The Kingston Trio/...From the "Hungry i"

Did any of us play guitar before the Kingston Trio burst onto the scene in 1958? Overnight the entire neighborhood gang all owned guitars. I sure followed suit and bought an old Gibson I still own today.

We anxiously awaited the release of every new album and to have four great LPs released in 1958-1959 was just incredible. We knew every song by heart, no lyric escaped us. The guitar chord progressions were never too difficult to master. And somehow when we crooned we all took different harmony lines. Amazing. We'd listen to those LPs for hours and hours. And then we'd sing for hours and hours on those soft summer nights of our youth.

I saw the original Kingston Trio live at the Academy of Music in Philadephia, which was then the largest venue in town and was sold out to the rooftops. I was split up from my brothers and sat alone in the second balcony. The Trio was rocking the joint! At half time I met a woman who was sitting ON the stage but wanted another perspective. So we swapped tickets and I saw the second half of the show sitting about 10 feet behind the Trio. Wonderful to observe them up close, so personable, gentle gentlemen who were having a great deal of fun and sharing their joy with us. They'd turn around at times and play directly to us, felt like a jam. Imagine my brothers' surprise to see me up on stage with 'em!

These, their first two albums (The Kingston Trio and From the Hungry I), are the cream of the crop for sure, and I highly recommend your purchase. In addition look at their next two albums (At Large and Here We Go Again), also now on one CD. These four LPs were, I think, all in the top ten at the same time!

Check 'em out! Millions and millions of dads can't be wrong!

The Kingston Trio were a major part of my adolesence, ivy league shirts with button down collars became the craze. The songs, the harmonies and the sheer "singability" of the music created a joyous experience. I bought the cd for the merry minuet which I sing to grumpy people in my care facility and at the very least it raises a smile.

This is the group we all sang with and laughed with. It's hard to just listen to The Kingston Trio, you find yourself joining in. This CD has excellent sound and is a good representation of the group's wit and harmony. Though there are many favorites on this CD, the classic Scotch and Soda makes it all worth the price.

Fella's, it just doesn't get any better than this. I call it perfect because
it is. American music with a light snap of latino twang just for flavor. This is college folk music that's actually fun to listen to.. And by "fun", I don't mean dance music or bubbly pop crap of the time. Not so. Folk music coming out of the 50's and 60's was often a bit of a bummer to listen to. The message often overode the ability to listen. Not so much the Kingston Trio. You can hear the "fun or nothing" rule in each cut. Dave Guard, Bob
Shane and Nick Reynolds were the perfect band, the perfect group. The latter day versions of the K.T were good but not the original receipe. They could
cover every emotion; fun, somber, sad, happy and happy drunk.

I only have one wish for Kingston Trio music; That "Fast Freight" will be
covered by Crosby Stills Nash and maybe Young. "Scotch and Soda" was the tune that would assure that you would be having breakfast with last nights date. All perfect.

When I was an innocent teenager, an older cousin introduced my to the Kingston Trio and said very intelligent people like them. Well, she was right! This CD is a broad scope of their ability to perform all areas of folk music. I especially enjoyed the part of the album that is live from the Hungry i as there is the banter and humor and wild wit thrown in by the guys as they perform. The audience is having a wonderful time and show it. It's worth the price of the CD just to hear songs like "They Call the Wind Maria", the joyful cynicism of "The Merry Minuet"and the rousing "Zombie Jamobree". Macabre, but fun. While I later heard trios with a little tighter and closer harmony, such as Chad Mitchell Trio, Peter, Paul, and Mary, I will always love the Kingston Trio for being the first. So, if you are intelligent, go get this CD. Excellent!!