The Very Best of Peter, Paul and Mary

Album Review

Peter, Paul and Mary (Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey, and Mary Travers), did more to bring the 1960s folk revival safely into the homes of the American public than any other artists of the day. Their songs had a decided leftist political edge, but were gentle and easy enough to invade AM radio, where their natural, infectious singalong style gave the trio several dignified hits, including "Lemon Tree," "If I Had a Hammer," "Puff, the Magic Dragon," "Blowin' in the Wind," and two hits from the very end of the decade, "I Dig Rock and Roll Music" and "Leaving on a Jet Plane." All are collected here, along with fine versions of "All My Trials," "Tell It on the Mountain," "500 Miles," and Gordon Lightfoot's beautiful "Early Mornin' Rain." Although they will forever be associated with the folk movement, Peter, Paul and Mary's material plays surprisingly well after all these years, and while their earnest sincerity can get annoying in large doses, this collection plays just about right.