Country Singer

Country Singer

ASIN: B0001B3YEC

Track Listings

1. Bimbo - Jim Reeves

2. Your Cheatin' Heart - Hank Williams

3. Walkin' After Midnight - Patsy Cline

4. I Walk the Line - Johnny Cash

5. Wild Side of Life - Hank Thompson

6. Always Late (With Your Kisses) - Lefty Frizzell

7. Dear John Letter - Ferlin Husky, Jean Shepard

8. (Now and Then, There's) A Fool Such as I - Hank Snow

9. Hey Joe! - Carl Smith

10. There Stands the Glass - Webb Pierce

11. It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels - Kitty Wells

12. I Couldn't Keep from Crying - Marty Robbins

13. Anytime - Eddy Arnold

14. Have You Ever Been Lonely (Have You Ever Been Blue?) - Ernest Tubb

15. Forgive Me John - Ferlin Husky, Jean Shepard

16. Nine Pound Hammer - Merle Travis

17. That's Me Without You - Sonny James

18. Country Boy - Little Jimmy Dickens

19. Goin' Steady - Faron Young

20. Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes - Skeets McDonald

Tracks:

goodnight rose
two
everybody knows
halloween head
two hearts
tears of gold
the sun also sets
off broadway
rip off
oh my god, whatever, etc.
pearls on a string
these girls
i taught myself how to grow old

Amazon.com

Easy Tiger, Ryan Adams's ninth solo studio album, is a return to form in every way. He's already shown that he can bash out three albums in one year--not to mention the hilarious fake hip-hop records posted for free on his Web site--and that he can sound as much like the Grateful Dead as he wants to in his constant subsequent touring. Backed once again by the Cardinals, Adams synthesizes and refines his approach to smooth, gorgeous country-pop. "Tears of Gold" is one of the best songs he's written in ages, while "Two" is a slowly percolating, sweet little number that recalls Sean Hayes in its soulful folksiness (someone named Sheryl Crow accompanies Adams on vocals). One of the greatest treats of this languorous, twangy album is the subtle ways that genre gets played with. "I Taught Myself How to Grow Old" is the best Harvest outtake Neil Young never wrote, while the treated, synth-sounding guitar solo on the druggy, chooglin' "Halloweenhead" sounds like it comes straight out of Journey. And "The Sun Also Sets" sounds more than a little like Rufus Wainwright covering Fred McDowell's "Write Me a Few of Your Lines." It bursts with enough melodrama as to border on musical theater. But, as is clear on these songs of love and loss, Adams has always been at his best when giving into his most mellow, dramatic side. --Mike McGonigal

Ryan Adams Photos

More Ryan Adams

Heartbreaker
Gold
Love Is Hell

Album Description

I think there are really only two kinds of pop music CDs these days. There are the ones you listen to only once or twice, maybe downloading the single good song to your iPod or computer; then there are others that grow stronger, sweeter, and more necessary each time you play them. Gold was that way; Cold Roses was that way; so was Jacksonville City Nights. I won't say Adams is the best North American singer-songwriter since Neil Young...but I won't say he isn't, either. What I know is there has never been a Ryan Adams record quite as strong and together as Easy Tiger; it's got enough blue-eyed, blue-steel soul (with the faintest country tinge) to make me think of both Marvin Gaye and the Righteous Brothers. Probably ridiculous, but true. And the songs themselves are beautiful--the lyrics tightly focused and brief, the feeling one of melancholy calm that will probably be a revelation to fans that remember the old, sometimes angry Ryan Adams.

Now there's this, maybe the best Ryan Adams CD ever. And I know you want to listen to it right away. But slow down. Take your time. This album asks for that, and it will reward your full attention.

In other words--easy, Tiger.

--Stephen King

Customer Reviews:

an original mind.......2007-07-09

passionate, emotionally twisting tunes that seem to tell different stories that are all somehow interconnected by a magical mind and a unique voice. In a world overwhelmed by male singer/songwriters, this one is truly distinguished, with a style all his own. I discovered this guy through the recommendations (via a retail compilation) of Lucinda Williams and have been thankful ever since. A real original.

Look forward to his future.

Toothless Tiger.......2007-07-09

I bought this while on vacation, and I expected a lot from it since it was the only CD in my rental car. After numerous end to end playings, I can only bring two songs immediately to mind: "Two" is not breaking new ground, but is as achingly beautiful as any song he's done. "Halloween Head" is raucus and catchy, but sounds like a mailed in version of the obligatory "talented artist who just sobered up" song. Give me "Detox Mansion" every time. When you compare it to other Ryan Adams / Whiskeytown albums of the same ilk it sounds unconvincing. It's nice to listen to, but it lacks any passion.

What a song writer........2007-07-09

Very good album and I like this alot. I have all of his and this one really sinks it's teeth into me at this point in my life.

very insightful, and always such a good artist. A few of the lines in the songs really speak to me lately.

This one is no Ripoff.!!

To Be Older (Is to Be Sober, Is to Be Focused).......2007-07-08

Whatever Ryan Adams' stylistic whim over the past seven years--alt-country, AOR, country, dour Brit pop, folk, garage rock--nearly every album held two things in common: more than a few staggeringly brilliant songs that would make any songwriter envious (Rock'n'Roll and 29 being the exceptions) and enough certifiable duds that would leave you wondering how someone with Adams' remarkable talent could display such spotty quality control.

Easy Tiger, Adams' first release in over a year (an epic drought by his standards) isn't his best album, but it his most consistent, offering some moments of splendid songcraft without the weight of a lot of filler. Backed by the latest lineup of The Cardinals (they're not billed on the album cover), Adams concentrates on straightforward, acoustic-based songs and various flavors of country. "Halloweenhead," the album's lone musical departure, boasts a catchy melody and offers some self-deprecating humor, but the near Spinal Tap homage, replete with bells, storm noises, and the shout of "Guitar solo!," sounds decidedly out of place. The sunny bluegrass number "Pearls on a String" fares much better, providing a fun, top-tapping tune while retaining the instrumental textures common to the album.

The album opens with "Goodnight Rose," a staggered, twangy rocker reminiscent of Cold Roses but downshifts into a subdued, melancholy tone with the first single, "Two." Complimented by Sheryl Crow's harmonies, Adams' ache-tinged tenor buoys even the most pedestrian of lines: "'Cause it's cold in here/And I wish it was hot/The sink's broke, it's leaking from the faucet."

