Ramblin' Boy

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Ramblin' Boy

| type = studio album

| artist = Tom Paxton

| cover = TomPaxtonRamblinBoy.jpg

| alt =

| released = 1964

| recorded = Mastertone Studios, NYC

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Folk

| length = 50:19 (reissue)

| label = Elektra

| producer = Paul Rothchild

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title = Ain't That News!

| next_year = 1965

}}

Ramblin' Boy is the debut album by American folk singer-songwriter Tom Paxton, released in 1964.

History

Ramblin' Boy is referred to as Paxton's debut album, since it was his first album released on a major record label (Elektra Records), although he had previously released a live album recorded at The Gaslight Cafe in Greenwich Village entitled, I'm the Man That Built the Bridges (which was released on the small Gaslight label in 1962).[http://www.richieunterberger.com/ramblin.html Collector's Choice reissue line notes. Richie Unterberger. 2002]

Three songs from Ramblin' Boy were frequently covered by other artists – the title song, "I Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound" and "The Last Thing on My Mind". The latter song remains one of Paxton's most well-known compositions.

Reception

{{Music ratings

| rev1 =Allmusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}} {{cite web |first=Steven |last=Leggett |title= Ramblin' Boy > Review |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id= r81175 |pure_url=yes}} |publisher=Allmusic |accessdate=June 22, 2011}}

}}

Music critic Steven Leggett of Allmusic commented in his review that the album sounds "rather dated these days" due to the topical issues of the songs. He also writes: "What keeps 'Ramblin' Boy' from being just another period piece from the 1960s are a trio of songs in which Paxton swings away from trying to be relevant and brings a kind of restless and romantic self-analysis to the table. 'The Last Thing on My Mind', 'Ramblin' Boy', and 'I Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound' all exhibit a classic, timeless appeal simply because they work to the positive side of emotional ennui."

Reissues

  • Ramblin' Boy was reissued on CD by Collectors' Choice in 2002 and 2008.
  • Ramblin' Boy was reissued on CD by Elektra in 2005.

Track listing

All songs by Tom Paxton unless otherwise noted.

  1. "A Job of Work" – 2:44
  2. "A Rumblin' in the Land" – 2:59
  3. "When Morning Breaks" – 2:55
  4. "Daily News" – 2:17
  5. "What Did You Learn in School Today?" – 1:44
  6. "The Last Thing on My Mind" – 3:05
  7. "Harper" – 2:52
  8. "Fare Thee Well, Cisco" – 3:04
  9. "I Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound" – 3:41
  10. "High Sheriff of Hazard" (Paxton, Traditional) – 2:10
  11. "My Lady's a Wild Flying Dove" – 3:11
  12. "Standing on the Edge of Town" – 1:43
  13. "I'm Bound for the Mountains and the Sea" – 3:04
  14. "Goin' to the Zoo" – 2:29
  15. "Ramblin' Boy" – 3:59

Personnel

References