Violets of Dawn by The Chad Mitchel Trio

[Karridine1]

Joe, I loved this song as a teen, and used to sing high harmonies to YOUR high harmonies... ah, those were the days... "We Didn't Know At All" set the pace, and I kept my eyes peeled ever after, lest I have to answer 'I din't know at all, really..'

[njva17420]

Many thanks, ChefBob. This one brings tears to my eyes. I have the old LP somewhere, but it is probably warped beyond recovery. What is CM doing these days?

David Dax

[chefbob5]

Someone has asked for Chad's version of Violets of Dawn from his solo album. I finally finished digitizing that album so I will download that song for you. Just search for it.

RJ

[craigwf40]

I truly wish someone would upload Violets of Dawn by Chad Mitchell off his solo album. Never heard it sung better.

[susanshepeard]

One of my all-time favorite songs. I wore out the record! I saw you with John Denver taking Chad's place, Joe, at Denison University in Ohio in the fall of 1966. It was the beginning of a great friendship later on with John, who the next year or so stayed in my boyfriend's fraternity house for a week and played every night at the coffeehouse we started at Denison, the Bandersnatch! Thank you for the great music! Susan Shepeard

[plastiqueadapte]

Beautiful song beautifully sung !

Merci de partager / Thanks for sharing

[rouellet]

I've loved this version of song since it came out. The voices and harmony are nothing but perfect. Thank you for your comment Mr Frazier - I've always loved your crescendo notes the best.

[sedona05]

Wonderful!!! JD's beautiful voice....God, rest his soul...

[nhford07]

you can really tell that's john denver. very distinctive voice.

[sparky47a]

What a beautiful song - lovely harmonies and great accompaniment. I've always loved John Denver singing solo, but I think this is even better!

[carljj22]

Tremendous song--I got this in the 70s as a re-release based on John D's popularity and totally loved this song!!!

[njva17420]

If Vicar69 is Joe Frazier, hello, Joe. You and I chatted on the fire escape outside the gym at the College of Wooster, OH, the night you, Mike, and John played to our enthusiastic crowd. That was in '65 or '66.

[njva17420]

While in college I saw these guys in the mid-60s when they had become the Mitchell Trio, and John Denver played a wicked 12-string for "The Bells of Rimney" -- the hair stands up on the back of my neck just thinking about it, As for "Violets of Dawn" for my money Chad's solo version of it tops them all. He had a unique tenor that really delivered this song so well.

[chefbob5]

@njva17420 Just for you I posted Chad's solo version of Violets of Dawn today just for you. Hope you like it?

RJ

[njva17420]

@chefbob5 Yes indeed. This is the best.

[PippyT1]

Glad that there is a group of others with the same appreciation of this wonderful music! I was listening to these when Chad Mitchell was in the group; wonderful, wonderful. John Denver ,of course, is equally as good. The 2 just had very different sounds within the group. I like them all ! And sure do miss this here kind o' stuff-glad they are here, at least. Thanks for the posting of this!

[RedHairedCelt]

Aaaaaaaaaah!! That brings back such lovely memories. :-) The Mitchell Trio had that same magic and blend. I would have given anything to be able to see them live. I miss JD a lot.

[Gryfynn]

I've just been using youtube to listen to all those fantastic songs that I love so much and have done for years [I'm not that old though]. I've got a lovely version of Chad himself singing this, I think I may have it somewhere on this computer after rescuing it from its record. Noone, in my opinion matched these guys.

[frkaz911]

If memory serves me right, after Chad left and John joined the group, they were know simply as "The Mitchell Trio". Great post. Someone had a live video of them doing "Both Sides Now" which was phenomenal, but its since been removed.

[moonbeamchaos]

you might recognize john denver's voice as lead. chad was out by this time. john's real last name is duschendorf.

[walthanas]

Actually, his real last name is Deutschendorf, which in German means German Village.

Look it up...

[Primsong]

Anyone know what album this could be found on? I have three of them but I've never heard this before and it's simply gorgeous.

[CompVid101]

As Fr. Joe Frazier says below - the group is called at this point simply "The Mitchell Trio." The album was titled after this song - "Violets of Dawn" - and is available with the other Mitchell Trio album that featured John Denver as the tenor who replaced Chad Mitchell, "That's The Way It's Gonna Be." Both are exceptional folk era albums, and there are those who feel that Denver's voice made for a better blend with Frazier and Mike Kobluk than Chad's had.

[Crusader3181314]

@CompVid101 As much as I always loved the work John Denver did with the Trio, I can't imagine anyone seriously thinking his voice was a better blend. I felt it really stuck out more than any of the other voices did. In the Chad/Mike/Joe Trio, there were often times it was difficult to figure out who was singing which part, and I listened to those albums so many times that I think I could have sung any of the parts from memory, back in the day.

[CompVid101]

Well, I certainly don't think so, but I know of people who do - generally and not surprisingly JD fans. And while I agree that the CMT harmonies were the tightest in popular music unti S&G and CS&N, the tenor voice always tends to stick out a bit simply because it's the highest - much in the same way that you tend to hear banjo over guitar in the instrumental blend.

[bloodspoint]

My Dad was from the "folk era". He went to college from '61-'65. He had several Mitchell Trio albums that I listened to as a child, and he and a classmate used to get together once a year or so at our house and just sit and play and sing all day long. Violets was always one of my favorites when they played it, and this brings back some great memories. Thanks for posting it, Joe!

[VintageLady1980]

Yeah, I can definitely tell that is John Denver singing the lead vocal. This is a beautiful version of one of my favorite songs. It's so beautifully written. Btw, Joe, your high tenor is pretty amazing! :D

[vicar69]

A bit of info - this is not actually the Chad Mitchell Trio singing Eric Anderson's great song - Chad's been replaced by John Denver. John's the lead singer and I'm doing the high tenor. I'll never reach those notes again! Joe Frazier - Chad Mitchell Trio

[LMUDewey]

Y'all were awesome! Go Zags

[LorrieannR]

This was one of my favorite songs as a child. I haven't heard it in a lot of years, and yet I could sing it through. I miss those times. You all had (and have) lovely voices.

Thank you for the music.

[njva17420]

Joe -- see my note above.

[njva17420]

@vicar69 Joe -- Thanks for your comment. I saw you guys at the College of Wooster in Ohio and talked with you for a while on the fire escape at the old gym where you played. This was in 1966 I think. I recall John Denver's great 12-string work that night. I hope I can come upon a rendition with Chad still singing. Best wishes, David Dax

[19Phoenix44]

@vicar69 Joe, many years ago John played Springfield, Missouri, and mentioned that he had recently visited you in, I believe, Oregon where you had become a "man of the cloth". When he further mentioned his days with the Mitchell Trio I alone applauded. John turned to me in the audience and said "Thank You". I fondly recall your concert at Southwest Missouri State College in 1964 and still listen to your albums regularly.

[ivelosthewilltolive]

@vicar69 Great to hear from you! But weren't you still called the Chad Mitchell Trio even after Chad left the group?