Not surprisingly, Adams' trademark elegiac tales of broken relationships, crushed ambition, and transient youth permeate the album. He fails, though, when he tries too emphatically to convey heartbreak. With a tinny acoustic guitar doubling the vocal melody, "Off Broadway," a reworked tune originally recorded during the Suicide Handbook sessions, suffers from an insipid and painfully repetitive chorus as Adams loses his way home after spotting an ex-lover: "I don't know where that is anymore/I don't know where that is anymore/I don't know where that is anymore/Used to be off Broadway." Someone help the man home already! And, on "The Sun Also Sets," he mars an otherwise solid song with a strained, overwrought vocal delivery, which culminates with him channeling what sounds like the voice of Grover right before the final chorus.

More often, however, Adams strikes the right balance of sadness and subtlety. On the breezy "Two Hearts" he foresees the inevitable collapse of a relationship ("Two hearts/One of them will break/Like bad ideas on a beautiful day/Two figures moving through the dark/ Three words is all it takes to break your heart in two") while on the beautiful "Oh My God, Whatever, Etc.," he wearily surrenders to listlessness: "But the light of the moon leads the way/Towards the morning, and the sun/The sun's well on it's way too soon/But oh, oh my God, whatever, etc."

That sort of self-reflection lies at the heart of quite a few tracks. To be sure, there are some "young gal did me bad" moments, but they're tempered by Adams' acknowledgment of his own failings, whether he's admitting the difficulty of commitment--"I make these promises/But all these promises hurt/It's like they never get a lift off" ("Rip Off")--or confessing his weakness for anxious "late night girls" on "These Girls"--"It's so sad but when they smile/God, I've been had"--arriving at the conclusion that "These girls are better off in my head."

Easy Tiger shows Ryan Adams can be focused and accessible, but it's fair to say that at times it sounds a bit too tame, too easy. With the album's heavy dose of balladry, there are few traces of his customary reckless energy or swagger. Maybe next time around he'll manage to infuse those elements into his maturing sound--chances are we won't have to wait long to find out. Still, Adams' talent as a songwriter is undeniable--"Oh My God, Whatever, Etc." "Goodnight Rose," and "These Girls" stand with the best in his extensive catalog--and not having to lunge for the skip button too often while listening to the album is a welcome change.

Heartbreaker's rebellious teenage lovechild.......2007-07-06

Heartbreaker had such an impact on many of us that it has been difficult to accept Adams's later works. Despite a love for Whiskeytown songs, Heartbreaker instantly blew us away. There are definite gems in Adams's post Heartbreaker catalog. Gold and Love is Hell Pt. 1 were solid efforts. However, many maintain a Heartbreaker bias when checking out Adams's new works. Adams has the ability to bang out a number of Heartbreakers, but chooses to let his own style develop wherever he feels like exploring. Lost Highway is an excellent label that backs Adams's endeavors. Easy Tiger is a manifestation of Adams's past, present, and future. He pushes the envelope with his voice and writing. The Cardinals (Ryan's band) do a great job of balancing the adventurous efforts to create some fantastic colorful mixtures.

When I first hit play my reaction was, "Who's singing on this?" I flipped through trying to ignore the initial Heartbreaker expectations, and was taken aback during the first go around. There were new sounds, characteristic elements that have found new territory, some vintage Adams, and a variety that had everything but the kitchen sink. This left my a bit confused as I tried to formulate my opinion of the work. After a few more rounds, I still couldn't make a definitive decision about the adventurous album. That is until I found myself craving a few tracks like "Two Hearts", "Halloweenhead", "The Sun Also Sets", and "Goodnight Rose". Adams's work always deserves respect because of the ingenuity and fearlessness that he applies when making his records. However, that doesn't always translate to fans enjoying certain albums. As I gradually found myself looking forward to a growing number of Easy Tiger songs, I realized that this record carried a certain weight to it that Gold, Rock n Roll, and Jacksonville City Nights didn't have. The exploratory styles, stabilizing instrumentation, and the standard brilliant lyrics that make up Easy Tiger have a sense of validity and unique panache that can't be found anywhere else. This album will not instantly knock you over the head or bump out one of your top ten favorites like Heartbreaker did, but it will win you over. Easy Tiger posses some very addictive songs and is a one of a kind album that will be fun to revisit for years.

Here are some disclaimers so you won't be so alarmed. The most notable aspect that differentiates this album is Adams's vocals. He is definitely making a statement of versatility, audacity, and enjoyment. There is a lot of Neil Young and at times even Jeff Buckley in Ryan's voice. A lot of the vocals resemble the voice Adams uses on certain Whiskeytown tracks (ie "Reasons to Lie") and he applies that sound to some varied and at times extreme situations. Do not be alarmed because despite the initial skepticism the vocals really fit well with the songs. The vocals create an endearing element to the lyrics and give the tracks so much raw character.

The album has some Heartbreaker in it with songs like "Oh my God, Whatever, etc.", "These Girls", and "Off Broadway". That helps counterbalance the raw adventure that some other songs take you on like "Halloweenhead". There are some finite stylistic tracks like "Pearls on a String" which is an unmistakable bluegrass jolt. The music of the whole album does a fantastic job of balancing and highlighting Easy Tiger's bold elements. The Cardinals really help make this album. The instrumentation adds an expanding effect to songs like "Goodnight Rose" and "Halloweenhead". The arrangements also add swagger, necessary characteristics, and a full bodied sound to songs like "Tears of Gold", "Two Hearts", and The Sun Also Sets". The music creates such a delicious musical statement when paired with Adams's overall creative vision.

This album may be Heartbreaker's rebellious teenage lovechild but is an absolute gem of a record. Cheers to Adams for pushing the envelope and putting his unique stamp on it. It takes balls to explore uncharted territory and try to maintain your exclusive touch. Adams has not only done that with this record, but has done it while having to maintain a reputation.

