TOM PAXTON: Live In The UK

Tom Paxton

Live In The UK

© 2004 Pax Records (783707045702)

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Folk music in the Seeger/Guthrie/Weavers tradition

notes

Tom Paxton has become a voice of his generation, addressing issues of injustice and inhumanity, laying bare the absurdities of modern culture and celebrating the tenderest bonds of family, friends, and community.

In describing Tom Paxton's influence on his fellow musicians, Pete Seeger has said: "Tom's songs have a way of sneaking up on you. You find yourself humming them, whistling them, and singing a verse to a friend. Like the songs of Woody Guthrie, they're becoming part of America." Pete goes on: "In a small village near Calcutta, in 1998, a villager who could not speak English sang me What Did You Learn In School Today? in Bengali! Tom Paxton's songs are reaching around the world more than he is, or any of us could have realized. Keep on, Tom!"

Guy Clark adds: "Thirty years ago Tom Paxton taught a generation of traditional folksingers that it was noble to write your own songs, and, like a good guitar, he just gets better with age." Paxton has been an integral part of the songwriting and folk music community since the early 60's Greenwich Village scene, and continues to be a primary influence on today's "New Folk" performers. The Chicago native came to New York via Oklahoma, which he considers to be his home state. His family moved there in 1948, when Tom was 10 years old, and he graduated from Bristow High School and The University of Oklahoma, where he majored in drama while his interest in folk music grew and eventually predominated.

Brought to New York courtesy of the US Army, Tom remained there following his discharge. His early success in Greenwich Village coffeehouses, such as The Gaslight and The Bitter End, led to an ever-increasing circle of work. Then in 1965 he made his first tour of the United Kingdom -- the beginning of a still-thriving professional relationship that has included at least one tour in each of the succeeding years.

He and his wife, Midge, have been married 41 years and have two daughters, Jennifer and Kate. All three women have served as inspiration for many songs, and now three grandsons, Christopher, Sean, and Peter are adding to the sources of inspiration.

He has performed thousands of concerts around the world in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Scandinavia, France, Italy, Belgium, Holland, England, Scotland, Ireland and Canada. That these fans still enjoy his work is a testament to the quality of his recent work, and to the enduring power of modern standards like The Last Thing On My Mind, Ramblin' Boy, Bottle Of Wine, Whose Garden Was This?, Goin' To The Zoo and The Marvelous Toy. Paxton's songbooks, critically acclaimed children's books (available from HarperCollins - see the page for children), award-winning children's recordings, and a catalog of hundreds of songs (recorded by artists running the gamut from Willie Nelson to Placido Domingo), all serve to document Tom Paxton's 40-year career.

Tom was nominated for a Grammy for "Best Contemporary Folk Album of 2003" for his Appleseed Records CD, Looking For The Moon. He was nominated in 2002 for his children's CD, Your Shoes, My Shoes. He has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from ASCAP, and in February he will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the BBC in London.

Tom Paxton's place in folk music is secured not just by hit records and awards, but by the admiration of three generations of fellow musicians. An internationally recognized and loved cultural figure, he has always chosen goodwill over commercial success. His generosity has taken the shape of a benefit concert performance for a little girl fighting leukemia, or a personal note of encouragement to an up-and-coming songwriter. This is the man who wrote and lives the words, "Peace will come, and let it begin with me."

He is one of the great songwriters of the last century and will be reckoned as one of the greats in this new century, as well. He is a man we have come to regard as our friend.

"Tom Paxton's songs are so powerful and lyrical, written from the heart and the conscience, and they reach their mark, our most inner being. He writes stirring songs of social protest and gentle songs of love, each woven together with his personal gift for language. His melodies haunt, his lyrics reverberate. I have sung Tom's songs for three decades and will go on doing so in the new century, for they are beautiful and timeless, and meant for every age." (Judy Collins)

"Tom Paxton embodies the spirit of folk music in the most beautiful sense. Not just in his song crafting, his work ethic, his politics and his dedication to people's music, but also in his kind and generous heart. When I first started playing folk festivals, I was all of eighteen, shaved headed and politically outspoken. Many people in the folk community at that time seemed defensive and threatened by me, but I remember Tom was a notable exception. He was nothing but warm, welcoming and supportive to me from the git go. He's the coolest." (Ani DiFranco)

"Every folk singer I know has either sung a Tom Paxton song, is singing a Tom Paxton song or will soon sing a Tom Paxton song. Now either all the folk singers are wrong, or Tom Paxton is one hell of a songwriter." (Holly Near)

reviews

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  • Tom is good as ever
    author: rod pike

    Been a fan since early 60's. saw Tom live in london in 2005 farewell tour. Great! The album is typical Tom Paxton - it would be ideal for a new fan.

  • Great - a singer singing for the songs
    author: Bob Bagley

    I think this is a great CD and I want to tell you why. I first saw Tom Paxton live when he came to sing at the opening of a new folk club in my home city of Norwich in Norfolk UK. It was in '65 or '66 and must have been one of his first,if not the first of his UK tours.I caught him later on a bigger stage, the Royal Albert Hall in London - a young Judy Collins was also on the bill. What this CD has captured is what hooked me then and has kept me hooked to the present day,This is a great craftsman showing off his wares and sharing the pride and joy he feels - not for the money, not for ego, not for the record contract with EMI or Sony but to share the joys of singing songs. I'm sure Tom, as I do, sings them around the house, early in the morning, to his wife alone late at night because he sings for the sheer joy of singing songs,some old friends, some new where you are still struggling to master the tune or the lyrics and commit them to your memory bank, where they will stay til needed. Well done to Tom, Cathy and Marcy for reminding us all of the sheer pleasure of hearing a great singer singing for the sheer joy of singing the songs.

