Bleecker Street: Greenwich Village In The 60's

Bleecker Street: Greenwich Village In The 60's

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
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

Product Description
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.

Tracks:

Bleecker Street - Jonatha Brooke
My Back Pages - Marshall Crenshaw
Morning Glory - Chrissie Hynde
No Regrets - Curtis Stigers
Pack Up Your Sorrows - Loudon Wainwright III/Iris DeMent
Reason To Believe - Ron Sexsmith
Darling Be Home Soon - Jules Shear
The Love's Still Growing - Suzzy & Maggie Roche
Everybody's Talkin' - Patty Larkin
The Last Thing On My Mind - Cry Cry Cry
So Long, Marianne - John Cale/Suzanne Vega
Thirsty Boots - John Gorka
I Ain't Marchin' Anymore - Larry Kirwan/Black 47
Since You've Asked - Beth Nielson Chapman
Let's Get Together - Paul Brady
Turn, Turn, Turn - Instrumental

Amazon.com

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

Album Description

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.

Customer Reviews:

Hard to Fault.......2007-06-12

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.

Problem is...........2006-03-06

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.

Very good cover album.......2005-05-17

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.

A pleasant reminscence........2003-02-12

The various artists really capture the ethos and spirit of the times. The innocence, hope, joy, and optimism of those now long ago times. Play this album to forget about the greed and fear and despair and hopelessness of our new millenium.

Nostalgic tribute of 60's folk.......2002-10-05

Bleecker Street is a more than satisfactory collection of folk songs from the 1960's is a nice relaxing antidote for the weary soul. Looking at the photos of Bleecker Street with its cafes, apartments, and even the arch in the park, I felt myself transported back to all those years ago.

All the artists, be they folk, alternative, or other, do admirable covers of the songs. I must admit I even liked the songs I'd never heard of before. Hey, after all, the album's released by Astor Place so there's a high standard by virtue of that fact.

Of familiar tunes, I was taken with Jonatha Brooke's cover of Simon and Garfunkel's title track and Marshall Crenshaw's rendition of Dylan's "My Back Pages." Patty Larkin's cover of "Everybody's Talkin'" has a tasteful understatedness, which makes a contrast to Harry Nilsson's version. The oft-covered "Reason To Believe" is a familiar friend here, done gently by Ron Sexsmith. And who can forget the timeliness of "Let's Get Together": "C'mon people now/Smile on your brother/Everybody get together/Try to love another right now." Kudos to Paul Brady there!

Of unfamiliar tunes, highlights included Cry Cry Cry's version of "The Last Thing On My Mind," "Pack Up Your Sorrows" by Loudon Wainwright III and Iris Dement, and "The Love's Still Growing" by Suzzy & Maggie Roche. Beth Nielsen Chapman's lovely crystal clear voice enhances her cover of Judy Collins' "Since You Asked."

The most upbeat song is Larry Kirwan & Black 47's cover of the angry anti-war anthem "I Ain't Marchin' Anymore." This song was originally done in 1964, and it lists military engagements involving White America fought in, such as the Mexican War, World War II, and Little Big Horn. Given the current state between the U.S. and Iraq, it's still relevant today.

The rear of the CD booklet listing the artists and songs also lists the original performers. I'll list the song and original artists:

No Regrets, Tom Rush
Pack Up Your Sorrows, Mimi & Rich Farina
The Love's Still Growing, Buzzy Linhart
Reason To Believe, Tim Hardin
Darling Be Home Soon, John Sebastian
Since You've Asked, Judy Collins
Morning Glory, Tim Buckley
Turn Turn Turn, Traditional
Thirsty Boots, Eric Andersen
Last Thing On My Mind, Tom Paxton
My Back Pages, Bob Dylan
Let's Get Together, Dino Valenti
Bleecker Street, Simon & Garfunkel
Everybody's Talkin', Neil, Fred
So Long Marianne, Leonard Cohen
I Ain't Marchin' Anymore, Phil Ochs

Overall, a superior and introspective cover album, which reinforces the standard of how cover songs collections should be.

Music Review: