In praise of Tom Paxton

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: topical tom
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 01:21 PM

Thanks for opening this thread. I have been fortunate to have seen Tom perform live many times and each event was a great pleasure. He has written and sung so many moving songs of peace, justice and love that I could never mention them all. There are his classics, "Rambling Boy","The Last Thing On MY Mind" and "The Honor of Your Company", to name but a few.Then there are the "short shelf songs" such as "George W. Bush Told The Nation"(though ,sad to say ,that is still all too pertinent), "I Don't Want a Bunny-wunny in my Widdle Wow Boat",and "Birmingham Sunday".He has also written many children's songs. My granddaughter's favorite was "Don't Slay That Potato". Tom is at the top of my all-time favorite singer-songwriter list. Though I have seen him many times I would never miss an opportunity to see him again.Simply an outstanding artist.

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: Betsy
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 02:19 PM

I haven't read many of the postings above .All I would say (as someone from the UK) you can't praise Tom Paxton highly enough for his contribution to the UK Folk revival .

Good on ya Tom

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 06:40 PM

Topical Tom - "George Bush told the nation" must be one of the longest "Short shelf life songs" ever then, as it was originally written in the 60's as "Lyndon Johnson told the nation" vis-a-vis the Vietnam war, but then Tom re-cycled/updated it himself!
Last saw him in Glasgow this January, where I met several friends afterwards - all with that silly grin of reminiscence and sheer enjoyment on our faces. Seen him 3 times in Scotland over the last 3-4 years after an all-too-long gap of 30+ years!

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: KenM
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 11:45 PM

Last saw Tom in Chicago about two years ago with Cheryl Wheeler....as always a great show!!

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: GUEST,Anne
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 08:34 AM

We, in Scotland, have had the privilege of receiving many visits from Tom. He tells the story of his daughter, while a student in Scotland, telling someone that her father had written 'Last thing on my mind'and being told that this was not true as it was a traditional Scottish song! In the 1960s when the folk revival was in its infancy my brother David, who sang in a group called The Livingstones, brought Tom home for his dinner before a concert. As a youngster, I couldn't quite believe that this was Tom Paxton, sitting with our large family at the kitchen table, having home made soup and chatting easily with us all.

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: Rapparee
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 08:37 AM

He's played all around me but never where I am when I'm there.

I first learned of him from a girl I was dating, way back in 1965/6. Even his short-shelf-life songs resonate later. And his rendition of "Sully's Bucket" continues to be one of my favorites.

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 10:21 AM

Topical Tom,

You mentioned "Birmingham Sunday" as a Tom Paxton song. Although he sang it with Anne Hills on their CD of duets, it was written by Richard Farina.

"The Honor of Your Company," I think is my all-time favorite Paxton song. There are so many other great ones.

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: Newport Boy
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 12:04 PM

Re his short-shelf-life songs, my favourite is the Ballad of Spiro Agnew. It's also his shortest song (unless someone knows better).

Full song follows:


(Guitar intro - 8 bars)

I'll sing of Spiro Agnew, and all the things he's done..
.....


Phil

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: topical tom
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 12:18 PM

GUEST: I stand corrected. Richard Farina did write "Birmingham Sunday". I have the cd "Under American Skies" and was privileged to hear it sung live by Tom and Anne. Another of his "short shelf songs" I like is "John Ashcroft and the Spirit of Justice". What a prolific craftsman of song!

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: KenM
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 01:57 PM

Paxton is an absolute delight on record/cd but especially in concert where that wonderful sense of humor (much like Tom Rush's) is on display. The last time I saw him he did a wonderful paraody of Last Thing on My Mind. Here's how it goes:

Well I met a young girl at a folk club,
Like you do, Like you do,
So I bought her a drink and we chatted,
Wouldn't you? Wouldn't you?
And then after the show, she invited me home
And she said we were two of a kind
Then she played me every record that Tom Paxton ever made
And you know that was the last thing on my mind

One of my favorite Paxton albums is now out of print, "Tom Paxton 6" which has a wonderful collection of songs on it including "Jimmy Neuman", "Cindy's Crying" and a raucous song called "Saturday Night" which is in the same genre as "Wasn't That A Party?" but, I think, much better.

"Not Tonight, Marie" from a 70s album is a real hoot.

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: KenM
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 02:03 PM

BTW.....I think you can download the short-shelf songs from his website.

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: GUEST,aeola
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 02:13 PM

I had the privilege of meeting Tom Paxton at the first of the Coombe Abbey folk fests, as there were very few people there it was quite an intimate atmosphere, especially the workshops. A real 'gent' and excellent artist.

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: kendall
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 02:13 PM

There is, in the works, a new double CD as a tribute to Utah Phillips. There are many performers who have donated a song for the CD, and Tom is one of them. Most of the songs are Utah's, but a few that are not. Pete Seeger wrote one just for the CD. When it is released, the details will be posted here.

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 02:16 PM

Newport Boy,

Sorry, but not his shortest "Short Shelf Life" SOng. He wrote one after George Bush's election (I believe). A brief guitar intro and the word "Shit".

Big RiB

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: Newport Boy
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 03:49 PM

You're right, Roger - I'd forgotten that one.

