2026 Obit: Randy Burns

Subject: Obit: Randy Burns
From: Thomas Stern
Date: 17 Aug 26 - 08:10 PM

960s Acid-Folk Pioneer Who Inherited Bob Dylan's Legendary New York Stage Dies at 78
Parade
Clara Awuse
Sun, August 16, 2026 at 2:51 PM EDT
0

Randy Burns, a fixture of the 1960s Greenwich Village folk scene, died on August 8, 2026, at his home. He was 78. No cause of death has been reported.

Burns grew up in New Haven, Connecticut, and started performing in local coffee houses at 17. By 1966, he’d moved to Greenwich Village, where he busked on the street before Gaslight Cafe owner Clarence Hood took notice and hired him as the venue’s permanent opening act. It was the same MacDougal Street stage Bob Dylan had played and recorded on just a few years earlier.

At only 18, Burns found himself opening for artists he’d grown up listening to, including Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs, Dave Van Ronk and John Hammond. ESP-Disk label owner Bernard Stollman eventually invited him to record, and Burns released his debut album, Of Love and War, in 1967.

He kept building from there, fronting Randy Burns and the Sky Dog Band and blending folk with country-rock and psychedelic touches. The press took notice. Rolling Stone wrote, “Nobody, but nobody, sings anything like Randy Burns.” Billboard said his voice “wraps the listener in a pool of contentment,” and the Los Angeles Times called him “the best country flavored rock singer since Gram Parsons.”


The band’s reputation carried them to some of the biggest stages of the era. Burns opened for Cream at Yale’s Woolsey Hall, shared a bill with Buddy Guy at the Berkeley Folk Festival, and played the Hollywood Bowl alongside the Smothers Brothers.

Success didn’t always come with stability. For years, Burns was essentially homeless, traveling light between gigs and stashing bags of clothes at the venues where he played most often. A residency at Kenny’s Castaways eventually led to a touring stint in Dublin, Ireland, where he played two years running.

Burns never fully stepped away from music. He kept performing and recording for decades afterward, staying close to the acid-folk sound he helped define, right up until his death.

This story was originally published by Parade on Aug 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section.

Subject: RE: Obit: Randy Burns
From: Thomas Stern
Date: 17 Aug 26 - 08:47 PM

Some of Randy Burns albums.
Please add any additions/corrections.
Thanks, Thomas.

ESP-DISK ESP 1039                            LP 1966 stereo
many reissues
Of Love And War
A1 1 All You've Done for Me (Randy Burns) 2:28
A2 2 Thirsty Boots (Eric Anderson) 4:31
A3 3 I Like to Sleep Late in the Morning (David Blue) 2:01
A4 4 Thoughts of Spring (Randy Burns) 2:54
A5 5 Coming of the Roads (Billy Edd Wheeler) 2:47
A6 6 Civil War Medley (Traditional) 6:38

B1 7 No Change in Me (Tom Ghent) 4:05
B2 8 Farewell from a Rambler (Randy Burns) 2:04
B3 9 Sour Grapes (Tom Ghent) 2:42
B4 10 Time of Parting (Jim McGrath) 4:20
B5 11 That's the Way It's Happened All the Time (Bill Staines) 2:49
B6 12 Mr. War (Irene Paul) 3:19


ESP-Disk ESP 1089                                     LP 1968 stereo
Fontana (UK) STL 5520 [888 804 TY]                      LP 1968
ESP/ZYX (G) eSP 1089-2                                  CD 1993
ESP Denmark                                             CD 1993
ENABLING WORKS 003                                  LP 20xx 180gram

Evening of the Magician
Randy Burns, guitar; Mat Kastner, organ, piano;
John O'Leary, percussion;
Bruce Samuels, bass, flute.
all songs written by Randy Burns
engineering Herb Abramson
Recorded spring, 1968

A1 1. Evening Magician 2:47
A2 2. Echoes of Mary's Song 4:13
A3 3. Ron's Song 3:02
A4 4. You've got all of Love Standing at your Door 4:24
A5 5. Susan your Mind's got Wings 3:42
B1 6. Girl from England 4:02
B2 7. Rainy Day Children 4:28
B3 8. Lady Rain Again 3:15
B4 9. Springtime Song 3:53
B5 10. When Daylight Comes in Everything 3:52


ESP-Disk ESP-2007                                 LP 1970
ESP/ZYX(G)   ESP 2007-2                           CD 1993
ESP(Denmark)                                     CD 1993

SONG FOR AN UNCERTAIN LADY
RANDY BURNS and the SKY DOG BAND

all songs by Randy Burns
A1-A5 Mark Recording Studios, Los Angeles
A6-B6 NOLA Studios, NYC; Roy Ramirez superstereo

Randy Burns, vocal, lead guitar; Matt Kastner, guitar, piano, celeste;
John O'Leary, drums A side; Bruce Samuels, flute, piano on Song for an Uncertain Lady, electric and
acoustic bass; A.J. Mulhearn, background harmonies side b; Bergert Roberts, cosmic tambourine and
zulu drum; Carolyn Marks "oohs"; Bob Sheehan, drums; Andy "Doc" Merwin, lead guitar on DEEGAN STREET
and SORROW'S CHILDREN.

