In Priase of Tom Paxton, Part 2

Folk Roots/Folk Branches with Mike Regenstreif is now a 30-minute feature heard occasionally on CKUT, 90.3 FM in Montreal.

Thursday April 2, 2009

In Praise of Tom Paxton, Part 2

This was the second of three Folk Roots/Folk Branches features in praise of Tom Paxton.

Tom performs Sunday April 26 at the Oscar Peterson Concert Hall, his first Montreal concert since his regular sold-out concerts at the Golem in the 1980s. Call Hello Darlin’ Productions at 514-524-9225 for tickets or information. Tom is one of the all-time greatest folk-based singer-songwriters, and one of my all-time favourite performers. Definitely a don’t miss concert.

One of the things Tom is known for is his topical songs. Many comment on the news of the day and he often refers to those as his “short shelf life songs.” Many others, like the next four songs, are timeless.

MIKE REGENSTREIF- commentary 1

TOM PAXTON- Dogs at Midnight
Tom Paxton 6 (Collectables)
TOM PAXTON- Peace Will Come
Politics Live (Flying Fish)

MIKE REGENSTREIF- commentary 2

SALLY ROGERS- Mother
Generations (Flying Fish)
TOM PAXTON, ANNE HILLS, BOB GIBSON- She Sits on the Table
Best of Friends (Appleseed)

Tom was playing many of the same coffee houses, clubs and folk festivals as Mississippi John Hurt in the early-to-mid-1960s. Tom’s classic song, Bottle of Wine, was inspired by John Hurt’s style. So was his tribute song, Did You Hear John Hurt.

MIKE REGENSTREIF- commentary 3

DAVE VAN RONK- Did You Hear John Hurt
Somebody Else, Not Me (Philo)
TOM PAXTON, ANNE HILLS, BOB GIBSON- Bottle of Wine
Best of Friends (Appleseed)

Tom Paxton is also well known for his great love songs.

MIKE REGENSTREIF- commentary 4

TOM PAXTON- Me and a Couple of Angels
Looking for the Moon (Appleseed)

MIKE REGENSTREIF- commentary 5

For more on Tom Paxton, visit http://tompaxton.com/.

Folk Roots/Folk Branches is now a blog featuring Mike Regenstreif’s playlists, CD and DVD reviews, news and commentaries.

http://frfb.blogspot.com/