At 89

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At 89
Manufacturer: Appleseed Records
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Product Description
On At 89, iconic folk musician and activist Pete Seeger's first CD since the Grammy-nominated 2003 Seeds: The Songs of Pete Seeger, Vol. 3 2-CD set, the peaceful warrior for human dignity surveys the progress that's been made in his lifetime and what still needs to be done to create a society of equals and to assure continued world survival.

Lovingly sequenced by producer/musician David Bernz, At 89 segues similarly themed songs into organic suites, using brief solo instrumentals and spoken introductions by Pete as links. Of the CD's 32 tracks, 26 have never been previously recorded by Pete. After the opening amble of Pete's "Nameless Banjo Riff," 89-year-old Seeger acknowledges on "False From True" that he's now of an age when it's time to reassess what's left to do - separating false from true, more important now than ever in this age of misinformation. He is joined on the next few songs of welcome and fellowship by the voices of his fellow Hudson River Valley, New York, musicians and friends, who are also heard singing and making music throughout the CD, adding to its sense of community. Among the contributing musicians are the members of Work o' the Weavers, a quartet (which includes Bernz) devoted to the repertoire and spirit of Pete's long gone but much-loved group; the Walkabout Clearwater Chorus; the After Hours Quartet; the Hudson River Sloop Singers, and other guests.

"The Water is Wide," a soothing duet between recorder and 12-string guitar, both played by Pete, provides the transition to the next set of songs ("It's a Long Haul," "Throw Away That Shad Net," "Song of the World's Last Whale," "If It Can't Be Reduced," "The First Settlers"), which address two of Pete's leading concerns - ecology and peaceful coexistence. The tragic uselessness of war ("When I Was Most Beautiful," "Bach at Treblinka") is lightened by a version of The Weavers' old favorite, "Tzena, Tzena, Tzena," that adds a hopeful mingling of recently added Arabic lyrics to the existing verses in Hebrew and English. The last segment of the CD circles back to the dangers of blind obedience (a new rendition of the Vietnam, and now Iraq, War parable, "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy"), and the need for personal involvement to save our planet from ourselves ("Or Else!" "Arrange and Re-arrange," "If This World Survives"). There's a particularly poignant moment on "Little Fat Baby" when Pete confronts his own mortality: "Some day, we'll be saying so long/Some day, it'll be time for me to move on").

But that day hasn't yet arrived. Pete is still sowing the seeds of peace and justice, whether inspiring Bruce Springsteen to carry on his legacy of musical tradition and personal activism or getting a classroom of school kids to sing songs in other languages. Like Tom Joad or Joe Hill, when there are wrongs to be righted or victories, however small, to be celebrated in the war between good and evil, that's where we'll always find Pete Seeger: in the flesh - leading a singalong - or in our hearts.

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Customer Reviews
He's Still Got It!
 
Review Date: August 2, 2010
Reviewer: Clayton A. Peak, Palmyra, MO
At 89 years old (at the time of recording in 2008), Pete proves that he still has the same magic he's had all throughout his long career. These are all new recordings. Some songs have been around awhile, while others were recently written. I especially appreciate the narrative Pete provides along with the music. As Pete would tell us, every song tells a story. Without the story, some songs don't make much sense. So when you hear Pete tell the story behind these songs, the experience is much more enjoyable. I highly recommend this disc.
Spend an hour with a good-hearted sage
 
Review Date: September 8, 2009
Reviewer: R. Kyle, USA
I think it's his good heart that keeps him so young. Pete Seeger hardly sounds 60 on this recording, let alone 89. With his typical generosity, Seeger's shared his birthday with us and we get the hour-long present to enjoy. You can't help but feel better after listening to the stories and songs here. I refuse to call this a coda, but perhaps just a pause to reflect on a life very well lived and causes very well served.

The CD starts out on an upbeat note with "Nameless Banjo Riff." From there, we shift to a bluesy "False from True." While the second song refers to Governor Wallace, no truer notes were sounded even today.

The songs here are definitely a history of the progressive movements Seeger's supported, including "Visions of Children", an anthem written for the Green Guerillas who protested New York's Mayor Guiliani's selling of some of the city's public gardens. "The Long Haul" talks about Clearwater, a group which takes kids out on a sailboat teaching kids music, history, and political activism.

Of course, there's Seeger's continuing efforts to unify diverse peoples through song. "Tzena, Tzena, Tzena" was a popular World War II song originally written by a man in an Israeli regiment. This CD has the song not only in Hebrew, but English and Arabic as well.

What's great about this CD is the more you listen, the more you learn. Each new iteration gives you a different look at both the man and the history he influenced. What a lovely tribute to a life well lived and a heart open and well-used.

Rebecca Kyle, September 2009





Pete at 89 CD
 
Review Date: July 8, 2009
Reviewer: Linda D. Moore,
I love my Pete at 89 CD. It's a wonderful epitaph to a musical genius. It came so fast. I couldn't say enough good things about the process, accept thank you again! Linda Moore
Still Fabulous !
 
Review Date: March 31, 2009
Reviewer: B. Lewis, Chenango Forks
Pete Seeger's new album just confirms how wonderful he is. He combines his philosophy of life, his love of social equality, and his love of music in this album with songs and spoken dialogue. He is an amazing man. This album is worth the purchase.
The man still has what it takes!
 
Review Date: March 11, 2009
Reviewer: Kaye Ragland, Tujunga, CA
The wonderful, amazing Pete Seeger still has what it takes. This isn't a nostalgia album. It is a testament to the ongoing and ever growing talent of a national treasure!

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