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In the early 1950s the Weavers were one of the very first groups to revive interest in American folk music among the wider popular market, sparking a movement which continued into the 1960s. With Pete Seeger among their number, and with their roots in the controversial war and labour protest songs of the 1940s and the beginnings of the civil rights movement, they were hounded by the McCarthy-ite blacklist campaign despite their broad cultural base, so their career during the 1950s was somewhat disjointed. This 111-track 4-CD set features A and B sides of their singles for the Charter, Hootenany and Decca labels from these years, plus titles from their albums “The Weavers At Carnegie Hall”, “On Tour”, “Travellin’ On”, “Folk Songs Around The World”, “The Weavers At Home” & “The Weavers Almanac”. It features their US No. 1 “Goodnight Irene”, the No. 2s “Tzena, Tzena, Tzena” and “On Top Of Old Smokey”, and other hits including “So Long (It’s Been Good To Know You”, “Kisses Sweeter Than Wine”, “The Roving Kind”, “Midnight Special “ and more. Their repertoire ranges across traditional folk songs from the USA, the UK and around the world, plus songs from social, ethnic and political movements, so it’s a fascinating and entertaining showcase for one of the most important and influential groups in the history of folk.
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