A1 1. Sorrow's Children 2:22 2:44;
A2 2. Autumn On Your Mind 3:30 4:02;
A3 3. Song For An Uncertain Lady 4:10 4:46;
A4 4. if you just Let Tomorrow Be 3:00 3:28;
A5 5. Only Time Will Make You See 1:50 2:03;
A6 6. Maybelline 2:55 3:20;
B1 7. Lisa 3:15                                 3:40;
B2 8. The One I Thought Was There 1:55 3:21;
B3 9. Child For Now 6:00 6:42;
B4 10 waiting for an old friend 3:00 7:12
       randy's song 3:30
B5 11 deegan street 4:00


download
LIVE DOGS 1970                        download
RANDY BURNS and the Skydog Band            
1 Walkin Down The Line
2 These Days
3 Streets of Montreal
4 You're No Good
5 Cape Cod Girls
6 Sittin' On The Back Porch
7 Seventeen Years on the River
8 Child For Now
9 Christmas Lights



MERCURY SR 61329                                 LP 1971 stereo
Randy Burns and the Sky Dog Band

Randy Burns, lead vocals, acoustic guitar;
Bruce Samuels, vocals, bass;
Matt Kastner, vocals, electric guitar, piano; John O'Leary, drums;
(Sky Puppy) A.J. Mulhern, background vocals.
With David Bromberg guesting on *dobro & **bottleneck
Oz, piano +
songs by R.Burns except A3, A4.
Side 1:
A1 August Woman 2:33
A2 Seventeen Years on the River 4:32
A3 Livin' in the Country (C.Herrick) 3:30
A4 The Streets of Montreal (B.Farquahr) 2:52
A5 Merrilee   3:15
Side 2:
B1 Life's Begun 4:20
B2 Blue Line 2:05 * +
B3 To the Women of My Life 3:15
B4 Song to Vermont 4:02
B5 Waiting for an Old Friend 3:32 **

mercury 73198                            7" 45rpm 1971
Livin’ In The Country / Seventeen Years On The River



POLYDOR PD 5030 [2391 037]                           LP 1972 stereo
I'M A LOVER, NOT A FOOL
Randy Burns
Skydog Band:
Matt Kastner, guitar; Bruce Samuels, bass; A.J.Mulhern, percussion, background vocal on ROCKY ROAD.
Stray Dogs:
Bill Keith, steel guitar; Kenny Kosek, fiddle; Tommy (Fat Fingers) Sellers, piano; Tom Sellers, string arrangements.
Background vocals by Yasha Thomas, Carl Caldwell, Hilda Harris, Allan Nicholls.

Produced by Barry Seidel
all songs by Randy Burns except A3, B3, B4.

A1. Hold on 3:20
A2. I'm a lover not a fool 3:00   
A3. Shes no good (Jesse Fuller) 2:01
A4. Seasons 4:15   
A5. Country rain 2:06   
A6. Lady rain again 2:56
B1. Circle of joy 3:40
B2. Lisa 3:57
B3. Sing out (Bruce Samuels) 2:58
B4. Rocky road (Dardanella) 1:49
B5. Christmas lights 3:35


POLYDOR 14143                            7" 45rpm mono
Hold On



POLYDOR PD 5049 [2391 070]                     LP 1973 stereo
RANDY BURNS and the Sky Dog Band
Still On Our Feet

Skydog Band:
Matt Kastner, guitar, background vocals; David Tweedy, keyboards, background vocals;
Bruce Samuels, bass, background vocals; David Mohn, drums, percussion, background vocals;
A.J. Mulhern, vocal harmonies, percussion.
supported by:
Paul Prestopino, acoustn guitar, banjo; Victor Matson, alto sax; Ray Baretto, congas;
Seymour Barab, cello.

