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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZPAXTON, Tom(b 31 Oct. '37, Chicago) Singer- songwriter, guitarist with large loyal following since '60s. Moved with family to Oklahoma, learned guitar and was infl. by Woody Guthrie, the Weavers and Burl Ives; went to Greenwich Village after military service '60, fell in with Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, Peter, Paul and Mary; Pete Seeger was an early champion and helped popularize 'Ramblin' Boy'. Album of that title on Elektra '65 was standard folk of the era, Paxton a more mature lyricist than most: 'I Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound', 'The Last Thing On My Mind', children's song 'Goin' To The Zoo' are among his best-known songs; Ain't That News '65 added political acerbity and topical wit that still marks his work, incl. 'The Willing Conscript', 'Lyndon Johnson Told The Nation'. Outward Bound '66 incl. exemplary title track, 'Leaving London', 'All The Way Home'; he was established as a major concert act, and while never matching Dylan's eclecticism has accumulated a substantial body of work: Morning Again '68 is notable for stirring title track; The Things I Notice Now '69 was released at the time of the second Isle of Wight Festival, where he nearly stole the show from Dylan; The Compleat Tom Paxton '71 is definitive two-disc live set made at the Bitter End, with some of his best-known songs, engaging links: wry humour ('Is This Any Way To Run An Airline?', 'Talking Vietnam Pot-Luck Blues'), social comment (anti-war 'Jimmy Newman', 'Forest Lawn' on the American way of death); 'Jennifer's Rabbit' another fine children's song. Switched to Reprise: How Come The Sun, Peace Will Come and New Songs For Old Friends. At some point he formed his own label and leased output: LPs appearing on Private Stock, Flying Fish, Mountain Railroad incl. Something In My Life '75, New Songs From The Briar Patch '77 (incl. 'White Bones Of Allende', 'Born On The Fourth Of July'); The Paxton Report '81, Even A Gray Day '83, Up And Up, In The Orchard '85, One Million Lawyers And Other Disasters '86, And Loving You '87. Concerts were looked-for events; songs were covered by Peter, Paul and Mary, John Denver, the Kingston Trio, many others. Wearing The Time '94 on Sugar Hill was his best in many years; Live For The Record '96 incl. perhaps too many of what he calls 'short shelf-life songs'. |