Moving (Peter, Paul and Mary album)

Moving
Studio album by
ReleasedJanuary 1963
Recorded1962
GenreFolk
Length34:46
LabelWarner Bros.
ProducerAlbert Grossman
Milton Okun (musical director)
Peter, Paul & Mary chronology
Peter, Paul and Mary
(1962)
Moving
(1963)
In the Wind
(1963)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
New Record Mirror[2]

Moving is the second album by the American folk music trio Peter, Paul & Mary, released in January 1963. The third single included in the album, "Puff, the Magic Dragon," was a huge hit and a defining song for the trio, reaching No. 2 on the Hot 100, No. 1 on the Easy Listening, and No. 10 on the R&B Charts.

Reception

The album received a positive critical reception upon its release. The initial Cashbox review said that "the trio's distinctive, urban, dramatic sound is aptly showcased in a fine dozen of familiar and little known tunes."[3] Jimmy Watson on behalf of New Record Mirror stated that "I have a feeling in my bones that this trio could click here, given the right record. Their sound is very intimate and decidedly entertaining," and called it a "fine collection" as well.[2]

The retrospective review by Bruce Eder on AllMusic believed that the trio's second album is "a little less distinctive than its predecessor, which doesn't mean that it isn't a beautiful record – just less obviously compelling in its melodies, and perhaps slightly less optimistic in mood."[1]

Chart performance

The lead-off single, "Big Boat", failed to chart substantially, only staying on the Billboard Hot 100 two weeks, reaching No. 93.[4] Cash Box described it as "an exciting, fast moving folk opus."[5] The second single, "Settle Down (Goin' Down That Highway)," did slightly better, peaking at No. 56 on the Pop charts during a six-week run; however, it did become an easy listening hit at No. 14.[6]

The album debuted on Billboard magazine's Top LP's chart in the issue dated January 19, 1963, peaking at No. 2 during a ninety-nine-week run on the chart.[7] It debuted on Cashbox magazine's Top 100 Albums chart in the issue dated January, 1963, peaking at No. 1 during a seventy-six-week run on the chart.[8]

Track listing

Side One
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Settle Down (Goin' Down That Highway)"Mike Settle1:44
2."Gone the Rainbow"Paul Stookey, Mary Travers, Peter Yarrow, Milt Okun2:40
3."Flora"Stookey, Travers, Elaina Mezzetti3:09
4."Pretty Mary"Stookey, Elaina Mezzetti, Okun1:57
5."Puff, the Magic Dragon"Peter Yarrow, Leonard Lipton3:26
6."This Land Is Your Land"Woody Guthrie2:26
Side Two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
7."Man Come into Egypt"Fred Hellerman, Fran Minkoff2:18
8."Old Coat"Stookey, Travers, Mezzetti3:49
9."Tiny Sparrow"Stookey, Elaina Mezzetti, Milt Okun3:33
10."Big Boat"Stookey, Lane, Milt Okun, Elaina Mezzetti2:43
11."Morning Train"Mezzetti3:37
12."A'soalin'"Stookey, Tracy Batteaste, Elaina Mezzetti3:16
Total length:34:44

Personnel

Chart positions

Chart performance for Moving
Chart (1963) Peak
position
US Billboard Top LPs[7] 2
US Cashbox Top 100 Albums[8] 1

Certification

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[9] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Notes

  1. ^ a b Moving LP by Peter, Paul and Mary (Reviews, Info) at AllMusic. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  2. ^ a b Watson, Jimmy (May 25, 1963). "Peter, Paul and Mary: Moving" (PDF). New Record Mirror. No. 115. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 1, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  3. ^ "Peter, Paul and Mary: Moving (Popular Picks of the Week)" (PDF). Cashbox. Vol. XXIV, no. 18. January 12, 1963. p. 22. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  4. ^ "Peter, Paul & Mary – Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  5. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. December 1, 1963. p. 10. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  6. ^ "Peter, Paul & Mary – Adult Contemporary". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  7. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (1973). Top LPs, 1945–1972. Record Research. p. 115. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  8. ^ a b Hoffmann, Frank W. (1975). The Cash Box Album Charts, 1955–1974. Scarecrow Press. p. 287. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  9. ^ "American album certifications – Peter, Paul & Mary – Moving". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 20, 2026.