American folk legend Pete Seeger is an outstanding figure of contemporary music. A real working class hero which songs always were a loud shout against everything that makes this world be a cruel place to live in: war, social unfairness, lack of freedom, poverty…

A passionate performer, gifted composer and a thorough music archaeologist, Pete Seeger has always been the voice to awake sleepy consciences as well as the voice of American music heritage. His fivestringed banjo (look for famous phrase ‘this machine surrounds hate and forces it to surrender’ written on it) it’s been the perfect vehicle for him to go into the realms of folk, country-tinged music, blues and even gospel. Music as simple as pure-hearted; just as clever as honest.

Prestigious music journalist Miquel Jurado has selected all songs included in this two disc set and written the liner-notes (translated to English and French). On the first album we found Pete Seeger going solo, singing with the sole accompaniment of his banjo and performing mostly traditional songs in addition to a few of his own numbers.

Second CD, even if it includes some solo performing of Pete Seeger, is devoted to the work of two legendary ensembles the new Yorker was involved: Almanac Singers and The Weavers. Almanac Singers deserves to be remembered as one of the most important reunion of talents folk music has ever known about. With Seeger, the short-lived Singers (they only remained together for a year, between 1941 and 1942) included in his changing line-up Woody Guthrie, Josh White, Lee Hays and Bess Lomax, among others artist which later will carry their own successful and influential career.

The Weavers stayed longer (almost four years from 1948 to 1952) and saw Pete Seeger meeting again with Lee Hays. The band penned some songs that still stay as real American classics and folk standards like Kisses Sweeter Than Wine and Wimoweh. With The Weavers, Seeger open new perspectives for American roots music by linking its heritage with influences coming from jazz and even world music, when they look for inspiration in the folklore songbook of Latin, African or Israeli music.