Ramblin' Boy

Ramblin' Boy

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
On this album, his debut from 1965 are such classics as 'I Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound', 'Goin' To The Zoo', and 'The Last Thing On My Mind'. There are also notes to the classic folk album that include quotes from the man himself. 2002.

Tracks:

Job Of Work
Rumblin' In The Land
When Morning Breaks
Daily News
What Did You Learn Inschool Today
Last Thing On My Mind
Harper
Fare Thee Well Cisco
I Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound
High Sheriff Of Hazard
My Lady's A Wild Flying Dove
Standing On The Edge Of Town
I'm Bound For The Mountains And The Sea
Goin' To The Zoo
Ramblin' Boy
Ain't That News
Willing Conscript
Lyndon Johnson Told The Nation
Hold On To Me Babe
Name Of The Game Is Stud
Bottle Of Wine
Natural Girl For Me
Goodman Schwerner And Chaney
We Didn't Know
Buy A Gun For Your Son
Every Time
Georgie On The Freeways
Sully's Paul
I'm The Man That Built The Bridges

Album Description

UK two-on-one combines the folk singer/songwriter's first two albums for Elektra, 'Ramblin' Boy' (1964) & 'Ain't That News' (1965), both of which are out-of-print domestically. 2001.

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Edition of Two of Paxton's Classic Albums Recorded for Jac Holzman's Elektra Label in the Early 1960's Assembled on a Single CD.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Singer-Songwriter's Start.......2005-06-07

Except for a privately-produced (Paxton's own term) LP of which only 2,000 copies were made, Tom Paxton's first two LPs were Ramblin' Boy and Ain't That News. I have the honor of owning both LPs. Ramblin' Boy, which consists of the first fifteen tracks on this CD, continues to astonish me. The political songs don't wear very well, but Ramblin' Boy, Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound, and The Last Thing on My Mind are truly great songs, and When Morning Breaks, My Lady's a Wild, Flying Dove, I'm Bound for the Mountains and the Sea, and Goin' to the Zoo keep them good company.

To note that Ain't That News isn't quite as good as Ramblin' Boy is not much of a criticism. Bottle of Wine is, of course, a classic. Hold on to Me, Babe is a wonderful ballad about missing somebody who's left your life. The Natural Girl for Me and The Name of the Game Is Stud are two wonderfully exuberant songs, and I'm the Man That Built the Bridges, which had given its name to that privately-produced LP, is a celebration of ordinary Americans and the great things that they've accomplished.

Barry Kornfeld and Felix Pappalardi accompanied Tom on both LPs. Listen to what three good musicians, one of whom is a great songwriter, can accomplish without benefit of a fancy production.

More relevant than ever.......2003-10-23

Even if you've never heard of Tom Paxton, chances are you know at least one of his songs by heart: "The Last Thing On My Mind," "I Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound," "Goin' To The Zoo," "Ramblin' Boy," and "Bottle Of Wine" are surely loved by millions of people who have no idea who wrote them. Surprisingly, the original versions of all those classics appeared on Paxton's first two albums, collected here on CD for what I believe is the first time. (Technically they're his second and third albums, but the one that preceded them is so obscure even Paxton himself has said it "doesn't count.") These recordings are spare and fairly low key compared to many of the more famous cover versions, but that just adds to their charm in my opinion. And the classics are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Tom Paxton.

While there's a lot here, this is not a "for completists only" collection. Several of the songs found here that aren't world famous are just as good as the ones that are. "A Rumblin' In The Land," "Ain't That News," and "I'm The Man That Built The Bridges" are all high on my list of the greatest protest songs. Elsewhere, Paxton tackles a number of early `60s topics which are once again all too relevant, such as unemployment ("Standing On the Edge of Town"), right-wing media bias ("Daily News" and "What Did You Learn In School Today?"), public complacency in the face of injustice ("We Didn't Know") and, most eerily, a government lying its way into war ("Lyndon Johnson Told the Nation"). Paxton didn't lean as heavily on love songs back then as he does now, but his romantic side is well represented too, with "I'm Bound For the Mountains and the Sea" and "Hold On To Me Babe," among others.

Made at the height of the 1960s folk revival, these recordings are the ultimate product of that era, complete with low-budget production and stridently political lyrics. They do show their age as a result, but nonetheless, this is arguably second only to Bob Dylan's second album as the most important collection of original, modern folksongs now in print.

Demonstrates the bad side of CDs.......2003-08-15

It is no coincidence that it is Tom's love and loss songs that have lasted 40 years. Few songs are as poignant and touching as Last Thing On My Mind or I Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound. These beautifully meld lyric and tune, creating the kind of song that sounds as if it's been around for years the first time you hear it. Great songs, well performed, with a few other gems as well. Tom's voice has never sounded as lonesome and sorrowful as he did back then; his later recordings lack the weariness and sound much more "produced."

