Folk Troubadours Return in 3-Volume Retrospective

It was hard to listen to Bob Dylan in concert earlier this month on a street that was touched by the L.A. riots and not wish that today’s pop scene reflected more of the commentary and humanity of the ‘60s folk movement.

The best way to sample that era is to listen to the best album by such key artists as Dylan (who just appeared seven nights at the Pantages Theatre), Joan Baez, Phil Ochs and Tom Paxton.

But for those preferring a survey of the decade and its influences, Rhino Records’ three-volume “Troubadours of the Folk Era” series is a good starting point. The discs, sold individually, each contain 18 selections. Volumes 1 and 2 are devoted to solo artists or duos, with Volume 3 spotlighting groups.

There are flaws: Not all the artists represented are essential, and some of the era’s most important figures are missing (notably Dylan and Peter, Paul & Mary). But the series provides a good sense of the commercial and creative range of the folk pulse at the time.

Appropriately, each album begins with a selection by an artist who influenced all the young writers and singers who composed the ’60 movement: Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and the Weavers, respectively.

While there is no Dylan selection, his presence is felt in Volume 1. He plays an aggressive harmonica on Carolyn Hester’s “I’ll Fly Away” and Ian & Sylvia sing his “Tomorrow Is a Long Time.”

Other artists represented in Volume 1 include Joan Baez singing “Silver Dagger” and Odetta singing “John Henry.” Among the other tracks: Dave Van Ronk’s “Cocaine Blues,” Ramblin’ Jack Elliott’s “San Francisco Bay Blues” and the Holy Modal Rounders’ “Mister Spaceman.”

Volume 2 features Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now,” Fred Neil’s “Other Side to This Life,” Judy Collins’ “Who Knows Where the Time Goes,” Tom Paxton’s “Ramblin’ Boy,” Tim Hardin’s “Reason to Believe” and Phil Ochs’ “There but for Fortune.”

The Volume 3 lineup leans more toward pop-flavored commercialism with such entries as the Springfields and the Highwaymen. But it also features the more traditional New Lost City Ramblers and Greenbriar Boys.

Bruce Pollock’s liner notes are serviceable, but are a bit too breezy to adequately convey the influence and impact of the movement.

Country Classics: Uncle Dave Macon, Grandpa Jones, Roy Rogers, Bob Wills and Hank Thompson are the artists saluted in the latest releases in MCA Records’ Country Music Hall of Fame series. This brings to 15 the number of Hall of Fame members represented in the series. Past collections were devoted to such artists as Loretta Lynn, Ernest Tubb, Bill Monroe and Tex Ritter.