  • A great album and a wonderful record of a live concert
    author: John Dalkin

    I have enjoyed seeing Tom Paxton "live" for many years, and this CD captures the atmosphere of one of his concerts perfectly -- not just the great songs but also Tom`s humour and the way he chats to the audience. Well worth a place in any folk fan`s collection.

  • Great mixture of his oldest and more recent songs
    author: Eldon

    I have been a Tom Paxton fan since the 1960's. This recording was a very nice mixture of all his great old songs and some very nice more recent ones. I enjoyed this recording even more than I expected. The in concert atmosphere provided lots of excitement. I especially loved his story about his daughter's conversation with a coffee house singer who had just performed one of her father's old songs.

  • Great mixture of his oldest and more recent songs
    author: Eldon

    I have been a Tom Paxton fan since the 1960's. This recording was a very nice mixture of all his great old songs and some very nice more recent ones. I enjoyed this recording even more than I expected. The in concert atmosphere provided lots of excitement. I especially loved his story about his daughter's conversation with a coffee house singer who had just performed one of her father's old songs.

  • Great
    author: Carol Fry, Bristol, UK

    We've been folk fans for many years, and bought this CD following a concert by Tom in Bristol in January 2007 - which was just fantastic. This CD is great, and we've been listening to several TP CD's since the concert, all top quality Tom Paxton - long may he continue to entertain.

  • As usual top quality performance.
    author: phil hall

    Having listened to Tom Paxton both live and on vinyl and now CD I am never disappointed by his performances.Long may they continue.

  • author: peter finn, london, england

    over the years very few artists have recorded as many live albums as tom and once again he has come up trumps with an album recorded in the u.k. tom has always been able to strike a great rapport with his audience and this is evident again here with this welcome new release

  • Fantastic Voice, Entertainer and Person
    author: Angelhart

    I just recently had my young memory jogged after hearing Tom. I dont think I have ever heard a better smoother voice in my life. His lyrics touch your heart. Anything I have heard by Tom, I love. Toms music is a great way to unwind from a hectic day. You cant go wrong on anything Tom has done. Just an A W E S O M E talent. Hope to hear more from Tom

  • Fun for the Whole Family!
    author: The Nelson Family

    I ordered this CD for my Dad on Father's Day. I think we've been listening to it every weekend since it arrived--and we still love it! With its mix of classics and more recent songs, it's possibly one of the most entertaining Tom Paxton CDs we've heard yet.

  • Found it very entertaining, while bringing back old feelings.
    author: Pat's Review of the Tom Paxton CD

    It brought back feelings of a time when people really cared about what was going on in the "whole world" and wanted to do something about it. Music was and is a great way of expressing what we would like the "world" to really be.

  • Great CD!
    author: Ken Millar

    Like reviewer Bob Burlinson, I have been enjoying the music of Tom Paxton for over 40 years. I first heard him live at McGill University in Montreal in the mid-sixties. I have seen him many times since and no matter the venue, his ability to make you feel like you were sitting around a campfire swapping songs is amazing. This concert is no different.

  • all hits fantastic
    author: Nikolas Hamilton

    Tom is an insperation to my hole family he is an awesome singer

  • Spending time with an old friend reliving why the friendship began
    author: Bob Burlinson

    I have spent many evenings enjoying the music of Tom Paxton in concert - this over a period of 40 + years. This album of a UK live performance renews the feelings that I have had each time. Beautiful music, good fellowship, timely, sometimes poignant, poetic expression of one's feelings - just a great, great album.

  • An intimate memento
    author: Ian Phillips

    The thing about Tom is that it's all about communication. Words and music are equal partners. Hearing - better still, seeing - him live is like talking with an old friend. This disc captures the conversation perfectly.

  • Wonderful momento of the performance
    author: Mike Monks

    I attended the Cambridge performance and this cd is a perfect record of the show. Paxton links the songs will, a true professional with very amusing and yet incisive comments on the world.

  • Very fine new versions of old songs, very fine stuff
    author: Hans J. Kurowsky

    As an "old" fan of Tom Paxton since about the "Hobo in my mind"-days I like this new-old songs-CD very much. It's kind of a quiet and unspectacular presentation of songs you heard already. What I do appreciate most is the introduction words to each song not being cut away, so you really can imagine to sit in the concert hall - like on the early "compleat"-LP. Very fine stuff!

  • A TOM PAXTON record.
    author: Christian Stabenow

    Tom Paxton remains true to himself. Afficionados will not be disppointed. It reminds me of early records like "New songs For Omd friends" and "New songs from the Briearpatch" where he performed with a few guest artists in front of a reduced audience. A paeticular gem is that "old french folk song" "Bottle of wine".

  • author: keith

    it is a short cut to the magic of tom paxton

  • Tom Paxton at his best.
    author: Mark Loucks

    I have been a fan of Tom Paxton's since I saw him on public TV in either the late 60's or early 70's. I was transfixed by his witty, topical, sometimes universal and always moving lyrics, his voice and the music. This CD was instantly a big hit in my household and brought me back memories of years of listening to Tom and being entertained by his songs. It has a mix of old and new tunes, all of them beautifully performed. Tom is a consummate showman, and a great singer-song writer in the Folk tradition. Your collection will not be complete without this eclectic, intimate and well produced CD.

  • A great CD of a great night out
    author: Rachel

    Tom Paxton is an astute and witty satirical folk singer. This CD captures perfectly Tom's classics and some of his great short life songs. Although not quite of the clarity of some live CD's it still has good quality sound and it the perfect souvenir of the tour.

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