Pete Seeger’s Rainbow Quest – New Lost City Ramblers & Greenbriar Boys (1965/66 Season)

 

Picture: C     Sound: C     Extras: D     Episodes: B each

 

 

Continuing to look at the pure music television of Pete Seeger, we continue with more episodes of his Rainbow Quest series in two shows that feature The New Lost City Ramblers and Greenbriar Boys.  Along with Mike Seeger, the band also includes Tracy Schwartz and John Cohen, performing the following:

 

Stone Rag

Man Of Constant Sorrow

Cuckoo Bird

Arkansas Sheik

Soldier & The Lady

Hawkins Rag

Orange Blossom Special

I Will Never Marry (with Pete Seeger)

Ragtime Annie medley with Pete Seeger

 

 

Then comes The Greenbriar Boys, offering the following:

 

Sally Goodin

Wabash Cannonball (with Pete Seeger)

Danville Girl

Blues (My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me)

Our Festival Of Flowers (Pete Seeger solo)

Bear Creek Hop

Roll On Baby

Dink’s Song (Pete Seeger solo)

Little Birdie

Stewball

Midnight Special

 

 

It should also be repeated that Seeger begins each show with his own talk and music medley.  Rainbow Quest is a series that holds up remarkably well a half-century later.  The full frame 1.33 x 1 monochrome show was shot on early videotape and will remind one of early public television, all holding up well here.  The tape has some streaks on occasion, but it’s not bad.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono also shows its age, but is clear enough to enjoy the music.  Maybe some kind of remastering could be done down the line, but that depends on the condition of the masters.  There is text on the back of each DVD, but the discs are completely void of extras.  Hope we see more volumes.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo