BLOWIN’ IN THE WIND (Peter, Paul and Mary)
“Blowin’ in the Wind" is a song written by Bob Dylan in 1962 and released on his album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan in 1963. The most commercially successful cover version is by folk music trio Peter, Paul and Mary, who released the song in June 1963, three weeks after The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan was issued. Albert Grossman, then managing both Dylan and Peter, Paul and Mary, brought the trio the song which they promptly recorded (on a single take) and released. The trio’s version, which was used as the title track of their third album, peaked at #2 on the Billboard charts. (More from Wikipedia)
Speaking of “Blowin’ in the Wind”, several Peter, Paul and Mary albums turned up recently in the latest batch of records that I rescued from Katrina. It was there that I discovered an earlier version of one of the standout Linda Pierre King songs, “Tiny Sparrow”; the song is also known as “Little Sparrow” and “Come All You Fair and Tender Ladies”. “Tiny Sparrow” is included on PP&M’s second album Moving and is recorded in the urbane style of the folk trio. King though wrings every last bit of emotion out of the song in her performance.
(April 2012)
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On the other hand, Bob Dylan’s next album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan was a big hit, and largely because Peter, Paul and Mary had a #2 hit with “Blowin’ in the Wind” that was released just three weeks after Freewheelin’ – Albert Grossman, who was managing both Dylan and PP&M in that time period, brought them the song, and they immediately recorded and released it.
(March 2015)
