Odd how the perspective changes 100km east of Miami, F-L-A. Even at it's peak, the folk genre was still no more than a blip on the commercial charts. Hard to 'come back' if one was never 'there' to begin with.

2:3 of the Almanac Singers' early record labels were run by active Soviet agents. The 'originals' were the non-specific, revolving troupe organized through the New Masses “Progressive Almanac” entertainment column. Up With People with Joe Stalin in the role of Jesus Christ.

They were in on the Nazi's splitting Poland and staying out of The Battles of France & Britain & The Blitz; right up to June, 1941.

The Weavers were greatly toned down Almanacs. No surprise that.

Billboard Year-End Top Singles:
1950 – Gordon Jenkins & The Weavers – #1 Goodnight Irene. Jenkins' solo My Foolish Heart was #22; and he charted twice in '49; and The Jenkin's Chorus is backing the Weaver's cover of Wimoweh.

1951 – The Weavers: #7 – On Top of Old Smoky.

1955 – Elvis took 3 of the top 10, and 5 of the top 15; (Heartbreak Hotel, Don't be Cruel & Hound Dog &c.) Never been done before. Rock & roll scared the trousers off “The Man” on both sides of the Cold War.

Far lefty Pete Seeger jumped into bed with farther right wingnut Adm. Dan Gallery & RCA records. The Yanks responded with… wait for it… calypso and steel drums...?!?

1957 – Harry Belafonte #15 (Day-O)
1957 – The Tarriers #26 (The Banana Boat Song.)
The song was originally sponsored by the British government. Belafonte truly believed he was the 'solution' to the 'problem' of rock & roll.

1958 – Onwards was the vanilla (Neopolitan?) folk era of clean-cut, short-haired, Kingston Trio; Peter, Paul & Mary; Rooftop Singers; Trini Lopez ad nauseum.