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  • The Sinking Of The Reuben James


    Added on Wednesday 31 December 2008 06:55:19
    by CompVid101
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    Arguably the best vocal group of the popular folk revival of the late 1950s through the mid 1960s was the Chad Mitchell Trio. Each member of the group - Chad Mitchell, Mike Kobluk, and Joe Frazier - was a formally trained singer with chorale/vocal experience prior to their assembling as a trio. They received the most notice for their trenchant satirical and political songs, and for introducing the compositions of songwriter Tom Paxton to a wide audience. But the CMT also had a wonderful way with traditional folk material, as this rendition of the Woody Guthrie classic set to "Wildwood Flower" stirringly attests. Kobluk, Mitchell, and Frazier still do concerts and recordings as of 2009, one of the few groups from that era that still performs with its original members.

    A complete discussion of the song with other recorded versions appears in the blog associated with this YT channel, Comparative Video 101, here:

    http://compvid101.blogspot.com/2009/01/what-were-their-names-woody-guthries.html



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  • highlandpaddy1

    The USS Reuben James was DD-245. I'm sure the captain of the guided missle frigate (FFG-57) named for the first Reuben James knows about his ship's namesake. As for the liberal business, Woody Guthrie was a "card-carrying" liberal who wrote this song for the purpose of encouraging America to fight the Nazis. The Reuben James was sunk BEFORE Pearl Harbor. It was the first American warship sunk during WWII.
    Tuesday 22 November 2011 21:31:13
  • capt777737

    USS Reuben James is a US Navy Destroyer FFG-57 I sent the captain of the ship the KT version of the song.
    Wednesday 09 November 2011 10:00:20
  • newbiemodder

    ....the last day of October when they saved the 44...
    Monday 31 October 2011 09:33:59
  • duvessa2003

    Tannenberg, I love your sarcasm. I don't think the problem is liberalism, per se, or even pacifism. Living in fear is the problem. Free country? Hah! Everything has turned so, well GAY!. No, folks, I have zero problem with homosexuals-before I get a bunch of angry responses- but I truly don't know any more politically correct expression that cuts it. And that's another problem: People using political correctness to veil their contempt. I'd rather just have it out in the open...
    Tuesday 28 June 2011 22:00:36
  • Tannenberg71410

    Yeah, how many kids nowadays will ever have heard of the Good Reuben James? I doubt that the powers-to-be in our public school system would ever allow the story of the heroic sailors of the Reuben James to be told. After all, they were on a WAR ship, and had real GUNS to FIGHT the BAD GUYS. You tell stories like this to our kids and the next thing you know they'll want to play DODGE BALL, or BATTLE BALL or throw SNOWBALLS, and how can you raise nice pacifistic liberals like that?
    Thursday 23 June 2011 15:55:17
  • azindn

    Thank you for posting this great rendition.
    Saturday 11 June 2011 17:47:51
  • CompVid101

    @muayen - That would be Paul Prestopino, who still plays with the group when they perform today, as they do a dozen times or so a year.
    Saturday 23 April 2011 22:41:49
  • muayen

    lovely banjo...
    Saturday 23 April 2011 16:44:06
  • jefffing

    The best of the bunch!
    Wednesday 09 March 2011 21:29:30
  • RPenta

    Beautiful clean singing by my favorite American folk group of all time; ah, if they only would have had a concert with the Dubliners!
    Monday 17 January 2011 20:19:12
  • kayjay83

    @crazyman8472 USS Reuban James - US navy destroyer sunk by Germany before Peal Harbor
    Sunday 21 November 2010 00:02:49
  • Quigs1599

    @crazyman8472 In the first line of the song.."Have you heard of a ship called the good Reuben James?"
    Tuesday 28 September 2010 18:23:47
  • CompVid101

    @crazyman8472 - LOL Crazy! There's a full explanation on the website listed in the song notes. Short version - RJ was a badass sailor during the War of 1812 who has had three destroyers named after him. The one in this song was sunk by a U-boat in the North Atlantic a few weeks before Pearl Harbor.
    Friday 17 September 2010 22:10:34
  • crazyman8472

    What the devil is a Reuben James?
    Friday 17 September 2010 19:46:17
  • KENZOWAL

    Wow, this must be a strong candidate for the most patriotic American song ever.
    Sunday 05 September 2010 14:23:19
  • layman2003

    I like the Kingston trio a bit better, both are great!!!!
    Tuesday 17 August 2010 17:57:58
  • justasinger54

    @jmark50 ditto my friend, can't beat Shane, Reynolds and Stewart on this one. the kingstons were THE folk group of their era, no group was tighter and cleaner....keep on....justasinger54
    Wednesday 23 June 2010 12:16:41
  • MsCryptoknight

    Almost fifty years and I am still sometimes stunned at the balance and texture they had as a trio. First concert I ever drove to myself was when they were touring behind Rhymes for the Irreverent. Big maturity moment. Plus I was crushing on Joe.
    Tuesday 27 April 2010 22:21:17
  • Blinkymyt

    Always loved The Chad Mitchells. Never heard this version; right up there with "No More Cane On The Brazos". Five plus close-harmony stars. Cordially, John
    Sunday 21 February 2010 19:27:36
  • capt777737

    KT's song is a rousing anthem, very powerful guitars and vocals. This song needs to be sung loudly. this one is just as great. I sent the KT and Highwaymen versions to USS Reuben James FFG-57 to have them add it to their site. First time I heard this one and it's saved as well. I'm a well accomplished musician myself in various instruments GOT TIME TO BREATHE: TOT TIME FOR MUSIC ....................................................BRISCOE DARLING (THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW) I ALSO PLAY JUG BASS
    Saturday 16 January 2010 21:32:41
  • ogrecat

    Grew up with these guys.
    Thursday 24 December 2009 00:21:37
  • clbill

    Let's not forget Woody Guthrie who wrote it, the first version included the names of the men who died that day but he thought the song too long and a bit boring in that context and substituted the "what were their names" chorus instead...
    Friday 02 October 2009 21:25:18
  • jnf91

    The photo is Prestopino and Ander-who now goes by David instead of Jacob. Same guitar and banjo as on "Reflecting"-bass is different.
    Friday 02 October 2009 20:58:00
  • CompVid101

    I completely agree - the version on Close Up is the ultimate KT number - uptempo, banjo, great vocals- the works.
    Saturday 19 September 2009 01:12:33
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