Average customer rating:

A mature work as title implies..
Not long enough
Still the Jesus of Cool
Current vintage Nick aged and uncorked perfectly
iconoclastic

At My Age
Nick Lowe
Manufacturer: Yep Roc Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Sweet Warrior
Easy Tiger
Don't Tell Columbus
Dylanesque
Icky Thump

ASIN: B000Q9OD4O
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Tracks:

A Better Man
Long Limbed Girl
I Trained Her To Love Me
The Club
Hope For Us All
People Change
The Man In Love
Love's Got A Lot To Answer For
Rome Wasn't Built In a Day
Not Too Long Ago
The Other Side Of the Coin
Feel Again

Amazon.com

When he laid down 1994's The Impossible Bird--the ninth solo album in a career that already, via Rockpile, Brinsley Schwarz, Kippington Lodge, and production work for Elvis Costello, the Damned, and the Pretenders, stretched back over 25 years--Nick Lowe probably wasn't setting out to create a four-part trilogy à la Douglas Adams. But with At My Age (which is 58, incidentally, as of the album's June 2007 release), Lowe has created a fine companion to Bird, 1998's Dig My Mood, and 2001's The Convincer. Six years was a bit too long of a wait, 2004's live Untouched Takeaway notwithstanding. And given all that time, Lowe breaks no new ground: At My Age is essentially more of the same combination of blue-eyed soul and pre-Sweetheart country-rock that characterized those previous releases. But when the results are so deliciously horn-drenched and include songs like "Long Limbed Girl," "People Change," "The Club," "Not Too Long Ago," and the delightfully malicious "I Trained Her to Love Me" ("If you think that it's depraved and I should be ashamed, so what? / I'm only paying back womankind for all the grief I got"), who's complaining? Good things have indeed come to those who waited. --Benjamin Lukoff

Album Description

Blue-eyed soul? You don't even know the definition until you've heard the sweet smoke of Nick Lowe's trademark croon. Now, later in life, Lowe's rootsy, grown-up soul has risen to the surface of what was a cracked and stripped-down artistic aesthetic in the late '70s, when he produced records for Elvis Costello, the Pretenders, and influential British proto-punkers the Damned. During his years as house producer for Stiff Records Lowe's oft-copied rough-hewn production style set the stage for the DIY philosophy of the punk revolution.

Sublimely aged in a solid oak barrel, At My Age showcases Lowe's perfection of his own unique brand of soul-soaked country-pop, resulting in an album as refined and perfectly distilled as he is. Lowe's convention-breaking phrasing shines backed by gorgeous '60s Memphis-style horns and tastefully subdued guitar hooks. At My Age displays, with Nick's signature polish, the sublime, linear connection between country, rhythm and blues, and rock 'n' roll. So, grab a drink, a smoke, and hear Americana done right...by a Brit.

Customer Reviews:

A mature work as title implies.........2007-07-05

I suppose that, being the major fan I am and having so many "already favorites," it's pretty hard to just sally forth with another 5 stars. I prefer it when Nick leans toward the up-tempo and, as the title implies, he's doing more crooning these days than rocking. And, as happened to me when I listened to John Prine's recent release with Mac Wiseman, I heard something different in the voice nowadays. Nick sounds "husk-ier" these days (not "husky" as in being a large man, but "husky" in that there is a little crackle there now). Oh, to be sure, this is well deserving of at least 4 stars, big fan or no. Nice full accompaniment with horns and backup vocals, a little more "fleshed out" soundwise than some earlier things. And there are indeed some nice up-tempo tracks like his remake of the Unique's "not Too Long Ago." Most people know that band for the tender ballad "All These Things" but I appreciate Nick covering the lesser known and, to me, better song.
A word about the 3 free downloadable songs available with the CD: while the songs themselves aren't new songs, we get a nice acoustic version of "What's So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding" and a nice live version of "12 Step Program." And also 9 other downloadable songs from the YepRoc catalog. At least at this writing.

Not long enough.......2007-07-05

As brilliant as The Convincer, but, at 33 minutes, there isn't enough of it. This album is so well produced, I, for one, would appreciate some longer pieces with more instrumental breaks. I''m grateful for the new release and am enjoying it, all the same.

Still the Jesus of Cool.......2007-07-05

The monicker that Nick Lowe earned almost three decades ago seems even more apt with each new release. His "The Convincer" was one of three CD's that helped me through a rough patch five years ago (the others were Graham Parker's "Deepcut to Nowhere" and John Hiatt's "The Tiki Bar is Open"). And "At My Age" is equally as good; slightly more upbeat, in a downbeat way. Every song's a gem.

Current vintage Nick aged and uncorked perfectly.......2007-07-03

As soon as I saw the previewed cover art and title I knew this was going to be another wonderful and all-too-infrequently serving of the Nick Lowe continuum of shaggy dog molasses charm and ease-y verbal adroitness masking the journey through middle age. It's all right there from the bounce and vigor to the mildly self-effacing but still cats got the cream personality. Nice hair too. Viva Nick forever. All of the tracks are dandy, but I seem to keep replaying Hope For Us All.

iconoclastic.......2007-07-03

58-year old Nick Lowe is still going strong as evidenced by his brand new album, "At My Age." The British crooner has been cranking out hits both as a solo artist and a producer since the mid '70's, although fans have waited for six years for this most recent record.

"At My Age" might not break a lot of new ground - Lowe mixes soul, country, and laid-back rock as he navigates his way through a 12 song, 33 minute album. However, fans of Lowe might appreciate this - rather than reinvent himself as some artists of his ilk have attempted (say, Rod Stewart), Lowe sticks to what he knows best and proves that his voice is still sufficient to carry an album.

At My Age - I don't need to change! At My Age - I'm still pretty darn good! Both statements are true. Take a particularly long listen to the witty and melodic tunes "Man In Love," and "Rome Wasn't Built In A Day." With the exception of a few mariachi-style horns, the he instrumentation is generally stripped down. It's a style that Lowe helped popularize in his days as a British punk-pop producer. And given the strength of Lowe's voice, it's a style that clearly is still working.

