It has been nearly 5 years since this thread closed. But today I played a compilation record put out by Decca in the 1960s. It contains Goodnight Irene sung by the Weavers with full orchestra by Gordon Jenkins. A few years ago, I heard Tzena, Tzena and Old Smokey similarly orchestrated, on a radio show raising money for the local PBS station. I told them I'd pledge if they promised never to play those versions again. They didn't honor their promise.

Which leads to the old adage, every cloud has a silver lining. If Pete had not faced HUAC, and the ensuing blacklisting, the Weavers, may have gone on to sing I Left my Heart in San Francisco, or become 3 Lads and a Lass! Alas!

Question. Did the Weavers actually perform with the orchestra, or did Jenkins just overlay the basic Weavers' tracks?