Customer Reviews

Brothers Four Songbook/The Big Folk Hits

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In the olden days when you point an LP (long-playing record) you could end up with less than a half hour's worth of music. Now that we live in the age of the CD this shortcoming of days gone bye has been rectified in a couple of ways. On the one hand there are bonus tracks, offering variations, B-sides, live versions, and whatever else can be found in the fault to fill out the CD. Then there is the approach here, where you take two albums by a group and put them on one CD. Thus we have "The Brothers Four Songbook" and "The Big Folk Hits" together again for the first time.

The Brothers Four are one of the longest surviving groups of the folk revival that started at the end of the 1950s. The original group consisted of University of Washington students Bob Flick (upright bass, baritone, bass), John Paine (guitar, baritone), Mike Kirkland (guitar, banjo, tenor), and Dick Foley (guitar, baritone). Along with the Kingston Trio and the Chad Mitchell Trio, the Brothers Four established the "popular" wing of the movement, while Bob Dylan and Joan Baez were establishing the "political" side. This distinction is clearly drawn by both of these albums. "The Brothers Four Songbook," a 1961 album that does familiar folk songs, such as "Rock Island Line" and "Goodnight Irene," a couple of standards by the Weavers, and well as more traditional fare such as "Lady Greensleeves" and "Old Smokey."

"The Big Folk Hits" was released the following year and has covers of "500 Miles," "Walk Right In," "El Paso," "If I Had a Hammer," "Silver Threads and Golden Needles," and "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore." Actually, on that last album the only song you might not recognize would be "Darling Corey," although if you know much about the folk music revival you should. So, on the one hand this is a pretty good collection of folk songs, and the big question is whether you mind hearing them being sung by somebody other than the original artists. But while you will not find the most recognizable hits by the Brothers Four, you will find two solid albums of above average folk songs.

As a child, I remember Columbia records putting out a patrioc album of artits on that label. "Rock Island Line" and "The Driller's Song" were both included. They are both contained here, after many years of searching for them.

It's a bit discouraging why a boxed set has not been released from this tremendous group, which skyrocked to fame with "Greenfields" and "The Green Leaves of Summer." I have since purchased every lp they've put out, and put them on Compact Disc myself. Perhaps one day this will be corrected, but this twofer, combined with the Big Folk Hits is a must have for ANY fan of the great Brothers Four. Don't miss it!!

Perhaps one day we will have "Rally Round", "More Big Folk Hits", "Roamin'", "Let's Get Together", "A New World's Record" and "The Honey Wind Blows" out on CD as well. There is also a Japan only release, in '73 of the Brothers Four in concert. These contain tremendous performances as well.

Given the way CDs go out of print so fast, I'd grab this one. I've given many as gifts to those who have never heard them, and all respond with loving comments, and even order more for themselves. The recordings on these albums will never be topped!!

I grew up with folk music, and one of those old records I still have is "Big Folk Hits". For me, this was the quintessential Brothers Four LP, and I've been waiting for years for it to be available on CD. It has, for me at least, the definitive renditions of "Jamaica Farewell", "Darlin' Corey", and "Scarlet Ribbons", and their "El Paso" rivals Marty Robbins' own performance. First rate!

When I was born, my dad drove a city bus in Seattle, so I have heard the music of The Brothers Four all my life. Their harmonizations have had a shaping influence on me, and I eagerly awaited the release of the Big Folk Hits album, so I could share it with my son. To me, theirs is the authoritative "El Paso!" And what would life be without "Tie Me Kangaroo Down?" Paired with "Music Book," this is a superior collection of the Brothers Four sound.