Phil

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: kendall
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 10:27 PM

And he did that one with such feeling!

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: eddie1
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 04:53 AM

Last year I was involved in making a radio programme with Berkshire Women's Aid with interviews and music. The women and children chose and indeed performed some of the tracks, I chose the rest.
This year, thanks to Mudcat, I discovered this:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=yRn8J3G9GGo

In many ways it would have been perfect for the programme but I would have had great difficulty in continuing,

Eddie

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 07:39 AM

Tough one to watch: turned it into a blue clicky:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=yRn8J3G9GGo

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: kendall
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 07:49 AM

Any male who beats a woman or child is nothing but a goddamn coward. Note that I did not say man.He is not a man.

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: Bill S from Adelaide
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 08:59 AM

Anybody remember him at the first Bardney festival in 71, one man and a guitar holding 30000 people spellbound, I've been a fan forever.
We were invited to the Letterkenny festival in 81 with the cloggies, a great time to represent England during the hunger strikes just after a couple had died. We had no bother except a bit of stirring from a showband which roused nobody. Even in the local IRA bar, we were invited to join "tis a great loife". But there was a tension in the air from the "men with guns".
Tom played the main concert, avoiding any politics except he sang "Peace will come" as an encore. The memory of it still makes my hair stand on end, the whole audience rose and bellowed the song, big Irish farmers and nuns all crying openly, how Tom lasted as long as he did, I don't know, but he left the stage in tears. If you see him, ask him if he remembers it, I'm sure he will. I always will.
That night, every banner and photo in town just went, the fear had gone for a while.

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: topical tom
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 10:35 AM

Just to add a bit that I forgot, although other catters referred to it, Tom can move an audience from tears to joy in a matter of minutes and one still comes away with a happy feeling. Only Eric Bogle and Pete Seeger can do so to such a degree, in my opinion.

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: Celtaddict
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 12:14 PM

I have heard and admired Tom Paxton songs for years, of course, but on Sunday night I had the privilege of hearing him live in concert for the first time. He participated in a special concert at The Bitter End in Greenwich Village, with Liam Clancy; Odetta and Oscar Brand were among the other performers. I saw him around before the concert and kept thinking I should know who he was. I was already a fan of his songs (I believe Judy Collins wrote about a man who could write both a good love song and a hard-hitting protest song) but was absolutely dazzled when he was onstage. Dazzled seems an odd word, since he was very lowkey, personable, as if he were singing to me in my own kitchen, but dazzled I was.

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: Newport Boy
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 01:14 PM

You're right about Tom seeming to perform to you personally.

We saw Tom at Colston Hall in Bristol (2000 seats) - we were in row 5 of the stalls. My daughter was about 5, so that makes it 1967 or 68. Tom sang The Marvellous Toy, finishing quietly on guitar, and Cathy stood up and announced in piping tone, "My Daddy sings that song".

Tom smiled and gave a little bow to me, while our 7-year-old son covered his head in embarrassment.

Cathy reminded him of the incident in 2005, and he was good enough to pretend to remember.

Phil

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 04:42 PM

"I love those dear hearts and gentle people," of whom Tom Paxton is definitely one. Though I had heard his music and performed a number of his songs over the years, I had not seen him perform until about three years ago at the University of California San Diego campus. He appeared with Mike Seeger and the dreaded Louden Wainwright III.

I say "dreaded" only because with "Loud," you're never quite sure what happens next. Funny guy. It was a great show by all, including one exceptional blues singer whose name escapes me. Tom and Mike stayed afterward for a long time, chatting, autographing and, of course, selling. Tom was such an approachable and thoroughly likeable person that everyone went home feeling like they had just made a new friend. Perhaps they had.

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 04:58 PM

The blues man was John Hammond. Powerful performer. Senior moment.

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: Colin Randall
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 01:31 AM

Tom has a fan in Abu Dhabi, too.

And before this marvellous thread slips from view for another eight years, that fan would like to say that his own memories of seeing and once meeting Tom have been stirred by other people's reminscences here.
I can hardly believe that when I first went to see him, all of 35 years ago in Durham (UK), I half-expected to find it a bore, having persuaded myself that I'd grown out of him, that he was no longer relevant, however much I'd liked him before. I am delighted to say that I was completely wrong; the concert was outstanding and Tom's performance - with all its humour, romance, commitment to social justice and sheer class - won me over anew.

I hope no one minds that I have reproduced a few of the comments from here in my own tribute to Tom, posted at some unearthly hour this morning at
Salut! Live

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: KenM
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 03:48 PM

I'm primarily an academic administrator these days but back in the day when I was more active as a classroom instructor in social work degree programs, "She Sits on the Table" was required listening im my classes. So was another song from the same album whose title eludes me but it was about a mentally challenged boy. I remember a line of the chorus went, " he may be slow but he's right on time..."

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: GUEST,A friend
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 04:02 PM

KenM,

The song is "He May Be Slow."

He May Be Slow

Subject: RE: In praise of Tom Paxton
From: Wesley S
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 04:18 PM

It appears that "He May Be Slow" is from this recording. That ANOTHER Tom Paxton song I'll have to learn.

The Paxton Report