In Action (aka Blowin' In The Wind)

After two consecutive live albums, the Mitchell Trio returned to the studio for their next collection of folk tunes. The album starts off with a rousing bluegrass rendition of the traditional "Columbus Stockade Blues" (renamed "Leave Me If You Want To"). But after that, the atmosphere is more sedate, with side one dominated by the three-part madrigal-like "Story of Alice," co-written by Broadway's Jerry Bock (of Fiddler on the Roof fame) and Larry Holofcener. The group's now-obligatory political commentary tune was aimed at Texan Billy Sol Estes in "The Ides of Texas." Each trio member is featured on solo tunes: Mitchell on "Green Grow the Lilacs," Mike Kobluk on "Adios Mi Corazon" and Joe Frazier on "Me Voy Pa Bete." All in all, a satisfying album