Kingston Trio/Lindsey Buckingham

[jeffles]

The Kingston Trio's influence on LB always interested me. As well, I have enjoyed the collaborations of the two parties.
It started with LB playing (and having a huge hand) on John Stewart's 1979 comeback album. (Stewart was a member of the Trio from '64 to '68) LB continued to play on several of Stewart's records throughout the 80's.
When the Kingston Trio reunited in 1981, the asked Lindsey Buckingham to participate, and he did. I have only seen pictures of the event but have not actually heard anything from that concert. However, John Stewart and Nick Reynolds (a founding member) released an album in 1983 called Revenge of the Budgie which had LB all over it, and the music was great. Around this time, LB contributed a song called "Dancin' Cross the USA", which, I believe, has various members of the Kingston Trio singing harmony.
He also wrote the Liner Notes on the Revenge of the Budgie album.
He wrote:
"The Kingston Trio, with its unique blend of wit, timing and chemistry, was almost solely responsible for the vast popularity of Folk music in the late 50s and 60s. The group provided its audience with a sound and image that was not only original but was also a reaffirmation of the freshness and spontaneity that rock and roll was beginning to lack. For me, although it may have been Elvis or Buddy Holly who initially sparked my musical imagination, it was the Kingston Trio that brought a far more sustaining influence to my guitar style and sense of arrangement and harmony. Nick Reynolds and John Stewart, both with their vocal blend and their personal rapport, were greatly responsible for the sound and spirit of the trio.
When I learned of their plans to reunite for this album and was asked to participate, I was naturally pleased. I was also intrigued because although John and Nick's blend has remained, their musical collaboration has been dormant for 16 years. Yet once the sessions had begun, any initial fears gave way to confidence and a sense of catharsis for all. Every day I was reminded of the importance that personal chemistry plays in the making of good music, and when we were done, I came away feeling privileged to be involved, happy to have been able to give back a small part of that which Nick and John had given me before.
As for the songs, they speak for themselves. They are connected to both new and old. The approach being contemporary, but the vocal blend being familiar. I know you'll enjoy the listening as much as we did the making."
- Lindsey Buckingham 1983