Average customer rating:

Best Yet!!
Really nice...
Queen of sensation
A song of hope
BEST TRUE FOLK SONGS--the calling

The Calling
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Manufacturer: Zoe Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Country | Styles | Music

Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music

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Country Folk | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection
West
Not Too Late
Waking Up Laughing
Between Here And Gone

ASIN: B000MNOXI0
Release Date: 2007-03-06

Tracks:

The Calling
We're All Right
Twilight
It Must Have Happened
On And On It Goes
Your Life Story
Houston
Leaving Song
On With The Song
Closer And Closer Apart
Here I Am
Why Shouldn't We
Bright Morning Star

Amazon.com

In recent years, Mary Chapin Carpenter--once among the most promising stars of the folkie infiltration of Nashville ("Down at the Twist and Shout," "I Feel Lucky")--abandoned all desire to dot the country music charts. Free of that ill-fitting yoke she returned to being what she really was all along: A literate acoustic singer-songwriter. In 2004, she released a tour de force, Between Here and Gone, which combined affecting social commentary on the events of 9/11 with personal meditations on her changed life as a married woman living in rural Virginia. The Calling picks up where that album left off, using the same co-producer, pianist Matt Rollings, and core musicians, including John Jennings, who helped Carpenter shape her sonic landscape some 20 years ago. If the new album goes farther in advocating a political conscience--"On with the Song" takes jabs at the jingoistic rubes who dissed the Dixie Chicks, while "Why Shouldn't We" insists we'll have worthy heroes in office again one day--it largely invokes the same quiet, warm, and conversational tone as its predecessor. On the whisper-soft "Twilight," which frames a perfect, peaceful evening with a nearly spiritual grace, a listener might easily imagine himself chatting with the artist about long-held secrets and shared experiences, the Blue Ridge Mountains looming in the background. That is part of Carpenter's gift--connecting with her audience's shadow self, using her deeply nuanced alto to fill even the simplest words with profound knowing. As a pure craftsman, however, she ranks with the giants of past generations in capturing the small, bruised hearts seemingly lost in the chaos of a catastrophic event. "Houston," one such song here, recalls Woody Guthrie's great "Deportee" in its power and the pathos of the Hurricane Katrina victims who were forced to evacuate their homes, leaving everything behind but fear and hope. "Mama's got her baby/Sleeping in a grocery cart," it begins, at once setting up a picture of wrenching desperation. Carpenter, no stranger to blue moods herself, knows how tough it is to emerge from a dark period of pained restlessness to find one's very self again. The album's soothing closer, "Bright Morning Star," like much of the record as a whole, offers a beacon of light and safe harbor for those shipwrecked on life's rocky shores. --Alanna Nash

Album Description

As a songwriter and performer, Mary Chapin Carpenter has long since transcended the traditional notions of genre and style, finding widespread acclaim for her poetic, elegantly - observed compositions. The Calling, her first release for ZoÃ«/Rounder, is the most topical album she's made in her twenty-year career. While it unequivocally addresses issues both public and political - from the after-effects of Hurricane Katrina to religious zealotry to the trial-by-radio of the Dixie Chicks -- there is also something deeply personal about this extraordinary collection of songs. The album is a powerful, provocative meditation on the mysteries of fate and circumstance, which mingles timeless questions with contemporary issues. Introspective, defiant and deeply resonant, The Calling is a profound set from one of modern songwriting's most distinctive voices.

Featuring "It Must Have Happened," "We're All Right," and "On with the Song."

Customer Reviews:

Best Yet!!.......2007-07-10

I have been a huge Mary Chapin fan since her career began. I have to say that this Album is one of the best. She uses her voice to speak out against the fear-based prejudice that has gripped our country. Thank you Mary Chapin Carpenter!

Really nice..........2007-07-08

I recommend this cd to anyone who likes good country/folk music. Mary Chapin Carpenter's voice is really nice.

Queen of sensation.......2007-06-27

This album is so good words cannot express how this dear lady sings (she is a life saver).

A song of hope.......2007-06-27

I heard her song Why Shouldn't We on local independant radio and it knocked me over. An inclusive song of hope for the young and old, Why shouldn't we believe in things that give us hope, why shouldn't we. Her other songs are lovely also I listened to it in my car over and over again for weeks. I still love it.

BEST TRUE FOLK SONGS--the calling.......2007-06-06

I have been a MCC fan for some time. I have all her cd's. The calling has excellent music and is equal or better than Stones in the Road. These songs have political and personal messages which move one to think. The music is awesome and the tunes stick in your brain for some time. I listen to the cd when I work out and find myself humming or singing aloud. Again, Mary has created an album for our times with lyrics and music of the highest quality.

Average customer rating:

Awesome
Great voice...but
Aussome Keith!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love this guy!
This Pretty Boy Country Rock moves this Cowboy

Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing
Keith Urban
Manufacturer: Liberty
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

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Enjoy The Ride
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ASIN: B000ICM5QW
Release Date: 2006-11-07

Tracks:

Once In A Lifetime
Shine
I Told You So
I Can't Stop Loving You
Won't Let You Down
Faster Car
Stupid Boy
Used To The Pain
Raise The Barn (featuring Ronnie Dunn)
God Made Woman
Tu Compania
Everybody
Got It Right This Time

Amazon.com

It's tempting to read these songs--many about hope in the face of potential heartbreak--as an adjunct to Keith Urban's own tabloid-fodder life, which lately reads "ex-junkie country star marries Nicole Kidman, enters rehab." But his three previous albums have similar dark undertones. That would also be an underestimation of Urban's creative powers, which are broad enough to balance assembly-line Nashville pop with emotionally fine-tuned artistry. Breezy rockers like "Faster Car," sweet hooky ballads like "Shine," and readymade big-chorus hits like "Once in a Lifetime" rub elbows with more complex numbers like "I Can't Stop Loving You"--an essay about sad courage that starts with an acoustic guitar and adds instrumental textures as it unfolds--and "Stupid Boy," a tale of loss and self-discovery. It's no coincidence that both those songs climax with Urban's own crying guitar solos. As a player, his bold, midrange-heavy tone complements his most nuanced vocal performances. Another highlight is "Raise the Barn," which Urban co-wrote and sings with Ronnie Dunn. The cheerful tune, inspired by the survivors of Hurricane Katrina, is a tribute to the durability of the human spirit--a subject Urban seems to know more than a little about. --Ted Drozdowski

More Keith Urban

Be Here
Golden Road
Keith Urban

Customer Reviews:

Awesome.......2007-06-28

I have to say, for not being a huge fan of most of what i have heard on the radio, this album has definately changed my mind about this guy. It is Great!

Great voice...but.......2007-06-27

I love Keith Urban, but this is the first album I've purchased of his. I love "Stupid Boy" along with a number of others, however some of the songs just didn't really do much for me. I was just a tad disappointed. It was a good album but not a great one.