Produced by Mark Abramson
inner sleeve - song titles and credits

A1. Radio song (Randy Burns) 2:12
A2. Waverly road (David Tweedy) 3:03
A3. Mary ann (Randy Burns) 3:05
A4. Time of parting (Jim cGrath) 4:10
A5. Pick the song (David Tweedy) 3:55
A6. Babe's blues (Randy Burns) 2:46   
B1. Life's begun (Randy Burns) 4:06   
B2. Better things (Randy Burns) 2:02
B3. Darcy Farrow (Tom Campbell/Steve Gillette) 2:11   
B4. Colorado ((Randy Burns) 2:20
B5. Hold on Maria (Randy Burns) 2:09
B6. Seventeen Years on the River (Randy Burns) 4:46



MERCURY 73198                            7"-45rpm
Livin In Country / 17 Years On


PICKET FENCE                              cassette 1991
The Cat's Pajamas
Burns on acoustic guitar and vocals
Matt Kastner second acoustic guitar, steel guitar, bass and vocals. Phil Rosenthal mandolin on two songs.

“Liela”
“The Farm Song”
“Dirty Old Town,”
“Patty Reilly”
“Go To Sea Once More”
“One Too Many Mornings”
“Just Like Tom Thumbs Blues”
“The Last Thing On My Mind,”
“The Last Waltz”
“Farewell My Friend”
????


The Simple Things (2009)             CD-R 2009
1 Right Around You 4:41
2 Sad Irish Tunes 2:46
3 17 Years on the River    4:29
4 Crazy In Her Eyes         4:01
5 Rock and Roll Slowly      5:11
6 The Farm Song             4:17         
7 Leila                3:17
8 The Simple Things    2:53
9 Jesus and the Late Night Girls   4:03
10 Autumn On Your Mind   3:46
11 Canadian Dancer       6:47
12 Waiting For An Old Friend   3:19


Hobos and Kings                         CD 2010
1. Hobos and Kings
2. In the Beginning
3. Berts Blues
4 Everytime We Say Goodbye
5. Some Things Just Happen
6. Rompin’ Rovin’ Days
7. The Love She Found In Me
8. Cry On My Shoulder
9. Always You
10. Old Fashion Christmas
11. Hobo's Lullaby
12. The Parting Glass

Produced by Rob Taube, recorded at Bad Dad Studios in Brooklyn, New York.
Randy Burns - acoutic guitar and vocals
Rob Taube - piano, bass and electric guitar



The Exit & Gaslight Years 1965-1969         FORMAT DATE ?????

1. Evening Of The Magician
2. Echo Of Mary's Song
3. Ron's Song
4. Standing At Your Door
5. Hey Susan, Your Mind's Got Wings
6. Girl From England
7. When Daylight Comes In Everything
8. Autumn On Your Mind
9. Song For An Uncertain Lady
10. Maybelline (listen)
11. Any Tuesday In The Rain
12. Waiting For An Old Friend/ Africa
13. Deegan Street

Improved Sequence IMP072                LP 18/11/2022
The Exit and Gaslight Years 1965-69
Randy Burns
1-1 Evening of the Magician
1-2 Echos of Mary's Song
1-3 Standing at Your Door
1-4 Girl from England
1-5 When Daylight Comes in Everything
1-6 Song for an Uncertain Lady
1-7 Ron's Song
1-8 Autumn On Your Mind
1-9 Maybeline
1-10 Any Tuesday in the Rain
1-11 Waiting for an Old Friend/Africa
1-12 Deegan Street



"The Best Of Randy Burns & The Skydog Band"    CD DATE ?????
1. August Woman
2. Merrilee
3. Blue Line
4. To The Women Of My Life
5. Seasons
6. Lady Rain Again
7. Circle Of Joy
8. Lisa
9. Rocky Road
10. Christmas Lights
11. Maryann
12. Time Of Parting (J. McGrath)
13. Life's Begun
14. Better Things
15. Darcy Farrow (S. Gilette)
16. Hold On Maria
17. Seventeen Years On The River


Wildcat                         download / CD
Live Dogs 1970               
Randy Burns & The Sky Dog Band
New Haven (CT) Folk Festival, August 1970. recorded by Joe Phillips
"Christmas Lights" as a duet with Skydog background vocalist, A.J. Mulhern, recorded at the Enormous Room Coffeehouse at Yale University in 1970..


Only Fools Never Try

WILDCAT                      CD   WAS THIS EVER ISSUED ?????
Only Fools Never Try
"Folk album I always wanted to make".
Contains originals,
"Jesus Loves The Late Night Girls",
"The Farm Song" and "At The End Of The Night" and
"The Marriage Song".
It also includes unique interpretations of Contemporary and Traditional Folk standards.
Burns is backed by his longtime guitarist, Matthew Kastner and a host of others.