Disco de The Highwaymen: “Michael, Row the Boat Ashore: The Best of the Highwaymen”

Anyone at least in their teens in the 1960s should remember "Michael" (rowing the boat ashore) by the unfortunately under-recorded folk group, The Highwaymen (not to be confused by the much later C&W group led by the likes of Johnny Cash et al). This composite CD is taken from various of their LPs from the 60s, and represents a worthwhile trip back to old territory for many baby-boomers. They don't make music like this anymore today I am afraid!

Like a few million others, I bought 'Michael' when it first hit the charts. The intervening 40 years have done nothing to diminish the recording's charm and appeal. But this CD, culled from the group's various albums, is about far more than just one song. It shows just what a fine outfit the Highwaymen were. And also how innovative they were. They were the first to record Buffy Sainte-Marie's 'Universal Soldier', and they made the first American recording of Ewan McColl's 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' - both of which are on the CD. But this CD contains so many superb performances. There is the patriotic sounding 'Sinking of the Reuben James', the charming 'Big Rock Candy Mountain' and 'Gypsy Rover', the Fifties pop hit 'Cindy', and the reflective 'Number One', a 1974 recording in which the group look back with wry humour on their career and wonder 'what the hell went wrong'. For me, the standout track is the spirited 'Whiskey In The Jar', originally issued as the 'B' side of their third single. Nice to have this one on the CD. My 45 is almost worn out. A first rate compilation, both for those who remember the group first time around, and also for those who simply appreciate top flight commercial folk music.

I've read all the reviews here, and believe they all did a fine job of describing the merits of this CD. I personally think this is one of the prize discs in my collection. I bought it in 1992 when it was first released, and it provided me with all the Highwaymen material I'd been missing for years.

One reviewer mentioned briefly that this is one of the better releases in the EMI Legendary Masters Series. I thought I'd take a moment or two to fill in a few details about the CD with regard to that reviewer's mention.

For purists in the area of CD reissues, compilations and digital remixing & remastering, you should know that this compilation was produced and researched by Ron Furmanek, a legendary master himself. In addition, Ron did the remastering, and, along with Bob Norberg, did the song remixes. Bob Norberg was the engineer on the project.

The compilation was mastered from the original 3-track master session tapes and 2-track and mono master mixdown tapes. All of this should assure both collectors and fans of The Highwaymen that this CD presents these vintage recordings in the best sound/audio quality possible, and it is indeed a fine sounding collection.

By the way, there are three CD covers pictured on the Amazon detail page for this item. The one to which I refer here is NOT the one with the purple-ish cover art. I have never seen or heard that one.

Timeless and Beautiful - It was a time when "Image and Talent" was created on stage in front of an audience...

Not like today were "POP" it is created in the studio with countless overdubbing then marketed by mass media hype and awful lip sinking...YUK!

But! There is still great music being made everyday.

We just have to be aware of all the Roots, Grassroots, or what ever you want to call it, going on around the world...

"Thank Humankind for the Internet! Keep on Singin' & Pickin'."

Their big hit was "Michael, Row Your Boat Ashore," a 1960 original that

performed the rare trick of sounding extremely old and traditional. That

track, and 23 more, are present here. There are a few interesting stones to

unturn, including an early pop version of "Big Rock Candy Mountain" and a

cover of "The First Time (Ever I Saw Your Face)" that predated Roberta

Flack's hit by nearly a decade. But overall, this is rather tame, unexciting

folk ensemble stuff, albeit reasonably well sung and arranged. They're the

biggest musical thing to ever come out of Wesleyan University, and the

Monkees ripped off their logo, but you probably don't need to know more than

that, unless you've already dug pretty deep into the early '60's folk scene.