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Once Upon a Time
The Kingston Trio
Once Upon a Time
Genres: Folk, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (36) - Disc #1

One of the group's classic (and most requested) albums, their 1966 double-LP Once Upon a Time, recorded live at the Sahara Tahoe in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Originally intended as the Trio's parting shot for their 1967 farewell...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: The Kingston Trio
Title: Once Upon a Time
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: Collector's Choice
Release Date: 2/12/2008
Genres: Folk, Pop
Style: Traditional Folk
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 617742088021

Synopsis

Product Description
One of the group's classic (and most requested) albums, their 1966 double-LP Once Upon a Time, recorded live at the Sahara Tahoe in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Originally intended as the Trio's parting shot for their 1967 farewell tour, it remained unreleased until it appeared in the summer of 1969 on the tiny Tetragrammaton label, where it had the distinction of being the group's final chart climber (reaching #163). The memorable center spread collage, photos, and liner notes are faithfully reproduced here. All 20 songs from the original double album are included here on one great-sounding CD, with the usual audio restoration magic from Grammy-nominated producer Ron Furmanek. Also included are all 4 of John Stewart's original comedy segments (move over, Jon Stewart!), including the infamous 'Silicone Bust'. Don't be fooled by inferior bootleg imitations: this is the first officially licensed compact disc reissue of this timeless performance!
 

CD Reviews

The "Rat Pack" with Banjo and Guitars
J. C. Hulett | Los Angeles, CA USA | 12/19/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Kingston Trio's "Once Upon a Time" was released in 1969 on Bill Cosby's record label (Tetragamatron). coming out on two (2) vinyl disks. It was the original Trio's last record release, last live recording (they had 2 "live in concert" albums in '59, one in '62, one in '64.)



Like the others, this one charted, but only barely, landing at #193 on the Top 200. The record came out three years after being recorded at the Sahara Tahoe, by then a memorial to a group that had disbanded in 1967, victims of a disastrous record-label change from powerhouse Capitol to weak-kneed Decca in 1964.



Though the group's hits stopped after switching record companies, its energy in concert and rapport with audiences never flagged. Listen to "From the Hungry i", "Stereo Concert" ('59), "College Concert" ('62), or "Back in Town" ('64), the showmanship and ability to sell new songs or old hits is a constant throughout.



"Once Upon a Time" was a fine summing up after the Trio's disbandment. It offered new songs ("Colors," "One Too Many Mornings") various hits ("MTA," "Where Have All the Flowers Gone") and a catalogue of Trio oldies ("Hard Travelin'", "Getaway John"). Unlike its companion disk "Twice Upon a Time", many of the songs here are overdubbed (voices double-tracked) replicating their Capitol studio albums. But the humor and high-spirits are quite alike.



If you're inclined to sample the premiere American singing group of the late fifties/early sixties, you won't do any better than listening to this CD. It'll provide you a ringside seat to an evening in 1966 when the Kingston Trio -- sort of a "rat pack" with banjoes and guitars -- held forth at the main showroom of the Sahara Tahoe.



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