Quiet Zone or Twilight Zone?

Can’t a lone saxaphonist play music in Washington Square Park anymore?   Those seeking to quell spontaneous public expressions from what was once a vibrant public space would have it so.  There are those (conservancy advocates) who would insist that one will need a permit to sing in the park.  I’m glad that Gabriel Zucker of The Villager wrote a good investigative article about it.

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Washington Square Park 40 Years Ago

A wonderful video showing Washington Square Park back in 1968, where folksingers gathered around the fountain. It’s too bad there was no audio recorded with this video, which is now accompanied by a generic “nostalgia” soundtrack. It’s great to see some noteworthy street performers, including David Peel.

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When Folk Music Mattered: The Seekers “I’ll Never Find Another You”

Found this great old Youtube video of the Seekers performing the lovely tune “I’ll Never Find Another You.” Remember when you could understand the lyrics in pop music? Let’s drink a toast to the days when folk music mattered and welcomed in Greenwich Village. Frankly, I know we’ll never find another Washington Square Park.

People — and places — are not replaceable, and thirty years after recording “I Know I’ll Never Find Another You,” The Seekers performed it live and for a bunch of white-haired folk, their live rendition deserves credit, even if the music doesn’t have that same youthful bounce. What a great group, and what a great song!

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