RECORDING SESSION: The Unfortunate Miss Bailey (Louis Gottlieb) 3:58
Master #31756 recorded May 27, 1959
Previously unreleased
Here's a fascinating, previously unreleased alternate tale of HERE WE GO AGAIN's "The Unfortunate Miss Bailey," preceded by some wonderful pre-take chatter. As you will hear, the slower pace gives a slightly different slant to the song's flavor.
SOURCE: Liner notes; The Kingston Trio: The Capital Years (Capitol Records CD7243 8 28498 2 7)

This CONCERT REVIEW, Posted to the Kingston Trio Place FORUM by Steve on 5/29/2000, 1:16 pm

A blow by blow report for Saturday's concert (they played two nights...)
Here's the basics. The set list was

Hard Ain't It Hard
Three Jolly Coachmen
Chilly Winds
Greenback Dollar
The Merry Minuet
Jamaica Farewell
MTA
Longest Beer of the Night
With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm
Scotch and Soda
Tom Dooley
A Worried Man
ENCORE 1:
Where Have All The Flowers Gone
I'm Goin Home
ENCORE 2:
Reverend Mr. Black

Now some of the details.

This was the first time I had seen the Trio with Bob Haworth since his return (I had seen a few shows with him in his earlier stint). He fits in well. Playing the tenor guitar, singing with gusto, and with a laid back comedic style, he is an excellent addition to the band.

This was also the first time I had seen Ben on the bass, since Paul's departure. Ben does a fine job, although he doesn't look like he's having as much fun as when he was playing his other instruments.

This was the second Trio symphony show I had seen...the first was in Atlanta somewhere about 1983 with the Bob, George, and Roger configuration.(For anyone who cares, the set list for THAT night was Hard Travelin/Three Jolly Coachmen/Chilly Winds/The Tattooed Lady/Greenback Dollar/The Last Thing On My Mind/Jamaica Farewell/MTA/Tom Dooley/Lookin For the Sunshine/Longest Beer of the Night/Lovers/Scotch and Soda/A Worried Man/Where Have All The Flowers Gone/I'm Goin Home....not that I keep set lists or anything like that...)

Now regarding the performances. George's arrangements for orchestra are all excellent and tasteful....people who were put off by the Something Special experience need not be offended here. George has an intuitive grasp of what is going to work for the Trio and it really adds a beautiful dimension to the songs.

The first musical surprise came with Greenback Dollar. The Trio has brought back the original sparse arrangement of the song sounding very much like the recording, as opposed to the almost "rock" styled arrangement of recent years. This stripping of the song really brought it back to life.

Bob Shane spent a good two minutes building up to his usual story introduction for Ah Woe Ah Me before realizing "that's not the song we're going to do. We're doing 4-A!!! Much laughter, followed by "Here's a song we stole from Harry Belafonte" and on into Jamaica Farewell.

Longest Beer of the Night has been a Trio favorite since Aspen Gold, and the arrangement tonight was excellent, further enhanced by the fact that its composer, Carson Parks, was in the audience. George got him to take a bow.
It was a treat to hear Where Have All The Flowers Gone again. Whether I just missed the nights they decided to sing it (and I see two or three Trio concerts every year) I have managed to not see them sing this for about five years. Maybe its absence creates fondness, but the performance was particularly moving. I know they can't be any more tired of this one as they might be Tom Dooley...I wish they would leave this in the set on a regular basis.

This was also my first time for seeing Mr. Haworth tackle With Her Head....and a good job he does on it too! The arrangement for this song was particularly effective.

As Tony mentioned, audience response was incredible. Both nights were sold out I understand, and there were moments you would have thought the Beatles were on stage, so strong was the applause and even screams!!!

Of course, some folks could find something to grouse about. Since the Trio only played the second half after a folk oriented performance from the ASO...it was a shorter set than a full concert (although with encores it hit about 80 minutes) meaning that I did not get to hear the versions of To Morrow and 500 Miles I have been reading about.

Also, as funny as the "man walked into a bar jokes" are (and they are hysterical...gut busting stuff) I wish that there were a few less of those and a little more, er, MUSIC....or perhaps Bob H and George dusting off a few more of those Trio nuggets that regular concert goers have been longing for for years.

All in all, however, it is really impossible to deny the charisma that IS The Kingston Trio. They sound superb and their performance is spirited. Bob Haworth is more than worthy enough to "fill the shoes" and brings his own aura of uniqueness to the Trio. I am glad he is back. George Grove continues to shine...no longer the new kid on the block, I dare say he is as important to the Trio sound as any member has ever been. Vocally, instrumentally, and comedically, he shines (no jokes about the top of his head shining tho)...and of course...the entity of Bob Shane. He is a natural born performer and his voice, which seemed rough around the edges a few years back, rings clearer than it has in awhile. Now, if he'd cut the hair a little, he could share it with George....even things out a little.

A great night in Atlanta. Someone else can tackle Friday night for you...meanwhile I shall look forward to my next full length Trio show to see all of the little goodies I have read about here.

See the entry for May 26 for another CONCERT REVIEW.