Founded in 1959 by
Theodore Bikel
,
Oscar Brand
Pete Seeger
George Wein
, and
Albert Grossman
, and modeled after the already established and successful
Newport Jazz Festival
, the
Newport Folk Festival
ran in its original configuration throughout the '60s before running out of gas in 1971 (the festival was revived in 1985 and has run annually ever since, although it has little more than its name in common with the festival's original run).
Vanguard Records
was on hand to record several of the mid-'60s lineups and as this sampler shows, there was a lot of vitality in the performances. Highlights here include
Johnny Cash
's spry version of his
"Big River,"
a powerful, ominous, and spooky acoustic rendition by
John Lee Hooker
(complete with foot stomping) of
"Hobo Blues,"
and a delightful duet between
Joan Baez
and
Donovan
on the latter's
"Colours."
~ Steve Leggett