#tom paxton

[teddypng]

Tom Paxton on Phil Ochs, 2009

[desertsquiet]

Townes with Tom Paxton

[stonecoldpinkerton]

I first heard Bob Dylan on some TV show. I was maybe 10 years old. They used Shelter from the Storm in the episode. What a flawless work of art that song is. I summarily read Bob Dylan's autobiography. It was about his entire life, all his experiences. And yet- and here's the interesting thing- he only wrote about 3 albums that he wrote.

Bob Dylan has many famous albums- The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, Highway 61 Revisited, Blood on the Tracks, Blonde on Blonde, and more. He only wrote about 3 albums.

He wrote about his first album, the start of his career, the self titled album "Bob Dylan". He wrote about the album he was writing as he was writing the very book, the album "Oh Mercy". And he wrote about his most infamous album, "Self Portrait".

I would have to make a separate post to thoroughly talk about Oh Mercy. What I remember about his first album is this: he explained that he had an interview with someone from the record label. The record guy was asking him "where are you from" "what brought you to New York" etc. They wanted a short paragraph to put on the back of the album.

Bob explains that he came to New York on a freight train. Record guy asks "You mean a passenger train?"

Bob answers, "Freight train." Then, breaking the scene, author-Bob explains he *actually* came to NY on a passenger train.

To most, Bob Dylan was, as Joan Baez described, "the original vagabond, the unwashed phenomenon". The king of the New York folk scene. It had been on the rise with artists like

Tom Paxton

and Peter, Paul and Mary,

Simon and Garfunkel.

But Bob Dylan was the one that really defined it.

Bob Dylan's real name is Robert Allen Zimmerman. He was raised in the south, Missouri. His parents were ethnic Jews and he was raised Catholic. He grew up listening to gospel music, blues, and, famously, Woody Guthrie.

But his music never sounded like he'd been raised on gospel. No, he put tradition in the wind. He was the New York dynamo, Bob Dylan!

The fame wore him out quick. For all his poetry and expression, he never felt understood. His identity was the freight train kid, not the passenger.

Years of wear and tear get to him. I get the sense he resented the people who looked up to him.

And here we get to the meat and potatoes.

Self Portrait.

Rolling Stone magazine put out an issue reviewing it. The cover stated in bold text, "What the fuck is this shit?" Bob released the album knowing it would tank his career. And man, this album is filled with gospel inspired tracks.

The album opens with "All the tired horses". Just go and fucking experience that song. Close your eyes, breath deep, and listen. Really listen.

Self Portrait is, in my mind, the greatest Dylan album.

I used to *think* I understood Dylan. But listening to Self Portrait, for the first time I *felt* I understood Mr. Zimmerman.

Thanks for reading y'all. Keep safe. You're valuable, you have a right to be here, just as much as anyone else. Just as much as the trees and stars. You matter.

:)

[halfacenturyhigh]

Phil Ochs and Tom Paxton performing at a Broadside hootenanny in New York, 1960s | © Erik Falkensteen

[watcherglowcloud]

introduced my mom to a shit ton of old leftist folk today. winning

[bhvr]

Tom Paxton, Eric Andersen, and Phil Ochs at the Newport Folk Festival in 1964. Photograph by David Gahr.

[folk-enjoyer]

Hi, can I suggest "I had to shoot that rabbit" by Tom Paxton? Thanks!

suggested song history

"I Had to Shoot That Rabbit "

Tom Paxton, 1971

This song was first written in 1968 and then recorded in 1971 by Tom Paxton as the first track on his "How Comes The Sun" album

While this is one of 3 rabbit songs he's recorded, it doesn't have any history or basis as a traditional folk song. It was entirely written and composed by Tom Paxton. This album and the one after it in 1972 did not do well. These Albums also sound very different from the rest of his music, because during this time he was experimenting with elements of folk rock and baroque folk; trying to combine British folk with American jazz and blues. I like these Albums, but Tom Paxton said he wanted to return to a more traditional folk sound.

This song could be a criticism of war or maybe violence? It feels similar to anti-Vietnamwar songs at the time. It's definitely saying something. it also reminds me a lot of this Pete Seeger song "Last Train to Nuremberg", released the same year.

There are literally no covers of this song and barely any information about it and its album, it's a nice song so I hope it gets more attention someday.

[nicklloydnow]

Buy a Gun for Your Son

“I don’t think I feel like applauding, Tom, but it’s a good song.” - Pete Seeger

[str8aura-no-not-that-one]

hey i got another one for ye. "Lyndon Johnson Told The Nation" by Tom Paxton.

DA DRAFT DODGERS RAG GUY????

[holliswoodny]

TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL

There is a lot of social media discussion about kids having no manners, especially offspring who display a lack of civility towards adults and often, their own parents. I hear a lot of squawking from families how “they didn’t learn this from us!” I find that funny. They learned it somewhere, so I’m guessing home is exactly where they learned it. The way you treat your children, each other and the…

[gasstationwomen]

[teddypng]

Tom Paxton on Phil Ochs, 2009

[musiconspotify]

Bluegrass - Sings Paxton (2024) … tribute album …

[electronic-chocolate]

Happy 87th birthday to Tom Paxton🧡🧡🧡

[americanahighways]

Interview: Tom Paxton Talks Clowns, Defining Folk Music, and "Bluegrass Sings Paxton"

Interview: Tom Paxton Talks Clowns, Defining Folk Music, and "Bluegrass Sings Paxton" @txpaxt @americanahighways #americanahighways @hannah_meansshannon #bluegrassplayspaxton #bluegrassclowns #musicianinterviews #folkmusic #bluegrass

Tom Paxton photo by Michael G. Stewart Tom Paxton Talks Clowns, Defining Folk Music, and Bluegrass Sings Paxton Folk artist Tom Paxton’s huge catalog of original music has only very occasionally been taken up by bluegrass musicians, finding emotive avenues to explore his compositions in new ways. But now, the new album Bluegrass Sings Paxton has begun the process of translation and engagement in…

[krispyweiss]

Song Review: Tim O’Brien - “You Took Me In”

Tell someone Tim O’Brien’s “You Took Me In” is a reimagined take on an old spiritual and they’d believe it.

And they’d be wrong.

O’Brien co-wrote this modern bluegrass gospel number with his wife, Jan Fabricius, and Tom Paxton and recorded it with his eponymous Band. The result is an future standard set to traditional bluegrass instrumentation and outfitted with harmonies of praise as O’Brien and his compatriots sing:

Well, I was hungry/and you took me in/well I was cold/and my coat was thin/I was hungry, I was cold and you took me into the fold/you didn’t have to, but you took me in

The track will appear on the forthcoming - no release date - Bluegrass Sings Tom Paxton, a various-artists comp celebrating the folk singer.

“Jan and I came of age listening to and then singing Paxton songs before we ever knew his name,” O’Brien said in a statement. “ … So like a lot of folks, we kinda have Paxton in our musical DNA.”

They didn’t have to, but it was so kind of them to share.

Grade card: Tim O’Brien - “You Took Me In” - A+

5/21/24