Peter, Paul and Mary In Concert (Vinyl record album review)

Record basics

• Album name: Peter, Paul and Mary In Concert
• Group name: Peter, Paul and Mary
• Year: 1964
• Number of discs: two
• Label: Warner Bros. Records
• Collection: Brenner / Gessner
• Distinguishing characteristics: “Brenner” written on record, indicating that my mother owned it
• Buy it:
  • Amazon (Vinyl): $109.95
  • Amazon (CD): $5.99

My review

Level of familiarity before listening

Peter, Paul and Mary were and remain a favorite of my mother’s (and she asked me to find a copy of Le Déserteur when I mentioned that I was listening to this record), so I know their work, but haven’t ever listened to this live record specifically.

What I expected

1960s folk.

What it was actually like

1960s folk, with some ups and downs.

The last time I listened to a Peter, Paul and Mary record I was delighted to hear 500 Miles, and I had the exact same reaction this time. I also loved Oh, Rock My Soul, One Kind Favor and (maybe my favorite) the final song on the fourth side, If I Had a Hammer.

On the other hand, they do a lot of children’s songs, and I’m not a child so I’m much less into those. This two-record album would have been far better if they had thought to group all of those – Car-Car, Puff, the Magic Dragon and It’s Raining – on one of the four sides. Additionally, listening to Paultalk was a complete waste of my time, so I wish that track had been grouped with the children’s music.

Grade

4/5: would listen again