The Wolfe Tones' first album is still considered by many fans to be their best. Certainly it's a strong start to their canon; many bands' first albums find the group in an unformed stage, yet to hit upon their characteristic blend of ingredients, but from the opening song, "The Snowy-Breasted Pearl," onwards, the Wolfe Tones' mix of political passions, traditional Irish folk forms, and spirited group vocals is well-established. Considerably less twee than most similar groups of the time, the Wolfe Tones nonetheless retain the frisky spirit of groups like
the Young Dubliners, with their explicitly political tunes and Irish Republican sympathies on display in tunes like the standards "John Connolly" and "Come Out Ye Black and Tans," both of which would remain staples of their repertoire for the rest of their careers.
Let the People Sing is not only one of the Wolfe Tones' finest albums, it's arguably the best Irish folk album of the '60s. ~ Stewart Mason