Best Of Tom Paxton: I Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound CD

Principally recorded from 1964 to 1970 at Masterstone Studios & A&R Studios, New York, New York and live at The Bitter End, New York, New York in June 1970. Includes liner notes by Scott Alarik.

A 26-track compilation titled after one of Tom Paxton's most beloved songs, I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER WHERE I'M BOUND is a well-balanced overview of the singer-songwriter's 1964-'71 tenure at Elektra Records. Paxton is sometimes overlooked among the top tier of the Greenwich Village folkies, because of the range and variety of his material. Unlike the sometimes-strident Phil Ochs, Paxton mixed his serious, topical compositions with witty, Tom Lehrer-like satires, including "What Did You Learn in School Today?" and "Forest Lawn." He also wrote disarmingly tender love songs, including "The Last Thing on My Mind" and the title track. Naturally, this collection also features two of Paxton's most durable songs, "Bottle of Wine" and the Woody Guthrie-like children's classic "Goin' to the Zoo," along with other tracks from all of Paxton's Elektra albums, many of which have never been available on CD.

Digitally remastered by Dan Hersch (Digiprep).

Compilation producer: Patrick Milligan.

Engineers include: Dave Sanders, Shelly Yakus, Phil Ramone.

Personnel: Tom Paxton (vocals, guitar); Barry Kornfeld (guitar, banjo, harmonica); David Bromberg (acoustic & electric guitars); Paul Prestopino, Mark Horowitz (guitar); Felix Pappalardi (guitarron, bass); David Grisman (mandocello); Jim Tyler (banjo); Max Pollikoff (violin); Seymour Barab, Robert Sylvester (cello); Jack Bonus (flute, tenor saxophone); Hank Freeman (flute); Richard Grando (soprano saxophone, soprano recorder); Johnny Coles (flugelhorn); David Horowitz (piano, keyboards) Herb Bushler (acoustic & electric basses); Herbert Brown, Richard Davis, Bill Lee (bass); John Nagy, Jonathan Raskin (electric bass); Maurice Baker, Paul Dillon, Teddy Sommer (drums).

Producers: Paul Rothchild, Jac Holzman, Peter K. Siegel, Milton Okun, Keith Holzman.

Dirty Linen (8-9/99, p.77) - "...this collection will brighten many a Paxton-head....Paxton's voice, so soft and gentle, and his wonderful songwriting talents made him a heavyweight in the 60s folk revival....The detailed liner notes...make this collection more precious."