Ain’t That News/The Willing Conscript/Lyndon Johnson Told The Nation/Hold On To Me Babe/The Name Of The Games Is Stud/Bottle Of Wine/The Natural Girl For Me/Goodman Schwerner & Chaney/We Didn’t Know/Buy A Gun For Your Son/Every Time/Georgie On The Freeways/Sully’s Pail/I’m The Man That Built The Bridges
Ain’t That News was the follow up album from noted sixties folk artist Tom Paxton, with the emphasis on protest songs. The Vietnam War provided the American folk movement with a lot to protest about.
“Several of the songs found here that aren't world famous are just as good as the ones that are. Ain't That News and I'm The Man That Built The Bridges are all high on my list of the greatest protest songs. Elsewhere, Paxton tackles a number of early '60s topics which are once again all too relevant, such as right-wing media bias and, most eerily, a government lying its way into war. His romantic side is well represented too, with Hold On To Me Babe, among others.”
“To note that Ain't That News isn't quite as good as Ramblin' Boy is not much of a criticism. Bottle Of Wine is, of course, a classic. Hold On To Me Babe is a wonderful ballad about missing somebody who's left your life, and I'm The Man That Built The Bridges is a celebration of ordinary Americans and the great things that they've accomplished.”
“Paxton wrote a wide variety of songs within the general genre of folk, including love songs, comedy, children's songs and the folk staple, protest songs. Of these, the protest songs are the most obviously topical; what is sad is that so many of them still resonate almost 50 years later. Buy A Gun For Your Son is still a grim reminder of the absurdities of the gun lobby.”
“Paxton had a clear baritone voice and a gentle delivery which made his songs seem less aggressive than some other folkies of the time, and his love lyrics are as close to poetry as lyrics can get.”
“This album demonstrates his limited vocals and self-righteous lyrics. There is not enough variety, not enough ferocity, and way too much smug self-congratulation and arrogance. Tom is a little before my time, through I grew up on versions of his songs by others.”
“For my money, his best and most consistent release. Not a weak tune in the bunch.”
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