RECORDING SESSION: Sail Away Ladies (Guard / Reynolds / Shane) 2:28
Master #31747 recorded May 26, 1959
Extended play single: M.T.A. (EAP1-1119)
Oddly enough, the first track recorded at the sessions for HERE WE GO AGAIN never found a home on that album. "Sail Away, Ladies" was released on EP and then pretty much forgotten Dave recalled it was "about 75 percent completed when we put It aside, hoping to do it full justice at some future session" Dave also indicated this arrangement was heavily influenced by an earlier version by Odetta
SOURCE: Liner notes; The Kingston Trio: The Capital Years (Capitol Records CD7243 8 28498 2 7)

Friday night, May 26, 2000, I had the great pleasure of seeing the Kingston Trio perform along with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra at the Atlanta Georgia Arts Center. It's a beautiful venue. It was my first visit to Atlanta or to Georgia for that matter. The orchestra, conducted by Jere Flint, was in it's white jacket Pop's mode. The first half of the show was a delightful program of folk music performed by the orchestra. First came Copland's Buckaroo Holiday from Rodeo, then another Copland work, a nice take on the old folk favorite, John Henry. The orchestra then backed up a solo guitarist and the first violin (sorry folks, I didn't catch your names) doing a beautiful Civil War piece by Ungar called An Ashokan Farewell. Next came an English Folk Song Suite by Vaughan Williams. The orchestra finished their half of the show with a great medley of tunes from Lord of the Dance. A nice stretch and we settled back in for the Kingston Trio.

This was the first time I ever saw the Trio with newest member, Bob Haworth, who replaced Nick Reynolds last year, when Nick retired... again. All the best of luck and health to you Nick. I found Bob Haworth to be a very nice compliment to Trio founder Bob Shane and long time member George Grove. He has a nice vocal style, a great sense of humor, and is quite an accomplished musician (after the show, in the lobby, Bob was playing tunes on a SAW! I knew it could be done, but he made that old Stanley or Craftsman sing!) Bob played with the Trio for about five years back in the Eighties, after the untimely death of Roger Gambill. Bob was also a member of the Brothers Four prior to joining the Trio. It was nice to see that while primarily a six string guitar sort of guy, Bob was playing a tenor guitar, which is what Nick played for all his years with the Trio. With this show, I have now seen every configuration of the Kingston Trio, except, sadly, for Dave Guard. Rest in Peace Dave. We all miss you.

The concert itself was standard Kingston Trio fare. I guess we fans have come to expect to hear certain songs, and the Trio provides them. Tom Dooley, MTA, Scotch and Soda, Worried Man and the list goes on. What changes from show to show is usually George's solo, which this time around was Longest Beer of the Night. Bob Haworth resurrected a fun old number from the String Along album, With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm. He was accompanied by the orchestra with music he arranged for the song. George was also accompanied in his solo, and in fact arranged the orchestral music for the rest of the tunes that the Trio did with the full orchestra backing them up. And there were some beauties. Chilly Winds, Jamaica Farewell and Where Have All the Flowers Gone were terrific with the band playing along. Very nice job George. Well done! Hey, how about a song or two from the old Something Special album which had an orchestra with it?

The Trio received the largest ovation I've ever seen them get and came out for two encores, first singing California (I'm Going Home) and then coming back out again, when the audience wouldn't stop applauding, finishing up the night with The Reverend Mr. Black. Another great show by The Kingston Trio.

Afterwards, a large crowd mobbed the table where Trio music was being sold. My friend Larry, who hosted my visited to Atlanta, and I waited until the crowd thinned out, then got to spend some time with George and Bob Haworth. Then, in an unusual move, Bob Shane came out to greet family and friends. We got to chat with all three, get autographs and pictures. As always, it was a real thrill. No, I'll never get over being awed by the Trio. They're a national treasure. A few things I'd like to see happen soon is their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Rock and roll? Why not? They had as big an impact on music as did the Beatles). I also think an A&E Biography show would be a nice tribute. And lately, after having seen made for TV movies about the Beach Boys and John Denver...

There's not a lot left to say. These guys are my heroes. They make great music and love their fans as much as their fans love them. It's always a pleasure to see them perform. And I truly hope that The Kingston Trio will be around for a long time to come.

Rick Daley
Folk U.S.A.

See the entry for May 27 for another CONCERT REVIEW.