Peter Paul amp Mary - Album 1700 (12 tracks) +Album Reviews

The greatest PPM album

R. L. MILLER | FT LAUDERDALE FL USA | 09/02/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"At one point in time, American folk music crossed over from the time-frozen traditional--then sold mass-market by Burl Ives--to the more iconoclastic as represented by icon-in-his-own-right Bob Dylan. After awhile, given America's 20th century social upheaval, it was no longer as easy as it once was to care whether or not Jimmy cracked any corn. Peter Paul and Mary lived during both eras and managed to survive in both. This album more than any other represents their "border crossing"--and it contained two of their most popular songs: a faithful rendition of John Denver's "Leaving On a Jet Plane" which I heard years before Denver's own version and "I Dig Rock & Roll Music", a tribute to the Mamas and the Papas, the most successful mixed-gender folk rock group of all time. Despite these two powerful radio hits, however, the most powerful song in here is the antiwar anthem "The Great Mandella", a simple yet dynamic tune about the head-on collision between the World War II generation and the Boomer generation over the Vietnam issue. The beauty of this song is that none of the three verses is "in the voice" of the protester himself as was usually the case with an antiwar song. Verse one is from the viewpoint of his infuriated father, the other two are quasi-journalistic views by society in general of his imprisonment and hunger strike. As Tom Brokaw rhapsodises over "The Greatest Generation", it is easy to forget that this particular generation saw no other practical use for their male issue than as cannon fodder. Very practical--neither we nor the Vietnamese they had sent us over to fight were seen as being worth the powder to blow us to Kingdom Come. And thanks to sound recording (invented well before the birth of either generation), this album with this song on it are still available to set the record straight, Brokaw's efforts notwithstanding."

Making a Statement

Cara | United States | 08/30/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is my favorite Peter, Paul & Mary album; it's one I've listened to my whole life, many, many times. I want to respond to those reviewers who classified Big Blue Frog as a "silly children's song." I hear it as a very clear commentary on inter-racial marriage. "The neighbors are against it and it's clear to me, and it's probably clear to you -- they think value on their property will go right down, if the family next door is blue." As in The Great Mandela (an anti-war song), and I Dig Rock & Roll Music (a parody), PP&M are making a statement, as they did with many of their songs. Another reviewer said they were pop more than folk. While folk music became popular music when the album first came out, they certainly carry on the folk tradition of telling it like it is and taking a stand on issues."

Timeless Trio-Timeless Music

Phyllis Fisher | Houston, Texas United States | 01/17/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have worn out my old vinyl recording of this album. It was always playing on someone's record player in the dorm when I was in college in the '60s. It is an essential album for those in college now to hear, to know that 'The '60s' wasn't ALL about the Beatles. The harmonies of these three extraordinary performers has always held me spellbound i.e. "Rolling Home". The plaintive melody and lyric combination of "Jet Plane" is lovingly handled by the trio. "I Dig" is a marvelous example of PP&M's ability to take a poke at Rock's biggies of the era. My favorite, though, and one of my all-time favorite songs is "Great Mandela". The simplicity of the opening guitar work contrasts strikingly with the opening lyrics which quickly draw you in to this deep, dark song. The trio's harmony becomes jarring as the the song escalates and drives home its emphatic message. Then there is a quiet, almost eery, denouement that leaves you vaguely unsettled afterwards. For those who want to know what living through the controversial era of the Vietnam War was like, this song and its masterful handling by Peter, Paul & Mary is powerful listening."

Takes me back to a simpler place and time.

ddrws@trib.com | Wyoming | 12/02/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Simple, melodic, soothing and wonderful. I love everything about this album. My favorite tracks are the more obscure "Whatshername" , "Bob Dylans Dream" and "If I had wings". The melodies and lyrics take you back to old friends, first love, and living life on your own terms. I love this album not because the music is especially great, but because it makes me feel great."

At their peak

Mr Lapin | Ohio, USA | 09/25/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For PP&M there's never been any shortage of "greatest hits" collections - and even "pretty good hits" collections. These are actually a fine value, because you usually get the equivalent of about two original albums in each collection.

But if you want to hear what PP&M really sounded like, you want the original releases. And Album 1700 pretty well represents the peak of their musicianship.

Just a few years later, personal disputes would tear PP&M apart. Colleagues of mine who were backstage at their concerts in the 1980s wince as they speak of Mary Travers, rest her soul - painfully, destructively shrill; furious and infuriating. Peter Yarrow was the gentleman and the peacemaker, but Noel Stookey seems to have wedged his religion into the trio's widening rifts and hammered it home.

PP&M patched things up in the late 1970s, but to my ears they never again reached the level of musical collaboration or involvement they achieved on this album. (Indeed, after recording their 1978 "Reunion" album they effectively disengaged themselves from it, turning it over to a rock producer. To this day Yarrow refuses to release the - shall we say - highly produced "Reunion" on CD.)

The big hit of Album 1700 was the John Denver tune they gave wings, "Leaving on a Jet Plane." The other one, Stookey's "I Dig Rock and Roll Music," is slight and dated, but still fun. His "The House Song" is far more moving and timeless, and "No Other Name" is unforgettable.

Since her death, much has been written about Mary Travers's social consciousness, but note that it was Peter Yarrow who gave us "The Great Mandella." This piece is as compelling today as it was at the height of the Vietnam War in 1967. Even if you heard the re-spelled reprise in "Lifelines," check out the original here.

There are only a couple of other covers besides Denver's. To my ears, Eric Andersen's "Rolling Home" is more successful than "Bob Dylan's Dream." It makes a great opener, too.

From what I understand, Peter Yarrow is a quiet perfectionist when it comes to the audio quality of the CD transfers in their reissues, so I was surprised and disappointed to hear quite a bit of distortion in this album's louder passages. I almost deducted a star from the 5-rating for that grating grunge. To me it sounds like analog distortion, not digital. Perhaps there's some hope that the original multitrack masters are clean and a future remix will improve the sound. This album is worth that level of effort.

"

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