I was scrolling through the TV channels last night and I saw there was a show on PBS (our Public Broadcasting System channel that relies entirely on donations to operate) titled John Sebastian Presents Folk Rewind.
John Sebastian is the guy behind the theme song for the TV show, Welcome Back, Kotter.
I figured I had nothing to lose, so I selected the PBS Channel. As luck would have it, it was one of their fundraising shows, which meant every few minutes they would break away from the show itself and ask/beg for money from the viewers.
Despite such pleas, it didn’t take me long to get captivated by the show, and I ended up watching the entire show.
One of the first songs that caught my attention was this wonderful song from Harry Belafonte, performed on the Ed Sullivan show. My wife knew all the words, but it didn’t ring a bell with me:
There were so many other great performances on the show; here is the tracklist from the DVD that they were selling as part of the fundraising:
*** song NOT in broadcast program
Do You Believe in Magic – Lovin’ Spoonful
Jamaica Farewell – Harry Belafonte
MTA – Kingston Trio
Worried Man – Kingston Trio
Where Have All the Flowers Gone – Kingston Trio
There’s a Meeting Here Tonight – The Limeliters
Michael – The Highwaymen
Don’t Let the Rain Come Down – Serendipity Singers
Today – New Christy Minstrels
Green Fields – The Brothers Four
500 Miles to Go – the Brothers Four
Simple Song of Freedom – Bobby Darin
Walk Right In – The Rooftop Singers
Seasons in the Sun – Rod McKuen
Lemon Tree – Peter, Paul and Mary
If I Had a Hammer – Trini Lopez
Turn, Turn, Turn – Peter Seeger and Judy Collins
A Mighty Day – The Chad Mitchell Trio
Blowin’ in the Wind – Chad Mitchell Tiro
Get Together – Jesse Colin Young of the Youngbloods
Eve of Destruction – Barry McGuire
My Back Pages – Roger McGuinn
Turn, Turn, Turn – Roger McGuinn
*** Elusive Butterfly – Bob Lind
*** Ballad of the Green Beret – Sgt. Barry Saddler
*** Land of Power and Glory – The Limeliters
*** Lonesome Traveler – The Limeliters
*** Mr. Tambourine Man – Roger McGuinn of The Byrds
*** Eight Miles High – Roger McGuinn of The Byrds
*** The Times They Are a Changin’ – Roger McGuinn of The Byrds
*** Rock and Roll Star – Roger McGuinn of The Byrds
*** Marvelous Toy – The Chad Mitchell Trio
So many great songs, that I can’t feature just one tonight. However, there is a good chance that I’ll feature a few more of these in future posts, but for tonight I think I’ll go with the following one:
Happy November…
I like that tune. I could probably listen to Belafonte all Day-O.
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great voice, great music…
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This is what I would call a warm and fuzzy post. So many familiar songs and groups. All Songs I grew up with. Brings back a lot of memories of my mother’s albums. Gotta love Harry Belafonte. His versions of Jamaica Farewell and Scarlet Ribbons top my list. I, like your wife, know all the words.
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I also enjoyed all of these tunes; a nice change of pace from rock and roll…
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Oh, THAT Harry Belafonte song 🙂 I’m with your wife on this one.
“The Banana Boat Song” is still my favorite. Maybe where bananas were available only around Christmas when I grew up. I remember eating one a day, so they will last. The image of picking up bunches of bananas was enchanting 🙂
What a great artist! Political activist too, something to admire. I should share this with my son 🙂
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the banana boat song is another great one…
sounds like you have fond memories of eating bananas… 🙂
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Ahh! I recognize several song in your list, though I didn’t know the 2 that you played, but I liked them. Relaxing ones before bed. 🙂
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glad you enjoyed them, they are very relaxing…
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Quite a Memory Lane roster!
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yes, so many great songs…
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I must be too young for once because I only recognize a few of these songs on the list. I can still remember most of the lyrics to Welcome Back by John Sebastian. I had a first-year teacher (quite popular) in high school we dubbed Kotter after the TV character and show.
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remember “Up your nose with a rubber hose!”?
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PBS does put together some great shows, especially during their membership drives. I will have to keep an eye out for a re-broadcast.
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yes, they do have some great shows during fundraising times…
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and i remember john sebastian from the lovin’ spoonful – this is quite a list, and what a unique idea for a show
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I did not know John Sebastian was in Lovin’ Spoonful – thanks for the info!
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That’s how I remember him –
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I love folk music. Reminds me of a nicer time.
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it does put one in a calmer state of mind…
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I love the Harry Belafonte one – my mum used to play him to us when I was little. It reminds me of his Island In The Sun. Not so sure about the NCM one though – there are many more on that list that I would have chosen ahead of that! We get a version of your PBS here, but it seems to comprise boring documentaries, not the interesting shows like this one.
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There were a few good songs on that list; something about the NCM one just appealed to me
and out PBS sounds the same as yours. they only pull out these good shows during fundraising time; you can buy the DVD for a donation to PBS…
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That sounds like the typical cynicism I’d expect from a marketing department! They recently ran a solo concert over there by Mary Chapin Carpenter, called One Night Lonely. It still hasn’t appeared here, though an audio version is on Apple Music. I guess we aren’t part of the official PBS catchment for fundraising, so my hopes may not come to anything. And if they did, I’d record it anyway 😂
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I guess you can’t blame them – it is marketing 101…
I hope the MCC concert is available to you soon…
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It is, isn’t it! And when you have to raise funds like that to keep the channel going it concentrates the mind.
Thanks, I’ll keep checking the schedules but I’m not hopeful – I don’t think I’ve ever seen them include a music show.
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that’s too bad; PBS over here often features musicians when they are raising money
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It seems to be full of WW2 documentaries here. It only broadcasts from 1pm to 11pm each day, and I can’t imagine they get much of an audience.
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I think ours has some educational stuff during the day…
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I’m not sure why they bother at all here!
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perhaps it’s a lack of funding…
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It may well be that, which just emphasises my point about why they bother!
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good question…
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Yes I remember that Harry Belafonte song from my childhood, must have been popular in England- no doubt conjuring up a sunny escape.
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he’s got such a beautiful voice…
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Wonderful selection of memorable music!
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I agree; there is a lot fo good music on that list…
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Yes!
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I remember the Harry Belafonte song and many others on the list. Jamaica Farewell was even in one of the early 007 novias if memory serves.
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I really like Jamaica Farewell; I’ve listened to it a few times today…
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Why does PBS have shows that require funding? Doesn’t advertising pay for that?
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PBS does not allow any advertising…
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Both songs feature psst performances with genuine musical talent, without today’s blitz of glitz. I could listen to songs like these every day. You definitely have some classic songs for some of your future Music Monday posts.
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such songs do offer a pleasant alternative to modern music!
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I know and love every one of those songs on the list. Every one! What does that say about me? Old.
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I’m with you – it’s a wonderful list. I think it says we have good taste in music!
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Yes!!!
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