Search - Pete Seeger :: God Bless the Grass

Early musical rally for Ecology...

William E. Adams | Midland, Texas USA | 08/25/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"From the New York Island to the California Coastline, Pete sings in 1965 of various problems with growth, pollution, endangered species, and other issues important to the Earth Day crowd. (Of which I was one, of course.) Hearing these songs today, one is struck by the sad fact that they are still needed and still relevant, despite a lot of progress. Back then, builders didn't have to fill out "Environmental Impact Statements" and hold public hearings on projects which would take away wetlands, or forests, or which would sacrifice rare but "unimportant" fish or birds or insects. When Pete sails today, nearly 40 years later, on the Hudson River, it isn't nearly as much of a "Dirty Stream" as the song on this album described...but it isn't totally saved, either. If you like Seeger, and care about preserving open spaces, buy this CD re-release of one his most important albums. There is a lot on here that still provides inspiration for environmental activism. (And the performances are good, above and beyond the poltical content.} In many ways, Pete Seeger was at his absolute best from 1960 to '70. He began making records in 1940, and continued up until at least 1996, but "The Sixties" was HIS time, and this release caught him right in the middle of it, as the social and cultural battleground changed from the Civil Rights Movement (largely victorious) to quality of life issues, right before the anti-Vietnam movement became the next big musical thing. Pete did his share with that cause, as well (See "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy" and other songs on later albums.)"

Like a 35-year old nugget of gold.

William E. Adams | 08/04/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I didn't grow up with this album, though I knew a lot of its songs. When I reheard it last week, I was blown away. What inspiration. What energy. It is prophetic and provocative, though seeded throughout with humor and love. The music alone would be worth buying and listening to, but the notes on the CD re-release are also gems. Most amazing: the album was recorded over 2 days -- the first two days of summer, 1965. And William O. Douglas' essay on the importance of the wilderness (reprinted as a facsimilie of the original album cover back) is as fresh and urgent today as it was in 1965."

Seeger's concept album...

B. Bowman | Jersey, United States | 07/06/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Like many others, I've always associated Pete Seeger's music with protest, so the ecological concerns he sings of on this album didn't come as a surprise to me. What I didn't expect was how moving these songs would be, due in part to the subject matter as well as Seeger's vocal delivery and crisp playing on the banjo and 12 string guitar. I found the title track to be so haunting I couldn't help but devote my full attention to it. Seeger's cover of Phil Ochs' "The Power And The Glory" was another song that made me feel that Pete Seeger doesn't get nearly the credit he is due for his musicianship. His fingerpicking throughout this album is excellent, particularly on "Coal Creek March" and the bluesy "Cement Octopus". While others have commented on the different environmental issues Seeger sang of on this disc, the songs themselves are phenomenal. The sound quality is excellent also, making it sound as if he is right in the room with you. Also noteworthy is that Seeger covered five songs by topical songwriter Malvina Reynolds on "God Bless The Grass", well chosen material for expressing his concerns about the state of the environment. I was also surprised to read that Seeger recorded all the material on this CD in two days! In short, I found this to be an excellent collection of songs, good music with a message..."