Brian Hyland - The Rockin' Folk/The Joker Went Wild

This two-fer assembles a pair of mid-'60s LPs recorded by Brian Hyland for the Liberty label. As post-British Invasion pop zigged, the former teen idol zagged, channeling the influence of traditional American roots music to create the most thoughtful and personal records of his career. Following on the heels of Country Meets Folk, 1965's Rockin' Folk reinvents Hyland as a coffeehouse balladeer, and even if the transformation isn't entirely convincing, his affection for the material seems genuine. Read More