The Tarriers haven't gone down in folk music history like
the Kingston Trio or
the Brothers Four, probably because they were never as popular. Perhaps the group's lineup never remained stable long enough, or perhaps the trio's racial mix was too radical for the times. Whatever the reason, it in no way diminishes the Tarriers' musical accomplishments. The style and substance of
Tell the World About This (1959), the group's second album, is similar to the above-mentioned groups, but is in no way derivative. The original
Tarriers, in fact, formed and released their first album in 1957, making the group's sound one of the prototypes for popular revival trios and quartets. And while the Tarriers relied on the same group of folk songs and simple accompaniment as their fellow groups, they also dug a little deeper into the fabric of the material than the typical pop-folk purveyors of the time. There are nice versions of "Bald Headed Woman" and "Take This Hammer," and the trio turns the country-flavored "Dark as a Dungeon" into a fine folk song. The only time the Tarriers sound overly mannered or contrived is when they tackle slow, sincere songs like "Seven Daffodils," a song that would've fit perfectly -- without editing -- on A Mighty Wind soundtrack. This aside, fans will be super glad that
Tell the World About This is back in print. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.