186 of 188 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Highlights from more than 40 years in the music business, August 25, 2005 This review is from: Very Best of Peter Paul & Mary (Audio CD) It is hard to believe that they released their very first Warner Brothers single more than 47 years ago. And although Peter Yarrow, Noel Paul Stookey and Mary Travers get credit for producing Rhino's brand new 2005 release "The Very Best of Peter Paul and Mary", I find it hard to believe that these folks ever really thought of themselves as a singles act or worried too much about how successful their records were on Billboard's Hot 100. Peter Paul and Mary were much more concerned with the issues they sang about and with the "live" performances they gave. Yet the fact of the matter is that Peter Paul and Mary made a half dozen Top Ten hits and amassed an impressive total of 19 charted hits. During their heydey in the 1960's they sold a ton of albums as well. The group still performs on a fairly regular basis, continues to record new material and boasts an extremely loyal following.
For collectors like myself, Rhino has finally given us a pretty comprehensive single disc collection cleverly entitled "The Very Best of Peter Paul and Mary". Fans of the group would quickly point out that the 25 tunes on this CD do not necessarily represent the best songs the group ever made. I would be the first to agree with that assessment. Rather, "Very Best" presents the groups biggest and best singles as well as a number of memorable tunes from the groups most popular albums. Of course you will find the familiar hits you heard on the radio like "For Lovin' Me", "Puff The Magic Dragon", "Blowin' In the Wind" and their biggest hit ever from 1970 "Leaving On A Jet Plane". You will also hear Peter Paul and Mary belt out some of folk music's most important and memorable songs. Enjoy great renditions of Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land", Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are A-Changin'" as well as Pete Seeger's classic "If I Had A Hammer". Listen to some of PP&M's lesser known gems like "The Great Mandala (The Wheel of Life)" and "El Salvador" a haunting tune written by Noel Paul Stookey in the mid-eighties. For a brief period in the early 1970's the group took a hiatus from performing and each recorded solo albums. This collection also features a solo recording by each from this period including Noel Paul Stookey's memorable "Wedding Song (There Is Love) which was a pretty big hit back in 1971.
"The Very Best of Peter Paul and Mary" replaces a vinyl copy of the 1970 release "Ten Years Together--The Best of Peter Paul and Mary" in my collection. It is a major upgrade. The remastering job is wonderful and Rhino has provided a 20 page booklet to peruse. For most people looking for a good overview of their work this collection will surely fill the bill. Highly recommended!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you?67 of 69 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars The Very Best.............., November 14, 2005 This review is from: Very Best of Peter Paul & Mary (Audio CD) This collection is superior to any of the other "best-of" releases. Peter, Paul & Mary have been, throughout their successful career, consistently talented capturing their audiences attention and delight for 40 some years.
This collection includes their major hits as well as the best of their other works. Solo efforts -- The Wedding Song, Follow Me, and Weave me the Sunshine -- round out the collection.
Unlike other "best-of" collections which are essentially vinyl re-packages, this one contains proper re-masterings and provides great value for anyone who enjoys the folk-rock experience.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you?35 of 38 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars I still dig Peter, Paul & Mary, February 4, 2006 This review is from: Very Best of Peter Paul & Mary (Audio CD) When reviewing PP&M's other 'Best of' CD (10 Years Together), I advised that this 'Very Best of' CD is better value, and I stand by that. It has solo efforts by each of the trio, including Noel (Paul) Stookey's very fine The Wedding Song (There is Love). It has all the tracks that the other CD has, plus 12 more. That's almost twice as many. So this is very definitely the one to go for.
Today's listeners might prefer to hear some of these songs from the writers themselves - Bob Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot, John Denver - rather than these covers. At the time, we preferred the sweet tones of PP&M. They did a lot to start the careers of Dylan and Denver.
As a cultural phenomenon, the 60s didn't really get going until 1963 or 64, so PP&M anticipated this slightly and their early style has much of 50s skiffle in it. This music is the bridge between skiffle and late 60s folk-rock, and between Pete Seeger/Woodie Guthrie social awareness and mid-60s protest songs. It's the genuine article; there is nothing on this album that would be out of place in a folk club.
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