The Kingston Trio return with the release of two CDs of rare live material. Once Upon A Time and Twice Upon A Time were created from The Kingston Trio’s performances at the Sahara, Tahoe in July of 1966.
The Kingston Trio was formed in 1957 by Bob Shane, Nick Reynolds, and Dave Gard. John Stewart replaced Gard in 1961. The group released 18 albums between 1958 and 1964. These albums sold in the millions. The Kingston Trio rank fourth in the number of weeks their albums have spent at number one on the national charts. Only The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and Michael Jackson have spent more weeks atop the music charts.
The Kingston Trio was an important American folk group. They took traditional folk songs that told stories and moved them in a pop direction. They were the bridge between such early folk artists as Woody Guthrie and the Weavers and later artists such as Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Peter, Paul, and Mary.
The Kingston’s Trio’s position as hit makers ended in 1963. The British Invasion took away many of there younger fans. In addition the protest movement took folk music in a different direction that made the songs of the Kingston Trio obsolete. The group soldiered on until 1967 and then disbanded. Bob Shane reformed the group in 1969 and a number of revolving members have kept the group alive into 2008.
Once Upon A Time and Twice Upon A Time were recorded near the end of the Kingston’s Trio’s original run. By this time they had perfected their concert sound. Their vocals were strong and the harmonies precise. They backed themselves primarily with acoustic guitars, banjo and a stand up bass. The musicianship of the group's members was superb.
Once Upon A Time, recorded at the Sahara in 1966, was originally released in vinyl LP form on the Tetragammaton label in 1969. The label went bankrupt and these performances disappeared from public view for decades.
Once Upon A Time is a must for Kingston Trio fans and folk aficionados. It catches the group at their best. I was smiling two songs into the set. The patter between songs is worth the price of the CD.
Article comments