This is the first of a projected two-volume set by singer/songwriter
Eric Andersen showcasing the songs of his youth, by some of its best-known as well as all-but-forgotten songwriters from the New York Greenwich Village scene of the early- to mid-'60s. There are modern versions of classics, like
Buffy Sainte-Marie's "Universal Soldier,"
Bob Dylan's "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall,"
Tim Hardin's "Misty Roses,"
Fred Neil's "The Other Side of This Life," and
Phil Ochs' "I Ain't Marching Anymore." There are tunes that are now considered obscure, too, such as
Paul Siebel's "Louise,"
David Blue's "These 23 Days in September,"
Patrick Sky's "Many a Mile," Peter La Farge's "Johnny Half-Breed." There's also a pair of originals, in the title track and "Waves of Freedom." Interestingly, in spite of all this company, the most convincing tune on the set is "Waves of Freedom" by
Andersen himself. ~ Thom Jurek