Album

iTunes Review

Released in 1966, Album is a diverse scrapbook of folk, pop and rock-oriented tracks. Its songs were recorded at a time when folkies everywhere were adding electric instrumentation and moving away from pure protest music, a shift apparent in the diversity of the material here. For those angry at The System, there’s “The King Of Names” (an anti-blacklist tune sung with fury by Peter Yarrow) and “Well, Well, Well” (an apocalyptic number featuring Al Kooper’s ominous organ). The gentler side of life is reflected in Mary Travers’ tender vocal on “For Baby (For Bobbie)” and the trio’s honeyed harmonies on “Kisses Sweeter Than Wine.” For comic relief, Paul Stookey creates a rock band out of his overdubbed vocal parts on “Norman Normal.” Rousing versions of tunes by Laura Nyro (“And When I Die”) and Fred Neil (“The Other Side Of This Life”) spice things up further. A varied assemblage of New York and Nashville players (among them Dylan sideman Mike Bloomfield) add texture throughout. Album took the trio into the late-‘60s mainstream without compromising their luminous vocal blend or underlying message.