The Kingston Trio got serious on this, their attempt to compete in the new era of topical folk songs. The opening track, "The Patriot Game," is a dead giveaway, introducing songs about the lot of coal miners ("Coal Tattoo"), the less fortunate among us ("Hobo's Lullaby"),
Woody Guthrie's "Deportee," social justice ("Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream"), and the deceased John F. Kennedy ("Song For a Friend"). The group's sound works even in this setting, though their approaches to some of the songs do seem odd together -- their twangy, upbeat version of
Rod McKuen's "Seasons in the Sun" feels inappropriate next to more reflective versions (including the hit by
Terry Jacks) that have appeared since. It was reissued on CD and paired off with
The New Frontier in April of 2000. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide