When Will They Ever Learn? A Story Of U.S. Folk Music: 1963-1969

100-track, 4-disc box set covering an era when folk music shed its hootenanny skin by addressing political and social issues while becoming more open to change, embracing rock, country and high-class folk pop.

Key artists: Pete Seeger, Bob Gibson, Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, Fred Neil, Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs, Barry McGuire, John Phillips, Cass Elliot, Cher, The Byrds, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Simon & Garfunkel, Tim Hardin, Gordon Lightfoot, Doc Watson, Townes Van Zandt and Johnny Cash.

Key songs include ‘Where Have All The Flowers Gone?’, ‘Morning Dew’, ‘Mr Tambourine Man’, ‘There But For Fortune’, ‘What Have They Done To The Rain?’, ‘Me And My Uncle’, ‘Everybody’s Talkin’’, ‘High Flying Bird’ and ’Get Together’.

This anthology was compiled and annotated by Mick Houghton, author of the acclaimed Sandy Denny biography (I’ve Always Kept A Unicorn) and Becoming Elektra – The True Story Of Jac Holzman’s Visionary Record Label.

The catalyst for the folk revival in 1958 came through a most unlikely No.1 hit, the Kingston Trio’s take on traditional murder ballad ‘Tom Dooley’. It helped bring folk music into the mainstream adding topicality and greater substance to popular music as well as fostering a sense of ‘getting back to the roots’ in myriad ways. Pete Seeger, more than anyone, was the bridge between the old and a new breed of songwriters and interpreters already emerging, such as Bob Gibson, Fred Neil, and Dino Valenti.

‘When Will They Ever Learn?’ picks up the story in 1963 just as the Kingston Trio was becoming passé and Peter, Paul and Mary were taking Dylan songs, notably ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’, into the charts. Among the upsurge of new talents – Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs, Judy Collins etc. - Dylan may have been the figurehead, but folk music was a fruitful and competitive breeding ground. This anthology aims to identify the protagonists in all their diversity, tracking and tracing who, where, how and why they joined forces, or simply did their own thing.

It also presents plenty of powerful female voices including Malvina Reynolds, Odetta, Hedy West and Karen Dalton. By the mid-60s, more artists were making a mark, such as Tim Hardin, Richie Havens, Tim Buckley and Gordon Lightfoot. Others followed the lead taken by the Byrds, the Mamas & the Papas, and the Lovin’ Spoonful; the Grateful Dead, the Youngbloods, and Kaleidoscope were among these.

So many great songs came to light, both traditional and contemporary. Bonnie Dobson’s oft-covered ‘Morning Dew’ was one of a number of emotive songs evoking a fear of nuclear annihilation and its consequences. Other classic anti- war songs include ‘Come Away Melinda’, ‘What Have Thy Done To The Rain’, and ‘Where Have All The Flowers Gone?’ where Pete Seeger presciently asked “When Will They Ever Learn?”.

DISC ONE

Take Me For A Walk In The Morning Dew

1  The Kingston Trio - Where Have All The Flowers Gone?

2  The Brothers Four – 500 Miles

3  The Limeliters – John Riley

4  The Journeymen – All The Pretty Little Horses

5 Anita Carter – Fair And Tender Ladies

6  Odetta – Long Time Gone

7  Peter LaFarge – Ira Hayes

8  Dave Van Ronk – Candy Man

9  The New Christy Minstrels – Green, Green

10  The Big 3 – Come Away Melinda

11  Simon & Garfunkel - Last Night I Had The Strangest Dream

12  Bob Gibson – Fare Thee Well (Dink’s Song)

13  Paul Clayton – Spanish Is A Loving Tongue

14  Hamilton Camp – Pride Of Man

15  The Simon Sisters – Motherless Child

16  Tom Paley - The Cuckoo

17  Dian & the Greenbriar Boys - Cannon Ball Blues

18  The Even Dozen Jug Band – On The Road Again

19  The Jim Kweskin Jug Band – Minglewood

20  John Koerner – Southbound Train

21  Hoyt Axton – Bring Your Lovin’

22  The Mugwumps – I Don’t Wanna Know

23  Dick Rosmini – 900 Miles To Go

24  Martin and Neil – Morning Dew

25  Malvina Reynolds - What Have They Done To the Rain?

26  Pete Seeger – The Bells Of Rhymney

27  Tom Paxton - I Can’t Help But Wonder Where I’m Bound

DISC TWO

Where I’m Bound

1  Judy Collins – Me And My Uncle

2  Bonnie Dobson - Country Girl Blues

3  Hedy West –The Davison-Wilder Blues

4  Judy Henske – High Flying Bird

5  Jackie de Shannon - When You Walk In The Room

6  The Modern Folk Quartet – The Bells

7 Au Go Go Singers -Where I’m Bound

8  Koerner, Ray & Glover - Fine Soft Land

9  Jesse Colin Young – Four In The Morning

10  Fred Neil -The Water Is Wide

11  Bob Dylan – Mr Tambourine Man

12  Paul Simon – The Sound Of Silence

13  Barry McGuire - Eve Of Destruction

14  PF Sloan –Take Me For What I’m Worth

15  Cher – See See Rider

16  Len Chandler – Shadow Dream Chaser Of Rainbows

17  Mark Spoelstra – White Winged Dove

18  Kathy & Carol – Green Rocky Road

19  Richie Havens – Morning, Morning

20  David Blue – Grand Hotel

21  Boz Scaggs – Baby Let Me Follow You Down

22  Tim Rose – Hey Joe (You Shot Your Woman Down)

23  We Five – You Were On My Mind

DISC THREE 

Leaving The Folk Music Behind

1  The Mamas And The Papas – Creeque Alley

2  The Byrds - I Come And Stand At Every Door

3  Gene Clark - The French Girl

4  The Lovin’ Spoonful – Rain On The Roof

5  Scott McKenzie – Like An Old Time Movie

6  Bob Lind - Mister Zero

7  M.F.Q. – Night Time Girl

8  Ramblin’ Jack Elliott – Danville Girl

9  Doc Watson- Worried Blues

10  Phil Ochs – There But For Fortune

11  Fred Neil – Everybody’s Talkin’

12  Gordon Lightfoot – For Lovin’ Me

13  Tim Hardin – Reason To Believe

14  Bobby Darin – If I Were A Carpenter

15  Norma Tanega – Walkin’ My Cat Named Dog

16  Pat Kilroy – Cancereal

17  Tim Buckley – Once I Was

18  Nico - I’ll keep It With Mine

19  The Grateful Dead – Cold Rain And Snow

20  The Leaves – Codine

21  The Youngbloods - Get Together

22  The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Buy For Me the Rain

23  Jim & Jean – Changes

24  Jesse Lee Kincaid - Baby You Come Rolling Cross My Mind

25  Billy Edd Wheeler – High Flying Bird

26  Kaleidoscope – Banjo

DISC FOUR

Take Off Your Thirsty Boots

1  John Stewart – You Can't Look Back

2  Johnny Cash & June Carter – Pack Up Your Sorrows

3  Porter Wagoner And Dolly Parton – The Last Thing On My Mind

4  The Dillards – Close the Door Lightly

5  The Holy Modal Rounders - Dame Fortune

6  Bonnie Dobson – Morning Dew

7  Mickey Newbury – Just Dropped In

8  H.P. Lovecraft – Spin, Spin, Spin

9  Pearls Before Swine – These Things Too

10  Danny Kalb and Stefan Grossman - Requiem For Patrick Kilroy

11  Taj Mahal – Corinna

12  The Insect Trust – Mountain Song

13  Vince Martin – Summerwind

14  Dino Valente - Time

15  Karen Dalton –Little Bit Of Rain

16  Tom Rush – Tin Angel

17  Steve Noonan – Shadow Dream Song

18  Jerry Jeff Walker- Mr Bojangles

19  Arlo Guthrie – Coming In To Los Angeles

20  Linda Ronstadt & The Stone Poneys – Wings

21  Eric Andersen - (We Were) Foolish Like The Flowers

22  Townes Van Zandt -Tecumseh Valley

23  Judy Henske & Jerry Yester - Three Ravens

24  Anne Murray - Thirsty Boots