Aussome Keith!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-06-19

Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy thing is a great album. There are love songs filled with the emotions that I can relate too. There are sad songs and there are silly songs. Its is a true compilation of the emotions that we all feel every day put to great tunes. I personally feel that Keith's poetry is beautiful. He is the whole package. The passion that he feels for life and his music come thru loud and clear. Love his look, love his voice, love his talent. Can't go wrong with this album whether you are a country music lover or rocker.......its all here. Rock on Keith and keep sharing your love, pain and crazy things :)

Love this guy!.......2007-06-08

He can do no wrong! I love most all of the songs on this CD. Can't stop listening to them!

This Pretty Boy Country Rock moves this Cowboy.......2007-06-01

Now I'm a hardscrabble, no holds barred, put up or shut up kind of dude. So, I didn't think these poignant ballads and mid-tempo rockers would agree with my aggressive and in-your-face attitude. Boy was I wrong!

By the end of this CD, I was just twirling round the room thinking about how my life would have been different, if I hadn't been too proud to take that drama class I wanted to. So yes, there is some regret. I think I could have been a powerful performer along the lines of Rob Lowe in St. Elmo's Fire or Freddy Prinze Jr. in the ABC smash hit sitcom, "Freddie."

Not sure why a film star of Prinze's magnitude would take a sitcom role, but what do I know. I'm just a rough cat from the badlands of Brentwood.

Anyway, I want to thank Mr. Urban for giving me the courage to see that my life has been a waste. It's time for me to take that drama class. Look out Mr. Lowe!

Average customer rating:

Her Finest Hour
My Best Friend
move, inspire and entertain
Buy it!
One of Patti's Very Best

Children Running Through
Patty Griffin
Manufacturer: ATO Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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West
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These Four Walls

ASIN: B000LV63PO
Release Date: 2007-02-06

Tracks:

You'll Remember
Stay On The Ride
Trapeze
Getting Ready
Burgundy Shoes
Heavenly Day
No Bad News
Railroad Wings
Up To The Mountains (MLK Song)
I Don't Ever Give Up
Someone Else's Tomorrow
Crying Over

Amazon.com

On her fifth studio CD, folk-rocker Patty Griffin employs three timeless themes--childhood, flight, and death--to craft her most musically diverse and accessible album yet. But while moving through jazz, beatnik, classic and modern folk, gospel R&B, Americana, and moody piano ballad, Griffin keeps her backing quiet and spare, all the more to showcase the power of her deft storytelling and the bell clarity of her unadorned soprano. On song after song, the characters who waft through her experience are on the move, chasing one thing and fleeing another--on trains, ships, buses, in cars, even on the aerialist's bar--ultimately trading an ending of one kind for a new beginning and transference. Sometimes--as on the Rickie Lee Jones-ish "Stay on the Ride," where an old man with no name answers an existential urge for going--they don't even know what it is. "Trapeze," the most resonant offering, follows an aging circus performer who'd rather work without a net than take her chances in love. Here, Emmylou Harris adds one of her most aching harmony lines to Griffin's exquisite, ethereal lead, while in the next track, "Getting Ready," the singer turns a 180, laying a sneering Dylanesque vocal over a fiercely scrubbed acoustic guitar and an occasional dissonant kiss-off. "Baby, baby, you were my drug/And I was just your cigarette," she drones knowingly. One suspects that particular object of her affections will soon regret it. --Alanna Nash

Customer Reviews:

Her Finest Hour.......2007-07-10

I've always been a sorta-kinda fan of Patty Griffin, but each of her prior albums has suffered from a few (or more) dud songs, and moments where her voice struggles against notes that she just can't hit very well. Finally an album where these problems are nearly absent! It's amazing how gracefully she's aging; her voice has never sounded so good. A couple tracks took some time to grow on me, but now I can honestly say it's a pleasure for me to listen to this album from beginning to end without skipping a single track. And as for the standout tracks...I would name them, but there are about seven of them. (Though "No Bad News" and "Up to the Mountain" are among the best songs she's ever recorded.) I can't wait to hear her next album, but if Children Running Through ends up being her masterpiece, that's good enough for me.

My Best Friend.......2007-07-09

I wish I could square the 5 star rating. I was familiar with Patty Griffin's songs long before I heard her beautiful voice. She is a marvel. I normally need to warm up to new music before I start to enjoy it. This lovely collection was my current favorite the first time I heard it. Heavenly Day is now my "happy place" when I need one. I'd give Patty a hug if I could reach far enough. Thanks for the good times!

move, inspire and entertain.......2007-07-08

Patty Griffin is a storyteller. Rarely confessional or self-indulgent, she tells tales, assumes personas and takes the listener deep into the lives of her characters. Each persona has her or his own musical interpretation, deepening and strengthening the voice. In "Up to the Mountain (MLK Song)," Griffin assumes the voice of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and puts herself into to the head and heart of a man working for a vision and a dream. Hope seems to be a theme on this latest effort, as is travel. "Stay on the Ride" has a man riding the bus day in and day out because "it's gonna take me somewhere." Griffin takes some musical risks and periodically diverges from her comfortable style, as in the jazzier tones of the opening track, "You'll Remember," and the gospel-infused strains of "Heavenly Day" and "Up to the Mountain." "Trapeze" showcases a gorgeous duet with the master of harmonies, Emmylou Harris. Patty Griffin is an artist who has hit her stride and stayed there for years. This album proves her staying power and continued ability to move, inspire and entertain.

Buy it!.......2007-07-07

I'll be brief. After reading all of the other reviews of Patty Griffin's "Children Running Through" there just isn't much left to say. Others have already favorably compared her lyrics to the likes of Dylan, and her vocal stylings to Sam Cooke. So what's left to add? Just this: This album is destined to become a classic. It is flat out the finest collection of musical offerings that I have heard in years. Not since I first listened to "Dark Side of the Moon", or some years later U2's "Joshua Tree", have I fallen so instantly and completely in love with an album. In particular her gospel/soul inspired "Heavenly Day" has easily found it's way onto my top five favorite songs of all time list. This was my first Patty Griffin album, but it won't be my last. Buy it!

