The Best of the Decca Years (1996)

About this title: The Best of the Decca Years is a thorough overview of the Weavers' peak hit-making years, containing all of their biggest '50s hit, including the chart-topping single "Goodnight Irene." Many of these recordings boast light orchestra and choral arrangements, which mean they may sound fairly dated to contemporary listeners, yet these were historically important singles, bringing folk music to a larger audience. Though Best of the Decca Years isn't quite as thorough as 1987's The Best of the Weavers, it nevertheless remains an excellent retrospective of the most popular and controversial folk ... read more

Tracks:

1. On Top of Old Smokey [Traditional]
2. Hard, Ain't It Hard [Guthrie]
3. Goodnight Irene [Leadbelly/Lomax]
4. Around the Corner (Beneath the Berry Tree) [Marais]
5. Old Paint (Ride Around Little Dogies) [Gilbert/Hays/Heller]
6. Wreck of the John B [Hays/Sandburg]
7. The Roving Kind [Cavanaugh/Stanton]
8. Tzena, Tzena, Tzena [Grossman/Miron/Pari]
9. Wimoweh (Mbube) [Gilbert/Hays/Heller]
10. Kisses Sweeter Than Wine [Gilbert/Hays/Heller]
11. So Long (It's Been Good to Know Yuh) [Guthrie]
12. The Midnight Special [Gilbert/Hays/Heller]
13. Rock Island Line [Leadbelly]
14. Sylvie (Bring Me Li'l' Water, Silvy) [Gilbert/Hays/Heller]
15. Lonesome Traveler [Hays]
16. When the Saints Go Marching In [Traditional]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.