The Kingston Trio got serious on this, their attempt to compete in the new era of topical folk songs. The opening track, "The Patriot Game," is a dead giveaway, introducing songs about the lot of coal miners ("Coal Tattoo"), the less fortunate among us ("Hobo's Lullaby"),
Woody Guthrie's "Deportee," social justice ("Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream"), and the deceased
John F. Kennedy ("Song for a Friend"). The group's sound works even in this setting, though their approaches to some of the songs do seem odd together -- their twangy, upbeat version of
Rod McKuen's "Seasons in the Sun" feels inappropriate next to more reflective versions (including the hit by Terry Jacks) that have appeared since. ~ Bruce Eder