One of Patti's Very Best.......2007-07-04

In "Children Running Through" Patti Griffin belts out some of the most powerful folk lyrics of 2007. Patti Griffin sounds like Austin, Texas. "Children Running Through" is amongst her best. "Heavenly Day" will be remembered as a favorite song from this cd, with her powerful voice inviting us to enjoy the day. Much of the cd is reflective in tone with a spiritual emphasis evident in "Heavenly Day", "Up to the Mountain (MLK Song)" and many others. She rocks us with her classy blues rock in tunes like "Stay on the Ride". And she gives us raucous time on "No Bad news" and "Getting Ready" which remind me of some of Patti's early harder rockin feel on her album Flaming Red - her self-described "loud album."
Her duet on "trapeze" with guest vocalist Emmylou Harris All the Roadrunning is a delightful alt-country treat. Their voices blend so sweetly with great strength and beauty. In addition to the guest appearance of Emmylou Harris, Ian McLagan Extra Live also plays piano with her on "Heavenly Day" and "Up to the Mountain (MLK Song)." Many other talented artists add instrumental highlights to the cd. It really is amongst her best. What a treasure.

John Denver - Definitive All-Time Greatest Hits

Average customer rating:

Great but Still Wanted More
TRUELY a song's best friend!
John Denver definative all time greatest hits
All of John Denver's Greatest Hits
John Denver - Definitive All-Time Greatest Hits

John Denver - Definitive All-Time Greatest Hits
John Denver
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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A Song's Best Friend - John Denver Remembered
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Rocky Mountain High

ASIN: B0002WZT4S
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Tracks:

Leaving, On A Jet Plane
Take Me Home, Country Roads
Sunshine On My Shoulders
Poems, Prayers And Promises
The Eagle And The Hawk
Rocky Mountain High
Farewell Andromeda (Welcome To My Morning)
Annie's Song
Back Home Again
Sweet Surrender
Thank God I'm A Country Boy
I'm Sorry
Calypso
Fly Away
Looking For Space
Like A Sad Song
My Sweet Lady
Perhaps Love
Shanghai Breezes
Wild Montana Skies

Tracks:

Leaving, On A Jet Plane (Babe, I Hate To Go)
The Weight
Annie's Song (Acoustic Mix)
Calypso (Acoustic Mix)

Album Description

John Denver has sold over 60 million albums worldwide making him one of the best selling artists of all time. This year marks the 35th anniversary of Denver's first RCA album Rhymes And Reasons and is the 30th anniversary of his recording "Annie's Song." In his amazing career, Denver has sold over 60 million records worldwide and is one of the best selling artists in history with 21 Gold, 14 Platinum and seven Multi- Platinum certified albums. His numerous awards and honors include: the Grammy Hall of Fame Award (1997), induction into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame (1996), the People's Choice Award (1977), the Albert Schweitzer Music Award (1993), multiple American Music and Country Music Association Awards (including Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year), and the Academy of Country Music Award. Universally loved and successful, he wrote and recorded some of the most recognizable and covered songs of our time. BMG Strategic Marketing Group assembles here, the definitive single disc collection of Denver favorites, along with a bonus disc of special and previously unreleased songs that every fan will want to have. Pulled from the original master tapes and remastered to perfection, this is the purest sounding John Denver ever.

Customer Reviews:

Great but Still Wanted More.......2007-06-27

First, I do not like the cover. But beyond that, the CD is great fun to listen to. John Denver had so many hits, that this doesn't cover all of them by any means, but it is a great CD to take you back to a more peaceful time musically. It makes me want to bring out my guitar and play along.

TRUELY a song's best friend!.......2007-05-28

what else can i say? at 36, and i grew up in a strictly religious household, so i missed him growing up, but i got spots going into public places & whatnot. i remember a vacation while young in the WV woods when one of his most popular songs was on the radio & i memorized it the first time i heard it and sung it to myself time and time again, while walking through the woods or horse back riding- just enjoying nature. he has a way of giving you nature and the beauty of it in a song. God gave us such as one as him so we could stop and remember the beauty of all that is around us all the time.

John Denver definative all time greatest hits.......2007-05-26

This must be the best John Denver of all, it has the lot

All of John Denver's Greatest Hits.......2007-05-23

John Denver passed away in October, 1997 while piloting a small airplane. Before that, he left an indelible mark on the pop music industry. By combining harmonic vocals with a recognizable acoustic sound, John's music still remains popular with fans of all ages.

From the autobiographical "Rocky Mountain High" to the melodic and uplifting "Calypso", this collection contains many of John's most famous songs. Other selections include "Annie"; a song John wrote for his wife, "Take me Home, Country Roads", and "Thank God I'm a Country Boy".

I wasn't a big fan of John Denver before I bought this CD, but I really enjoy listening to his music now. This is the perfect disc for the casual fan, because all of his most popular hits are on it; there's no need to buy several other discs to get them.

I give this great collection my highest recommendation. If you're a major fan or just a casual fan, then this is the CD you'll want to own.

John Denver - Definitive All-Time Greatest Hits.......2007-05-06

Most of the all time favorites, brings back lots of good memories

Gordon Lightfoot - Complete Greatest Hits

Average customer rating:

If you're in a mellow mood, this is perfect
Excellent CD, Singer & Songwriter
G. Lightfoot-Complete Greatest Hits
The timeless voice and music of Gordon Lightfoot
Gordon Lightfoot CD

Gordon Lightfoot - Complete Greatest Hits
Gordon Lightfoot
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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America - The Complete Greatest Hits
The Very Best of Cat Stevens
United Artists Collection [2 CD Set]
The Best of Bread
Classic Hits

ASIN: B00005YW4N
Release Date: 2002-04-02

Tracks:

Early Morning Rain
For Lovin' Me
Go-Go Round
Canadian Railroad Trilogy
Pussywillows, Cat-Tails
Bitter Green
If You Could Read My Mind
Summer Side of Life
Cotton Jenny
Beautiful
Sundown
Carefree Highway
Rainy Day People
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
Race Among the Ruins
Daylight Katy
The Circle is Small
Baby Step Back
Stay Loose
Restless

Amazon.com

Though he rose from the ranks of journeyman '60s folksinger to become a potent and consistent '70s hit maker, Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot's stock in trade was as much hard-eyed, dispassionate observation as romance or poetic whimsy. Perhaps that's why his songs have been covered by everyone from Elvis (this set's "Early Morning Rain") to Dylan. If there's such a thing as an alpha-male folkie, Lightfoot certainly fits the bill. Spanning the tongue-in-cheek chauvinism of 1965's "For Lovin' Me" and the cheatin' ways of "Sundown" to more introspective fare like "If You Could Read My Mind" and "Beautiful," this 20-track collection presents a concise primer on Lightfoot's career and craft. After his career peaked with one of the most unlikely top five hits ever, the gloom-laden 1976 narrative "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," Lightfoot's production tailed off sharply, though this anthology's "Stay Loose" ('86) and "Restless" ('93) are testament to his enduring skills as a songwriter and performer. --Jerry McCulley

Album Description

20 classic hits released by United Artists, Reprise and Warner Bros. From 1965 to 1987. features the hits 'Sundown', 'If You Could read My Mind', 'The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald', 'Carefree Highway' and many more!

