Buffy Sainte-Marie's name is forever connected to the protest branch of the great folk revival in the early-to-mid-'60s, and more specifically to songs like "Universal Soldier" and "Cod'ine." The Best of the Vanguard Years cuts a wider swath, however, featuring Sainte-Marie's work from 1964, when the above songs were released, to 1969, when her music had acquired a more experimental, rock edge. The collected tracks mix these different eras at random, moving from stark acoustic songs like "Cod'ine" to rock & roll numbers like "He's the Keeper of the Fire" to country pieces like "Take My Hand for a While." While this is a bit jarring, perhaps it serves to give a listener new to Sainte-Marie a more even understanding of her work. Through all of these stylistic changes, though, the forceful, often trembling intensity of Sainte-Marie's voice creates a powerful unity. There are great jewels here, including "Groundhog" from her second album, Many a Mile, and "Rolling Log Blues" from Little Wheel Spin and Spin with guitar work from the great session player Bruce Langhorne. A couple things sound dated here, specifically Sainte-Marie's early version of Joni Mitchell's "Circle Game" with its overripe pop production. These odd cuts are exceptions, though. The Best of the Vanguard Years offers a fine intro to an artist who never allowed politics or musical style to limit her vision. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Music Guide
Russ Savakus (Bass), Lloyd Green (Guitar (Steel)), Maynard Solomon (Original Session Producer), Floyd Cramer (Piano), Buffy Sainte-Marie (Mouth Bow), Amy L. VonHolzhausen (Creative Director), Captain Jeff Zaraya (Compilation Engineer), Rick Oxendine (Bass), Lottie Kimbrough (Choir, Chorus), Wayne Moss (Bass), Peter Schickele (Arranger), Jerry Shook (Bass), Bob Lurie (Original Session Producer), Hal Rugg (Guitar (Steel)), Buffy Sainte-Marie (Adaptation), Tom Vickers (Compilation Producer), Eric Weissberg (Guitar), Peter Schickele (Conductor), Buffy Sainte-Marie (Arranger), Jimmy Lembo (Art Direction), Buffy Sainte-Marie (Guitar), Shorty Lavender (Fiddle), The Jordanaires (Vocals), Sonny Osborne (Banjo), Bruce Langhorne (Guitar (Electric)), Ray Edenton (Guitar (Electric)), Art Davis (Bass), Buddy Harman (Drums), Velma Smith (Guitar (Rhythm)), John Craviotta (Drums), Dave Samuelson (Liner Notes), Patrick Sky (Guitar), Roy M. "Junior" Husky (Bass), Grady Martin (Assistant), Mark Roth (Original Session Producer), Bill Ackerman (Drums), Patrick Sky (Harmonica)
