The Kingston Trio's 1969 Double Live Album Once Upon A Time Reissued

Press release
Source: conqueroo / Cary Baker

In Collectors’ Choice Music’s quest to become the reissue home of folk legends the Kingston Trio, the label is readying two live CDs from the group’s final live tour in 1966. The label will reissue Once Upon a Time, recorded live at the Sahara Tahoe in Lake Tahoe, Nevada in 1966. And as a bonus for Kingston fans, Collectors’ Choice has assembled a previously unreleased sequel to Once Upon a Time called Twice Upon a Time. The two will be released on January 29, 2008.

Once Upon a Time contains all 20 songs from the original double vinyl LP. Twice Upon a Time adds an additional 18 previously unreleased live songs to the mix, plus a never-before-seen video of Bob Dylan’s composition “Tomorrow Is a Long Time.”

Originally intended as the parting vinyl shot from their farewell tour, yet shelved until 1969, Once Upon a Time was issued on the small, now-defunct Tetragrammaton label (also the home of John Lennon & Yoko Ono’s Two Virgins, comedy albums by label co-owner Bill Cosby and the first Deep Purple album). The album was the Kingston Trio’s final charting record, reaching #163. The original gatefold collage, photos and liner notes have been preserved on the reissue.

The trio at that point featured Nick Reynolds, Bob Shane and John Stewart. The trio seized the opportunity to honor Bob Dylan with “One Too Many Mornings” and the Weavers with “Goodnight Irene.” Also included are their classic hits: “Tom Dooley,” “M.T.A,” “Scotch & Soda” and “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” Studio gems such as “Getaway John,” “The Tijuana Jail” and “I’m Going Home” are included alongside the live work. Finally, the album contains four comedy segments by the Trio’s John Stewart (move over Jon Stewart!) including the infamous “Silicone Bust.”

Grammy® nominated reissue producer Ron Furmanek worked his audio restoration magic for this Collectors’ Choice reissue, which is the album’s first licensed Compact Disc release following a rash of inferior bootlegs.

But the story doesn’t end there. Collectors’ Choice found 18 additional tracks culled from the same 1966 series of live performances that wouldn’t fit onto the Once Upon a Time album and formed the basis of the never-before-released Twice Upon a Time. Included are outstanding renditions of “They Call The Wind Maria,” “Little Maggie.” “The Merry Minuet,” “Reuben James” and “Hanna Lee,” plus Tom Paxton’s “Where I’m Bound” and Stewart’s own “The Spinnin’ On Top of the World” and “Hit and Run.” Following some hilarious false starts (including an exit by Stewart), the Kingstons turn in a fine version of Eric Anderson’s “Thirsty Boots” as well as alternate live takes of “Hard Traveling,” “Good Night Irene” and “When The Saints Go Marching In.” The album also contains of “Tom Dooley” and “Greenback Dollar,” which is different from the one on Once Upon a Time. Finally, the album includes a dynamic bonus video of the Trio performing Bob Dylan’s “Tomorrow is a Long Time.” Recaptured in rich stereo by Furmanek, the Kingston Trio’s Twice Upon a Time more than holds its own as a companion disc to Once Upon a Time.

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