Customer Reviews:

If you're in a mellow mood, this is perfect.......2007-06-05

I knew many of the songs before I received this album as a gift. There were more on there that I knew and even the ones I didn't know are pretty good.

Excellent CD, Singer & Songwriter.......2007-03-28

It had been a long time since I had heard anything by Gordon Lightfoot. As I listened to the songs play, it was like he was telling me stories. Short narratives put to music & played flawlessly. Gordon Lightfoot has been a favorite of mine for some time & listening to "The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald" is just awesome from beginning to end. You can feel the power of the waves hitting the freighter & the futility on the crews efforts. There were many other songs I had not heard before, but they too were just as good. That is the benefit of buying a collection of tunes on a "Greatest Hits" CD. His singing & guitar playing are very good throughout the CD. Check it out.

G. Lightfoot-Complete Greatest Hits.......2007-01-23

I bought this for my son for Christmas. That was on the top of the list. He loves it, just exactly what he wanted.

The timeless voice and music of Gordon Lightfoot.......2007-01-14

It's just not possible to get tired of this fantastic singer-songwriter. The only tune missing from this collection is "Don Quixote", which has a message we all could appreciate these days. Thank you for the music, Gordon!

Gordon Lightfoot CD.......2007-01-10

I am really enjoying listening to this cd, it brings back alot of good memories

Average customer rating:

This guy does not rock
Long awaited
Satisfied again
I was sleeping on John Mayer...
Love it!

Heavier Things
John Mayer
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Room for Squares
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Songs About Jane

ASIN: B0000ALSDR
Release Date: 2003-09-09

Tracks:

Clarity
Bigger Than My Body
Something's Missing
New Deep
Come Back To Bed
Homelife
Split Screen Sadness
Daughters
Only Heart
Wheel

Amazon.com

John Mayer's big-label debut was a multiplatinum breakthrough success whose sensual anthem "Your Body Is a Wonderland" scored him an unlikely Grammy for Best Pop Vocal. That out-of-the-box succes--and more than a few critics grousing that Mayer's muse was cloned from Dave Matthews--primed him for the typical sophomore slump. Instead, Mayer delivers an album whose tone and title suggests a gentle, tongue-in-cheek rebuke to his naysayers. Propelled by the subtle ambitions of an expanded pop-jazz framework (largely courtesy of Sheryl Crow/No Doubt/Jellyfish producer Jack Joseph Puig), Mayer's breathy vocal tack now suggests a detached, conflicted, and significantly less precious incarnation of Michael Franks. But, the way he weds fluid pop hooks to lyrical concerns whose self-obsessions are undercut by telling dollops of self-deprecation from the my-spirit's-too-big/smart-for-my-body laments of "Clarity," the upbeat single "Bigger Than My Body," and the bluesy plea "Come Back to Bed" to the cautionary, melodically-rich "Daughters" and even the antimaterialist agitprop of "Something's Missing should clearly draw in listeners." --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

This guy does not rock.......2007-06-07

I saw John last night, June 5, 2007, in San Jose. I hadn't heard alot of his material, but did hear that he had alot of talent, so I was looking forward to the show and went with an open mind. I checked around the internet and saw stark differences in how people perceived him; some spoke of Jimi Hendrix, or Stevie Ray Vaughan, and others said he was sugar-coated. So here's the story: this guy does not rock. He is not a blues player. He is what I would call an adult contemporary artist, which to me is one step below soft rock. For example, he did a version of "I Don't Need No Doctor". This has been done by many; my favorite is the Humble Pie version. His version was really bad. Not bad like good, but bad like lame. I could have left then, but stuck it out, and it did not improve. He's got some talent with the guitar, but no notion of what to do with it.

Long awaited.......2007-05-30

When this CD first came out I rushed to buy it! It was very long awaited for me and I was not let down. To date Heavier things is one of my favorite Mayer albums.
His lets his soul shine in this cd with come back to bed, and one of my favorite songs of his ever- Split Screen Sadness. The CD starts off with a more brassy sound, and includes the mega hits Daughters, Bigger than my body. Only Heart at the end of the CD is also a very "fleetwood mac" stlye song like I have seen in some of his other songs. It's catchy, and fun to listen to. I often wondered why this was not a single. There are other sweet songs like the title track, and Home life.
I don't think this album is musically more mature, but lyrically more mature, and a bit of a different sound, but has some songs that sound very much the same. I find his lyrics to be incredibly deep and moving.
He's my favorite artists, and if you love his first studio album Room for Squares you will most definitely like this.

Satisfied again.......2007-05-26

The CD was in perfect condition. Thanks for the quick turn-around. I don't think it was even a full week before I rec'd it.

I was sleeping on John Mayer... .......2007-05-18

I seriously don't know how he came out in 1999 and I just "stumbled" across his CD's when I was looking through other music a few weeks back and found this GEM. I purchased all his CDs (and a couple imports with limited releases)... WOW. Lyrics are amazing. Music is good. Flow is amazing.
Powerful artist. Powerful music. Likely ahead of his time with the depth and delivery of his lyrics (I had to check my friends - the ones who already had his music - for keeping this to themselves... and checked the rest for missing him too).
He's a must-buy, must-have in your collection. If you have any appreciation for meaningful music that has a variety of delivery (i.e. he has cuts that had me laughing out loud with how he addresses the subject matter - he can be both deep and not so serious at the same time - I LOVE that!), you must make this purchase.

