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Bleecker Street: Greenwich Village In The 60's
Studio : Astor Place Records
by Astor Place Records
Release Date : 1999-05-25
Publisher : Astor Place Records
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
EAN : 0706881401225
UPC : 706881401225
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 36 reviews)
List Price : $44.98
Our Price : $31.49
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Album Description |
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Full title - Bleecker Street - Greenwich Village In The 60's. New York may not be the folk music Mecca it once was but there is certainly enough history to warrant a tribute album such as this. Bleecker Street was the breeding ground for such artists as Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger and Tim Buckley. On this single disc a suitable line up of relatively contemporary artists line up to pay their homage. Participants include Loudon Wainwright III, Suzanne Vega, Chrissie Hynde and Marshall Crenshaw. Highlights of this 16 track folk feast include Ron Sexsmith's version of Tim Hardin's 'Reason to Believe', John Cale and Suzanne Vega's take on Leonard Cohen's 'So Long Marianne' and Chrissy Hynde's awesome version of Tim Buckley's 'Morning Glory' and many more. Deleted in the US & only limited quantities available of the import at this low price. Gatefold digipak. |
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Americancivilwar.com |
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Tribute albums come in all shapes and sizes. Most, however, simply come and go. The ones that stick around are backed by a vision that extends beyond "Let's get a bunch of people together to do a bunch of Clash songs" (to cite one ignoble example). Bleecker Street's raison d'être is to shine a light on a fleeting and relatively uncelebrated period in the '60s folk boom--the nascent singer/songwriter era that came in the wake of Bob Dylan's move from protest songs to personal ones. The songwriters celebrated here--Eric Andersen, Fred Neil, Tim Buckley, Phil Ochs, and Dylan among them--penned songs that have become part of the fabric of American folk. Tim Hardin's "Reason to Believe" (splendidly revived by Ron Sexsmith) is as straightforward a lament as has ever been put to tape; John Sebastian's "Darling Be Home Soon" is longing set to music. With Bleecker Street, the deities and apostles share a piece of heaven, which, of course, is as it should be. --Steven Stolder |
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I enjoy this CD more every time I listen to it |
It's hard to recapture a place, a feeling, and we all know how strongly Bleecker Street shaped the face of folk and folks all around the world. This collection appeared both as a 4-disk vinyl set and the more common 2-disk CD version. I wish I had the vinyl, but I'll muddle through somehow.
I loved the original music, but this tribute is a wonderful fitting effort. It's hard to come by, so if you see a copy grab it up quick.
My favorites:
My Back Pages -- Marshall Crenshaw
The Last Thing on my Mind -- Cry Cry Cry (definitely a group to listen to)
Since you Asked -- Beth Nielson Chapman
No Regrets -- Curtis Stigers
Rebecca Kyle, August 2008 |
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Looking for the original vinyl four-record set..... |
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I found this album while searching for the original vinyl album (4 record set)which contained all of these songs and more, sung by the original artists. Initially, I was very disappointed, as I expected a re-release of the original; however, after listening to it a few times, I realize how splendid is this interpretation by contemporary artists, some of whom I have not heard before. I'm still searching for the vinyl album. I foolishly gave it away along with my record collection How I so regret it! If someone out there knows the full title of the original, please let me know. I would be so grateful to hear from you. I'll continue looking...It was the best!! Meanwhile, I'll enjoy listening to this album. |
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Hard to Fault |
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Tribute albums are often hit and miss affairs, but this one is hard to fault. The song selection is excellent, the artists are all sympathetic to the spirit of the project, and nobody is trying too hard to reinterpret. It's one of the few CDs of its type I can enjoy from beginning to end. The standout for me is Curtis Stiger's reading of 'No Regrets' (a pleasant surprise, having otherwise heard only his disappointing cocktail jazz fare). Marshall Crenshaw's 'My Back Pages' is another highlight (although, perhaps, it owes more to Sunset Strip than Bleecker Street) and Ron Sexsmith's 'Reason to Believe' isn't far behind. Almost gets another star for an altogether too rare performance on CD by the wonderful Iris DeMent. Buy with confidence. |
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Problem is.... |
the spirit that first surrounded these songs is gone. That New York is gone. These songs were written at a time of social change and when you need not have had an income of six figures to live in Greenwich Village; they were written at a time of social change, when when New York was free from Starbuck's and Disney stores. The artists covering these songs simply cannot capture the original spirit of these songs; times have changed. "Let's Get Together" for example, may sound naive today -- at best-- yet there was something about that naivete of that era that made the song sincere, even plausible: "try to love one another right now." It would have been better to have compiled the originals by the original artists.
Still, there are some good covers, So Long Marianne sung by John Cale and New Yorker Suzanne Vega stands out. The otherwise passionate Larry Kirwan and New York's own Black 47's cover of I Ain't Marchin Anymore sounds empty and hollow; Chrissie Hynde does a decent job with Morning Glory. Nillson's cover of Everybody's Talkin' is better than this. |
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Very good cover album |
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Not a bad song or rendition on this CD. The take on the great Phil Ochs song,"I Ain't Marching Anymore" is worth the price---it's a brassy, bold, and in your face cover, the way I imagine Ochs would have liked it. A few of the words have been changed but it only adds to the power of his signature song. The lead off, Simon's "Bleeker Street" is very effecting, Brooke's vocals are coffee house pitch perfect. A great effort. |
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