''Changes'' is the second and final studio album by the American
folk
Folk or Folks may refer to:
Sociology
*Nation
*People
* Folklore
** Folk art
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*** Folk metal
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Arts, entertainment, and media
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band the
Modern Folk Quartet
The Modern Folk Quartet (or MFQ) was an American folk music revival group that formed in the early 1960s. Originally emphasizing acoustic instruments and group harmonies, they performed extensively and recorded two albums. In 1965, as the Mode ...
. It was released in 1964 on the
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Records Inc. (known as Warner Bros. Records Inc. until 2019) is an American record label. A subsidiary of Warner Music Group, it is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It was founded on March 19, 1958, as the recorded music division ...
label. The album expands upon the trend set from the group's debut: including interpretations of both traditional and contemporary folk standards, with an increased emphasis on the latter. By the time the Modern Folk Quartet recorded ''Changes'', they were seasoned members of the folk scene, which enabled the group to produce much richer
vocal harmonies
Vocal harmony is a style of vocal music in which a consonant note or notes are simultaneously sung as a main melody in a predominantly homophonic texture. Vocal harmonies are used in many subgenres of European art music, including Classical chor ...
.
The Modern Folk Quartet's self-titled 1963 debut album saw the group mix renditions of traditional folk songs, and newer compositions by the band's contemporaries on the folk circuit. Following the album, the band became regular performers, which helped the Modern Folk Quartet developed their vocal harmonies.
Jerry Yester
Jerome Alan Yester (born January 9, 1943) is an American former folk rock musician, record producer, and arranger. Yester has been a member of several bands including The New Christy Minstrels, Modern Folk Quartet, The Association, Rosebud and ...
recalls the harmonies were the group's greatest strength, saying, "the only vocals that competed with us back then was
Curt Boettcher
Curtis Roy Boettcher (January 7, 1944 – June 14, 1987), sometimes credited as Curt Boetcher or Curt Becher, was an American singer, songwriter, arranger, musician, and record producer from Wisconsin. He was a pivotal figure in what is now t ...
's group
he folk band the Goldebriars">the_Goldebriars.html" ;"title="he folk band the Goldebriars">he folk band the Goldebriars.
For ''Changes'', the Modern Folk Quartet was collaborating with a different record producer, Curly Waiters, though the original album release does not credit anyone. Recorded in late 1963 at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles, the album had a few traditional arrangements, but consisted largely of songs composed by the band's contemporaries in the folk scene.
[ Some musical artists cover version">covered
Cover or covers may refer to:
Packaging
* Another name for a lid
* Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package
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** Book design
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on the album also had their material appear on ''The Modern Folk Quartet'', including the Kingston Trio and Bob Gibson (musician), Bob Gibson.
Dino Valenti, whose song "Pennies" is featured on the first album, penned "The Little House" for ''Changes''; however, for reasons unknown, he is credited as "Klonaris-Buerger". Valenti, along with
, guested on guitar on the track. The Modern Folk Quartet was also one of the earliest groups to cover material by singer-songwriter
". In addition, the group recorded the song, "
never released on his own albums.
''.