Pete Seeger's Greatest Hits

The bedrock of Pete Seeger’s legacy as a musician, songwriter, and activist can be found on this best-of album. Recorded between 1962 and 1966, these tracks keep the spotlight on the folk legend’s vocals, guitar, and banjo as he leads his audience in stirring sing-alongs. Though only his recording of Malvina Reynolds’ “Little Boxes” made the singles charts, Seeger’s own compositions reached millions through cover versions by artists like The Kingston Trio, The Byrds, and Judy Collins. The renditions here of “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season),” “The Bells of Rhymney," and “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” testify to his skills as a tunesmith as well as his charisma as a performer. His ability to inspire can be heard in songs as different as “We Shall Overcome,” “Wimoweh," and “Guantanamera”; his folklorist roots are reflected in his vivid treatment of traditional fare like “Darling Corey.” For both curious newcomers and longtime admirers, Greatest Hits is a succinct summation of why Seeger remained an iconic figure to the end of his 94 years.