Pete Seeger Children's Concert At Town Hall CD

Recorded live at Town Hall, New York, New York on April 28, 1962.
Digitally remastered by Mark Wilder (CBS Records, New York, New York).
There have been no shortage of memorable live albums by Pete Seeger across the decades -- and, in fact, the Carnegie Hall concert from this same era has tended to eclipse a lot of the other performance documents of Seeger's work from the '60s. But this album has a special charm, showing Seeger directing his appeal at a younger audience which he treats with surprising sophistication -- perhaps some of what he says is aimed at parents in the audience, but the mere fact that he enunciates such political sentiments in this setting could not have been lost on the young ones. In other words, this was an album that one could grow up on, and it sold well enough on vinyl across the decades so that was absolutely the case with many thousands of kindred spirits of the next generation. Musically, Seeger is in excellent voice as he carries us through a mix of lighter political fare -- and some topical and consciousness-raising songs aimed specifically at kids, and the kid in all of us -- and children's songs such as "Skip to My Lou" and "I've Been Working on the Railroad." He doesn't do "Where Have All the Flowers Gone," but he does close with "This Land Is Your Land," and includes a few songs he learned from Leadbelly (and mentions him as well -- clearly a nod to the parents in the audience). The sound is excellent, state-of-the-art in its time and still crisp and vivid, and the Columbia/Legacy DVD keeps the originally jacket notes as well. ~ Bruce Eder
This historic 1962 New York City concert features the irrepressible and all-encompassing enthusiasm of Pete Seeger, one of the world's truly great "folk." Seeger turns Town Hall into a huge, welcoming front porch where neighbors and transients alike are wholeheartedly welcomed to stop by or--better yet--to join in the fun. Mixing such classic children's songs as "I've Been Working On The Railroad" and "Frere Jacques" with silly shaggy dog stories and modern folk standards like "This Land Is Your Land," Seeger weaves a joyous sing-along.
Seeger delivers tales and tunes to the youthful (and audibly delighted) crowd without an ounce of adult condescension. Along the way, he manages to slip in bits of history and nuggets of timeless wisdom. Using only his banjo, foot stomp, whistle, other verbal sound effects, and his famous every-man's voice, this once-blacklisted hero leads one and all through a magical hour--a quick tour around the world in stories and song.