Bleecker Street: Greenwich Village in the 60's

by

Various Artists

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A few years back, around the time he released not one, but two, albums comprised entirely of traditional folk and blues tunes, Bobby said he no longer wished to write songs because there were so many incredible songs out there already - many of which the masses were not even familiar with. Of course, Dylan went ahead and released his critically applauded "Time Out of Mind" album last year, comprised entirely of original songs, thereby going back on his promise. Even so, his idea was not a bad one. Case in point: the latest release from New York's funky Astor Place Label, "Bleecker Street: Greenwich Village In the `60s," a lovingly packaged, recorded and performed collection of modern-era folkies, popsters, and rockers paying homage to 15 classic Village compositions and their authors. Let's see... there are drool-worthy performers here like Chrissie Hynde, John Cale, two-thirds of the Roches, Black 47, Jonatha Brooke, Suzanne Vega, and so many more. And then, there are the SONGS from the most fertile, creative era of songwriting, ever, by writers like Fred Neil... Bob Dylan... Richard Farina... Buzzy Linhart... Judy Collins... Shall I continue? Give this no-risk disc a listen or two or three, and see if you can remove it from your CD player and your consciousness. I can't seem to. (C.A. Carlino)

Given the artwork used and songs selected, I assumed the target market for this CD would be Baby Boomers already familiar with the songs, but intrigued at the prospect of seeing them reinterpreted by younger artists. Overall, the CD is OK, but nothing special. In most cases, the interpretations were just covers of the originals, and the instrumental backings were similar if not identical. The CD is pleasant enough, and any CD with a Tom Rush clasic is automatically above average. However, while it's a good collection of great songs in the folk/folk-rock genre, anyone more than casually familiar with the material would play the originals rather than these covers. It was good to discover Cry, Cry, Cry, however. Their interpretation of "Last Thing on my Mind" was enjoyable and led me to their own CD. My nephew, unfamiliar with the original versions, thought more highly of the CD than I did ... so perhaps its real value is in introducing the songs to younger listeners, and the artists to older folkies.