This is originally a 1990 Japan WEA compilation of Peter, Paul and Mary's best songs which was later reissued by Australia WEA with different cover photo. In 2005 Rhino/WEA issued "The very best of Peter, Paul and Mary", the latest greatest hits CD which contains 25 songs, but this one is still preferable to the Rhino latest issue because it includes the classics "Settle down", "San Francisco Bay blues", "Hush-a-bye", "A Soalin'" , "All my trials" and "Gone the Rainbow". If you are a perfectionist, with this best of CD, you still need to have their "In the wind", "A song will rise", the 1966's "The Peter, Paul and Mary Album" and the 1969's "Peter, Paul and Mommy" to build up a perfect collection of Peter, Paul and Mary.
January 9, 2008Just as it was in its original vinyl LP format, this remains a classic album. If I have negative observations, they are minor ones. For example, I think they could have come up with more informative background notes than the meagre single page they provide and the one grainy b&w photo of the trio, and also a discography of he contents.
Some of that might have answered the question posed by one reviewer who wondered about the version of 500 Miles included here. In fact, that was the uncharted B-side to the early 1963 hit Settle Doen (Goin' Down The Highway) which reached # 14 Adult Contemporary (AC)/# 56 Billboard Pop Hot 100. That's my other negative comment, i.e., why leave out the hit in the first place in favour of the B-side?
But, as I said, these are minor quibbles. This still is an essential volume in the collection of any fan of folk in general and Peter, Paul & Mary in particular.
September 27, 2007puff the Magic Dragon brings all the kid in you out
May 13, 2007 |  | Good music, but misleading professional review |  |
I'm sure that all of us who remember PP&M welcome a CD reissue if only because we won't have to listen to the scratches and the skips that a well-loved record album is burdened by. But I'm surprised at the Amazon review posted ahead of all the "amateurs" because there are NO NEW TRACKS on the CD. The record has 13 tracks, not 10, as the review so prominently claims. I agree with the other amateur reviewers who would like to hear some of the other PP&M songs added, such as "This Land is Your Land" and "Where Have all the Flowers Gone." And it's understandable that all the recording company wanted to do was reissue the original. But please, Amazon, don't advertise a product as something it's not.
October 18, 2006 | | A Classic of American Folk Music | |
I still have this on vinyl, but just never bother with the stereo anymore. I pounced on the CD and popped it into my player, so once again I can relive the sound that meant so much to me in my college days. It's still a mellow blending of voices and a great selection of songs.
You get your classic folk tunes (Blowin' in the Wind and If I Had a Hammer), plus 60s songs like Too Much of Nothing and I Dig Rock and Roll Music. I love their version of Lemon Tree and you just have to have Puff the Magic Dragon.
A marvelous album!
October 8, 2006More reviews at Amazon.com ...
(65 reviews)