The Rooftop Singers - Best Of The Vanguard Years

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Review by Keith Favre

The Rooftop Singers - Best Of The Vanguard Years Alright, let’s talk about this gem: Best Of The Vanguard Years by The Rooftop Singers. Released in 2004, it’s a mixtape of folk vibes, rock edges, and that old-school charm only the ‘60s and ‘70s could pull off. If you’re into Folk Revival or just need something to hum while you’re chopping veggies, this one’s got your back. First off, the album's got some serious range—folk, folk-rock, even a dash of pop sneaks in there. It’s like they took all the cozy corners of American music and stitched ‘em together with a twelve-string guitar. Tracks like “Swing Down, Chariot” and “Mama Don’t Allow” stick out for me because they’re catchy as heck but also kinda sneaky. Like, you think you’re just tapping your foot, but then BAM—you’re singing along like you’ve known the words your whole life. Take “Mama Don’t Allow,” for instance. This tune is straight-up fun. It’s got that call-and-response thing going on, and the energy feels like someone spiked the lemonade at a church picnic. You can picture people clapping, stomping, maybe even spilling their drinks because they’re too busy grooving. Then there’s “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).” Yeah, yeah, we’ve heard covers of this Duke Ellington classic before, but The Rooftop Singers give it a fresh coat of paint. Their version feels like walking into a smoky jazz club where everyone knows the dance moves but pretends they don’t. What’s wild is how many tracks are penned by Erik Darling—he’s all over this thing like peanut butter on toast. And shoutout to Lynne Taylor and Bill Svanoe for adding their magic too. These folks weren’t just throwing darts at a board; they were crafting tunes that still hit different decades later. Now, full disclosure: not every track hits the same way. Some songs feel like filler, like when you get an extra napkin instead of fries in your fast food bag. But overall? Solid gold. Here’s the kicker—I didn’t expect to end up thinking about shoes after listening to an album called Best Of The Vanguard Years. Seriously, the track “Shoes” snuck up on me. It’s simple, kinda quirky, and honestly? It made me wonder if I own enough pairs of shoes. Weird flex, but okay. So yeah, if you’re hunting for an album that feels like a warm blanket and sounds like a campfire singalong, grab this one. Just don’t blame me if you find yourself humming “Mama Don’t Allow” during your next Zoom meeting.

Table of Contents

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Filename: the-rooftop-singers-best-of-the-vanguard-years.zip
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Tracks

TrackDurationPreview
Houston Special3:21
Cool Water2:58
Dip Your Fingers2:46
You Don't Know2:29
I'm On My Way1:59
Ha Ha Thisaway1:36
Good Time!1:50
I'm on My Way01:59
Brandy Leave Me Alone2:17
Old Joe Clark2:10
Wild Mountain Thyme3:00
San Francisco Bay Blues2:10
I'm Just Here to Get My Baby Out of Jail03:18
Eighteen, Nineteen2:22
I'm Just Here To Get My Baby Out Of Jail3:18
Working On The Railroad2:25
Walk Right In2:37
It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)02:33
You Don't Know02:29
Tom Cat2:08
Working on the Railroad02:25
R. C. Frog1:58
Twelve String2:13
Mama Don't Allow02:43
Mama Don't Allow2:43
Somebody Came Home2:12
It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)2:33
Hail John2:19
Swing Down, Chariot2:57
Risselty, Rosselty0:55
Shoes3:00
Those Brown Eyes3:00
Hey Boys2:10

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Catalog Numbers

79749

Labels

Vanguard

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Formats

  • CD
  • Compilation

Credits

RoleCredit
Written-ByErik Darling (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 7, 9, 12 to 14, 17 to 19, 22, 23, 26, 27), Lynne Taylor (tracks: 7, 19, 22, 26), Sonny Geraci (tracks: 7, 14), Bill Svanoe (tracks: 1, 2, 5 to 7, 12, 17 to 19, 21 to 23, 26)

Notes

  • This 2004 collection of 27 songs includes five previously unreleased tracks [4, 11, 15, 20, 21].
  • This compilation is made up of:
  • * 10 tracks from Walk Right In LP [1, 3, 5 to 8, 13, 17, 24, 25],
  • * 11 tracks from Good Time! LP [2, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 22, 23, 27],
  • * None from Rainy River LP, and
  • * 1 track 26 ['Twelve String'] was B-side to Sail Away Ladies single.
  • Tracks 11, 15, 20 & 24 are credited as "Public Domain".

Barcodes

Barcode: 015707974929

About The Rooftop Singers

American folk band. The Rooftop Singers was an American progressive folk singing trio in the early 1960s, best known for the hit "Walk Right In". Darling put the group together in June 1962 specifically to record an updated and uptempo version of a 1920s Gus Cannon folk blues song, "Walk Right In". The trio recorded the song for Vanguard Records, with updated lyrics and an arrangement featuring paired 12-string acoustic guitars. The record became the most successful in Vanguard's history. The album containing this song was also called "Walk Right In" and was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category Best Folk Recording. The group differed markedly from The Weavers and most of the popular folk trios of the era, being far more influenced by blues and jazz, as well as less profoundly earnest in its political sensibilities. In being more musically complex than most folk groups, the trio favoured understated melodies sometimes and emphasised their blues roots at others, particularly in the sly and lyrically suggestive "Tom Cat". Indeed, it was their musical eclecticism and willingness to be suggestive that got "Tom Cat

Name Vars

  • Rooftop Singers
  • The Roof Top Singers

Members

  • Erik Darling
  • Willard Svanoe
  • Lynne Taylor
  • Mindy Stuart
  • Patricia Bennetts

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s something cool: The Rooftop Singers' *Best Of The Vanguard Years* album, released in 2004, is like a time capsule of folk and folk-rock goodness. What’s wild is how many tracks were written by Erik Darling—he penned most of them! It’s not just his voice you hear; it’s his creativity shaping the whole vibe. And get this—some songs, like "Mama Don’t Allow" and "Working On The Railroad," show up more than once, but with slight twists that keep things fresh. It’s like they wanted to make sure you really felt the soul of folk revival. Fun fact: this album even includes their iconic hit "Walk Right In," which still gets toes tapping decades later.