"I've bought several collections of CW music, and this one is by far my favorite. The Cumberland Three are wonderful singers and they can convey a wide range of moods - bitter, jubilant, wistful, proud, sorrowful. The sound quality is exceptional considering how long ago it was recorded (40+ years?) My favorite aspect of this is the balance of Rebel vs. Union songs - the first half being pro-CSA, and then the second half being pro-USA. Even though I'm a true-blue Unionist to the bone, I still love hearing those Rebs singing "The lyin', thievin' Yankees, I hate 'em worse than dust!". Could you even release such a song in this PC-polarized era? Heck no! But the one I can't get out of my mind is "Mary had a little lamb, it was always on the go, shouting the battle cry of freedom!""
Simple, authentic, moving
Quarter Irish | 02/09/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I bought this C.D. out of duty, as part of a project for my drama students, but it's become one of my favourites. I imagine this is pretty much how the songs would have sounded at the time. I much prefer this to the sanitized sound of a choir and orchestra. Only one drawback - my students can't stop singing "Goober Peas"!"
I bought this for "I Don't Want No Pardon."
Esther L. Clarke | Northeastern Pennsylvania | 12/06/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I knew I wanted to hear "I Don't Want No Pardon," but I had no idea how much I would enjoy all 23 songs on this CD. Other favorites are "Lay l0 Dollars Down" and "Gonna Get You." "Song of the Hungry" is the soldier's rewrite of Stephen Foster's "Hard Times Come Again No More." "The Boys Are Home" is the Cumberland Three's haunting version of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home." This is a CD for the whole family. Our children, aged 8, ll and l3 sing along. John Stewart, John Montgomery and Gil Robbins recorded these songs 40 years ago, but sound reproduction is excellent."
Highly recommended
Esther L. Clarke | 03/08/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I bought the CD based on the positive reviews posted here and I wasn't disappointed. I love it. The only downside is that my family and coworkers want to kill me, because I can't seem to stop singing Goober Peas under my breath all day. It's definitely done in a "folk" style and if you're looking for a glitzy, orchestrated sound, this isn't it. But if you want to close your eyes and imagine soldiers singing in the field, this is it."
Shades of the Past
Esther L. Clarke | 11/26/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"My father had this album, when I was a child, and it was one of my absolute favorites. Even though I haven't heard it since then, I still remember the music very well, and am so glad to see it again on CD. After all of these many years, I still break out in a rousing rendition of "Goober Peas' occasionally. I highly recommend this CD, and hope it brings you as much enjoyment as it has brought me."