The Village has a legendary place in the annals of rock, or more precisely the singer songwriter generation who over the years became some of rock's major artists.

Many learned their trade there - Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Tim Buckley and Tim Hardin to name but a few.

In the 1960's the Greenwich Village area of New York City was a hotbed of musical, social and political evolution. McCarthy and the Communist scare era was over, the Vietnam war was simmering and the civil rights movement was about to explode into the summer of love.

Against that background, the Village became the focal point for a generation of musicians who would change the face of rock.

'A Celebration' pays homage to the cream of that a crop with contemporary artists revisiting some of the classics of the genre. And with contributors including Rickie Lee Jones, Sixpence None The Richer, John Oates, Los Lobos, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Cowboy Junkies and Rachel Yamagata, it's a stellar cast.

Played largely in respectful period style, the album is a throw back to times past, with the highlights undoubtedly two Dylan covers Lucinda William's evocative cover of Positively 4th Street, and Shelby Lynne's excellent cover of Don't Think Twice, It's Alright.

But on balance, The Village is most likely to appeal to those with fond memories of those halcyon days.

***

Review by Pete Whalley