Hootenanny at Carnegie Hall

Drawn from three "hootenanny" concerts held at as benefits for magazine in 1958 and 1959, the LP is a mixed bag of material and tape sources. Highlights include a powerful performance by the of his signature song, ; a comedy routine by the actor impersonating ; and 's rendition of a newly written topical song by satirizing the Ku Klux Klan, not only serves as master of ceremonies, but also performs more than half of the tracks, taking over entirely on the LP's second side. Unfortunately, a clutch of those tracks -- (on which he is accompanied by his half-brother ), and the closer, -- sound like they were recorded from the lobby of , not on the stage. Maybe the intention was to emphasize the sound of the audience singing along, or maybe just couldn't get its microphones to an optimum place, but the effect is to make a chunk of the album sound like a bootleg. ~ William Ruhlmann