In another fine box set series from reissue specialists Bear Family Records, the history of the American folk ballad tradition is chronicled on Troubadours: Folk and the Roots of American Music. From the dawn of the recording era and the rural Appalachian singers of the 1920s through the pop-crossover singer/songwriters of the '70s, the traditions of storytelling, political statements, and personal introspection have remained a common thread throughout folk music's history. Beginning with the Kingston Trio's 1958 recording of "Tom Dooley," the second volume of this series covers the folk revival that led into the '60s, including the rise of Bob Dylan and the beginnings of the Vietnam era. The ensemble folk groups like the Journeymen, Chad Mitchell Trio, and New Christy Minstrels are followed by the early singer/songwriters like Dylan, Phil Ochs, Tom Paxton, Tim Hardin, and Fred Neil. ~ Timothy Monger
