With their first self-titled collection having received considerable lauds from peers and critics alike,
the Modern Folk Quartet -- consisting of
Cyrus Faryar (guitar, vocals),
Henry "Tad" Diltz (banjo, vocals),
Chip Douglas (bass, banjo, guitar, ukulele, bells, vocals), and
Jerry Yester (guitar, vocal, cymbals) -- cut their 1964 follow-up,
Changes, with an ear toward sustaining the fresh sound of their predecessor. Once again, they blend their arrangements and adaptations to another impressive lineup of modern compositions from the group's contemporaries. The hearty
gospel-influenced opener,
"Sing Out," sets the pace for a further slew of refreshing and spirited selections.
Lee Hays of
the Almanac Singers,
Weavers, and
Baby Sitters fame is the source for the midtempo down-and-outer
"Time's a Getting' Hard," featuring an exceptional example of
Douglas' reserved yet potent basslines.
Phil Ochs'
"The Bells" -- which the author derived from "
The Birds" by
Edgar Allan Poe -- provides a platform for the four-part vocal harmonies to unravel their unique slant on the song, keeping it fairly close to
Ochs' original. The dark
"In the Hills of Shiloh" stands out for its practically palpable foreboding and distinct contrast to the bombast of
"Bullgine" and the cover of
Bob Gibson's
"Jordan's River" -- undoubtedly the impetus for the
folk craze parody
"Good Book Song" by the fictitious
Main Street Singers from the cinematic spoof
A Mighty Wind. By comparison,
Gibson also supplied the stately historical
ballad "St. Clair's Defeat," one of the zeniths of the effort.
"Riu Chiu" is a 15th century Spanish
ballad that may be familiar to fans of
the Monkees, as the ersatz
Fab Four used it to great effect, closing the Christmas episode of their 1966 television program with
Micky Dolenz taking the
a cappella lead.
Bob Dylan's
"Farewell" is likewise a focal point as the prominent banjo accompaniment gives the number a more rural texture and a less lonesome feel. Although
the MFQ would not record a third long-player for
Warner Bros., they did issue a handful of additional singles before splitting later in the decade, with all four members continuing to contribute to the
pop/rock scene for the remainder of the decade and beyond. ~ Lindsay Planer