Also appearing on this CD is his touching paean "Fare Thee Well, Cisco", a beautifully rendered remembrance of Cisco Houston. Cisco was unfortunately already on the road to obscurity, and Tom wanted to reverse that unjustifiable slide. Let's hope this release helps that. Look him up on the web and listen to what Tom was honoring!

However, these CDs take Tom's first two LPs and give you 29 tracks of his limited vocals and self-righteous lyrics. Listening to 1 side of 1 LP would probably be fine. But 4 sides in a row is just too much. There is not enough variety, not enough ferocity, and way too much smug self-congratulation and arogance. Tom is a little before my time, through I grew up on versions of his songs by others. But listening now to his juvenile political and economic rants is much like listening to a lot of other music of its day; time capsule stuff, but it's hard to imagine what the fuss was about. They are not clever, not smart, not hard-hitting, but a bit smarmy and whiny. And the irony of ironies is that as millions of parents reject the liberal ideology of public school, his What Did You Learn In School Today could be turned 180 degrees. Who's indoctrinating now????

Sound quality very good, original LP notes included, nice booklet. Good price and good value (not allthat much more than the 2 LPs cost back then), but I will pick and choose which ones I listen to regularly.

Ramblin Boy
Average customer rating:

The Debut For One of America's Greatest Songwriters

Ramblin Boy
Tom Paxton
Manufacturer: Collector's Choice
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music
Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00006B1KY
Release Date: 2002-09-10

Tracks:

A Job At Work
A Rumblin' In The Land
When Morning Breaks
Daily News
What Did You Learn In School Today?
The Last Thing On My Mind
Harper
Fare Thee Well, Cisco
I Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound
High Sheriff Of Hazard
My Lady's A Wild, Flyng Dove
Standing On The Edge Of Town
I'm Bound For The Mountains And The Sea
Goin' To The Zoo
Ramblin' Boy

Product Description

1. Job Of Work, A
2. Rumblin' In The Land, A
3. When Morning Breaks
4. Daily News
5. What Did You Learn In School Today?
6. Last Thing On My Mind, The
7. Harper
8. Fare Thee Well, Cisco
9. I Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound
10. High Sheriff Of Hazard
11. My Lady's A Wild Flying Dove
12. Standing On The Edge Of Town
13. I'm Bound For The Mountains And The Sea
14. Goin' To The Zoo
15. Ramblin' Boy

Format: CD

Customer Reviews:

The Debut For One of America's Greatest Songwriters.......2003-03-05

While Tom Paxton had had some financial success as a songwriter by 1965 (the Chad Mitchell Trio had recorded several of his songs), he had not released an LP until this one. What an LP it was, and what a CD it is. After nearly forty years, such songs as "Ramblin' Boy", "The Last Thing On My Mind", and "Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound" remain classics. They're complemented by such fine songs as "Goin' To the Zoo" (one of the great songs ever written for children), "When Morning Breaks", and "I'm Bound For the Mountains and the Sea". Paxton has always written his share of topical/political songs, which, by their nature, don't age well; that's the case with "Daily News", "What Did You Learn In School Today?", and "A Rumblin' In the Land". The other songs, though, are as fresh today as they were in 1965, and the arrangements for guitar, bass, and either another guitar or a banjo are exquisite.

Average customer rating:

Music Fan

Ramblin Boy
John Evans
Manufacturer: Josh Evans Band
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Circling the Drain

ASIN: B000E97HMG
Release Date: 2006-02-07

Tracks:

Diamonds Gold and Pretty Things
Long Way Home
Whiskey Tango
Five Seconds at a Time
Girl
Understanding Jane
Everything's Okay
Love Conquers All
Tumbling Down
Wasted Days and Wasted Nights
So Long
Fast Lane
Recover
Honkytonks of Old

Customer Reviews:

Music Fan.......2006-04-01

John Evans is a great songwriter who consistently comes up with novel and entertaining approaches to presenting his material. Ramblin Boy is a rock album with just hints of the country/rockabilly roots that Evans has so successfully explored in the past. Some highlights include Girl and Long Way Home- just plain good driving fast with the windows down, volume cranked up songs with a touching depth to the lyrics. His interpretations of the Icicle Works' Understanding Jane and Freddy Fender's Wasted Days and Wasted Nights are great surprises- who knew Freddy Fender could sound so friggin cool to a 20 something rock crowd? Ramblin Boy is a great compliment to Biggest Fool in Town, Out of Control and Circling the Drain- these four take you on a fun, can't get the songs out of your head, journey through Evans' transition from cutting edge country to refreshingly original rock.

Average customer rating:

Ramblin' Boy/Ain't That News
Tom Paxton
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000254G44
Release Date: 2001-10-19

Album Description

UK two-on-one combines the folk singer/songwriter's first two albums for Elektra, 'Ramblin' Boy' (1964) & 'Ain't That News' (1965), both of which are out-of-print domestically. 2001.

Music Review:

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