Search - Bob Gibson :: Joy Joy!: The Young And Wonderful Bob Gibson

THE FORGOTTEN MAN OF THE FOLK REVIVAL IS MOST ASSUREDLY

Cal Wilson | Fremont, California, USA | 10/26/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bob Gibson. Before Dylan, before Paxton, before Hardin, there was Bob Gibson. He even preceded the Kingston Trio by several years, working the folk clubs of New York and Chcago in the mid-fifties. Much like Cisco Houston before him, perhaps Gibson never received the acclaim he well deserved because his voice was "too good" for folk music. The 27 renditions offered in this long-overdue emission were originally recorded from 1956 to 1959 and offer the listener an opportunity to hear the music played and sung the way its writers intended. Indeed Hudie Ledbetter, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and the other great folk song authors would not deny the purity of the songs offered here. From the title tune "Joy, Joy" and through such tracks as "Whoa Buck," "This Train," "Pastures Of Plenty," "Ol' Bill," "Take This Hammer," and all the rest Bob Gibson's lovely tenor, accompanied by his outstanding banjo and 12-string guitar work reveal an artist who should be hailed as one of the greatest folk singers of the last forty years. If you're into honest representations of traditional folk songs, this CD is a must!"

Every once in a while,

Dr. Leslie Korshak | California | 02/23/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"the great "they" out there, gets it right. This time, the good folks at Riverside, are the "they" and "right" is hardly, the word. This CD is perfect. It's one important, glorious, presentation of what will always remain young and wonderful and joyous. A celebration of a man who's music and passion was built upon by generations of future troubadors, while always remaining, singularly, unique. This one gem of a CD, in the treasure that is Bob Gibson's legacy, captures the soul as well as the genius of a man who cared only about finding, then singing, and most of all, sharing, America's tunes. His enormous, "Little Light" shines bright on "Wayfaring Stranger" - dazzles "Take this Hammer" and shatters the rock of "John Henry" and the "Red Iron Ore." Then it filters back softly when "Alberta" lets her hair hang down, becomming achingly, plaintive - pure to the point of pain, on the rarely heard jewel, that is "Brandy." And if there's ever been a better, sing-along-in- the-car-till-you're-horse-song, than "This Train" I haven't heard it. Thank you Ken Goldstein. Thank you, Riverside! As folklorists, you define the term. I'll just add, that Bobby used to get the biggest kick out of telling people that I knew his music better than he... And he was probably, right... Know it, love it, have it all - the published and the never heard, the 'diddles' the rehearsals, the duets, solos - the vocals and instrumentals of forty years alike. That being said, "Joy, joy! The young and wonderful Bob Gibson", is simply, unsurpassed. Perhaps, there's one more thing, and I have it on the highest, authority... Bobby would have absolutely,loved it."