VARIOUS ARTISTS —SIXTIES TRANSITION (Floating World)

[Maurice Hope]

http://www.fwrecords.co.uk  

Taken from the archives of the late, Jim Dickinson we have this 20-tracks compilation. A one thst covers a considerable amount of ground, between Dino Valenti's ‘Get Together’ opener on through to Hamilton Camp’s version of Bob Dylan’s ‘The Times They Are A-Changin’ and a lot more in between. among the average there is a host of good stuff is smattered; as you have The Byrds, Leon Russell, The Dillards, David Crosby and The Hillmen among others make sizable contributions.

 

Sure some tracks are for the completist, but in truth after I was for writing off the set before I had given it much time I started to warm the likes of Valenti, Dian & The Greenbriar Boys and SiByrds act, Crosby. Who well and truly nails Hoyt Axton’s moody, swampy ode ‘Willie Jean’ and then for sheer, artistic beauty Russell’s instrumental take of ‘Jamaica farewell’ and ‘Stewball’ aided by Glen Campbell (guitar), Hal Blaine (percussion) and Bill Cunningham (mandolin on the latter) to go with Leon’s harpsichord are exquisite pieces of work. Totally unexpected they help make up for a handful no than average tracks from The Byrds and The Dillards but who between them do offer ‘You Showed Me’, Dylan’s ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’ (Byrds) and from the Ozarks boys a jangling ‘Don’t You Cry’. A song that coincidently has Byrds’ personnel, Hillman (bass) and Michael Clarke (drums) guest. As for Hillman he can also heard with The Gosdin Bros on The Hillmen’s superb Dylan accredited folk-based affairs ‘Faretheewell’ and ‘When My Ship Comes In’ and on staying with Rex and Vern Gosdin I found their version of Dylan's ‘Ramona’ sub-standard, falling way short of Irish girl Sinead Lohan's!   

 

                                                          Maurice Hope 

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