Eric Andersen

Vanguard Records' 1999 Eric Andersen compilation Violets of Dawn differs in only four tracks out of 18 from its 1970 compilation The Best of Eric Andersen, and the selection is marginally improved. (The major difference is that Violets of Dawn contains two rare tracks, "Boots of Blue" and "Rambler's Lament," from the 1964 compilation New Folks, Vol. 2.) The sound, remastered from the original analog tapes, is much improved. Like its similar predecessor, Violets of Dawn collects the most impressive efforts from Andersen's '60s Vanguard recordings, including the title track, "Thirsty Boots," "Close the Door Lightly When You Go," and "Come to My Bedside." It also traces Andersen's musical development from acoustic folk to folk-rock and country, a development that shadowed Bob Dylan's progression during the same period. And it stops short of the excellent work Andersen did with Blue River (1972) on Columbia and Be True to You (1975) on Arista. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide