I just wanted to add something about me, personally. I am probably the biggest Kingston Trio fan in Canada.
I should be ~> I'm 6'4" (hahaha)
So when it comes to The Kingston Trio, and somebody who has ALL their albums and DVDs, etc...
I echo what Capitol Records producer Voyle Gilmore said to Frank Werber when Nick Reynolds and Bob Shane and Dave Guard
walked into Capitol's recording studio for the first time. (1957)
Voyle Gilmore told Frank....
>>> "They Look Like Stars" <<<
Frank Werber snapped back with....
>>> "Wait 'Til You Hear Them Sing" <<<
When Dave Guard quit in 1961, John Stewart became the perfect replacement.
Nobody looked or sounded like The Kingston Trio !!!
I know there's a lot of great vocal bands out there...and I'm a big fan of Simon & Garfunkel and Ian & Sylvia and Peter Paul & Mary and The Brothers Four
and The Beatles and The Rolling Stones and The Beach Boys and The Highwaymen and The Journeymen, etc...etc...etc...
But that doesn't take away from The Kingston Trio....be it: Nick/Bob/Dave or Nick/Bob/John
These guys were THE BEST....and the fact they appear to be forgotten and/or dismissed, and their albums have become ghosts of the past, bothers me greatly.
ps: In the song "Deportee", Woody Guthrie wrote: "You won't have a name when you ride the big airplane...."
Whenever I visit Record Stores here in Montreal or Toronto, and see the odd Kingston Trio album in a "used record" bin....
I think about The Kingston Trio:
You won't have a name when you visit these stores, all they will call you will be....nothing but used.
Brucester
<> "Deportee" / The Kingston Trio / words by: Woody Guthrie
From time to time and lately it has been discussed that the KT has been dismissed and/or disregarded by the music historians.
Sometimes I think it is because the KT's biggest days were from late 1958 to early 1961 (when Dave was reported to leave I think that effected their popularity, I have met people in my time that believe KT ended for them when Dave left) This time period is a mere 2 1/2 years. Yes, KT with John had hits and sold almost as well.......almost as well. So this time period is at best short.
So here are the two roads that might have imbedded the KT into history more.
1. KT integrates Dave's musical ideas into their repertoire. And stayed Dave, Bob and Nick for a few decades.
2. KT first stays with Capitol Records and their "sound studios" and they stay together for a few decades.
In either hypothetical case the KT would fall into a rather long period of diminished popularity but over time the music audience would return to a degree recognizing their talent and lasting appeal.
Just a dream.
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