Love it!.......2007-03-21

Lest I sound like every other fawning fan, I must confess I LOVE THIS GUY! John Mayer's unique soothing voice, combined with his lyrical poetry and sweet, sweet guitar riffs make this album a keeper. "New Deep" takes the cake for me, but my best friend swears by "Split Screen Sadness." The entire album is great although "Daughters" has been slightly overplayed. Once you start listening to John Mayer, you'll want every other album he's cut. Trust me. I've got 'em all.

Average customer rating:

Best Buffett CD in a Decade!!
A great CD that Buffett fans will enjoy
Another Good One!
New JB CD
Best in Years

Take the Weather With You
Jimmy Buffett
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Jimmy Buffett - Live at Wrigley Field Double Header
Live at Texas Stadium
Like Red on a Rose
Still the Same...Great Rock Classics Of Our Time
Meet Me In Margaritaville: The Ultimate Collection

ASIN: B000I0QK7E
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Tracks:

Bama Breeze
Party At The End Of The World
Weather With You
Everybody's On The Phone
Whoop De Doo
Nothin' But A Breeze
Cinco De Mayo In Memphis
Reggabilly Hill
Elvis Presley Blues
Hula Girl At Heart
Wheel Inside The Wheel
Silver Wings
Breahte In, Breathe Out, Move On
Duke's On Sunday

Amazon.com

What you see is rarely what you get with Jimmy Buffett. While he may contend that he is the king of slackers, a modern day Dean Martin whipping up fizzy rum drinks under the palm trees in a silk Hawaiian shirt, this best-selling author and raconteur is actually the thinking man's party animal. His deceptively breezy lyrics and lazy charm belie a shrewd social commentator and a man not at peace with his world or his own mortality--taking well-aimed potshots at everything from cell phone culture to ancient Greek history to the threat of terrorism, as on the sharply ironic "Party at the End of the World." But having said that, all the unrest exhibited in these 14 songs makes for a far more interesting album than he's made in over two decades. Reflective, unstinting, and often nostalgic, the musician changes the tempo and the subject matter, swapping his usual languid island exhortations of alcohol and brief bikini tops for the fascinating emotional ambiguity of "Whoop De Doo," or the simple charm of "Nothing but a Breeze," which seems so autobiographical it's hard to believe that Buffett didn't write it. But the standout track is his chilling cover of Mary Gauthier's "Wheel Inside the Wheel," revealing exactly what kind of demons have been residing under the singer's ever-present baseball cap. --Jaan Uhelszki

Customer Reviews:

Best Buffett CD in a Decade!!.......2007-06-29

After the commercially successful (but disappointing to me) "License To Chill" I was afraid Jimmy may continue down the "generic, glossed up country" road. I wasn't all that excited about this CD coming out due to that reasaon but to my surprise he has released his best and most consistent CD since "Banana Wind". Alot of good stuff on here including some excellent cover tunes ("Weather With You", "Nothing But a Breeze", "Whoop De Do"). "Bama Breeze" has a country feel to it but the CD never crosses into the "mainstream Nashville" sound that "License" did. Even my wife who isn't a Buffett fan loves "Weather With You". Excellent cover of the Crowded House tune. If you are like me and didn't care much for "License To Chill" give this one a chance. Yeah it's not "A1A" or "Changes In Latitude" or "Havana Daydreamin'" (what I consider Buffett's holy trinity) but it's a solid enjoyable CD.

A great CD that Buffett fans will enjoy.......2007-05-17

This is another excellent CD by Jimmy Buffett. The CD starts with a great song, "Bama Breeze" and rolls right along with great songs such as "Take the Weather with You" and "Party at the End of the World." A really interesting song is "Whoop De Doo" that features Mark Knopfler on guitar and every song will have you singing along and wishing you were somewhere in the Caribbean or on a beach somewhere away from the daily grind.

One song, "Breathe in, Breathe out, Move on" is a insightful song about Hurricane Katrina. The lyrics are great and really struck a chord when I listened to it the first time.

This CD is definitely worth adding to anyone's collection!

Another Good One!.......2007-05-13

Just another one of Buffett's great albums! It's a bit different than Cheeseburger in Paradise or Fins but it's good just the same! If you like Jimmy than you'll like this!

New JB CD.......2007-05-08

After listening to the album once and then attending his Frisco concert, I have really grown to like this album immensely. I really like Take the Weather With You and Party at the End of the World. I think we will hear these two songs for many years to come.

Best in Years.......2007-05-01

Jimmy is an odd sort. While many country stars imitate his music style now (Alan Jackson's 5 o'clock, Kenny Chesney's last CD) Jimmy is still going the other direction trying to break into country music. 'Take the Weather...' is his latest attempt to get back into the genre. While this to me is an odd move, I think this is his best effort in the last 10 years. Bama Breeze, Weather with you and Dukes on Sunday are wonderful songs both in composition and style. And while he didn't actually write many of the songs, there is a definite Jimmy feel and vibe through the CD. This CD has become one of my favorites in our Buffett library. If you haven't bought a Buffett CD in some time, this would be a good reintroduction.

Average customer rating:

Prine and twang......
I guess I'm an "average people."
A Disappointment ...and so sorry to say it
John Prine Love
Awfully corny

Standard Songs for Average People
John Prine & Mac Wiseman
Manufacturer: Oh Boy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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John Prine Live On Soundstage 1980
My Name Is Buddy
Last of the Breed
Stars in My Crown
West

ASIN: B000NVLJRO
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Tracks:

Blue Eyed Elaine
Don't Be Ashamed Of Your Age
I Forgot To Remember To Forget
I Love You Because
Pistol Packin' Mama
Saginaw Michigan
Old Dogs, Children And Watermelon Wine
Old Cape Cod
Death Of Floyd Collins
The Blue Side Of Lonesome
In The Garden
Just The Other Side Of Nowhere
Old Rugged Cross
Where The Blue Of The Night

Amazon.com

Things don't get much schmaltzier than a Dobro played Hawaiian style, which is why it's fitting that Cowboy Jack Clement offers one up on "The Blue Side of Lonesome," Leon Payne's dated but charming classic--only one such excursion into blue-haired reminiscing on an album of over-the-top sentimentality. It was the legendary Clement who paired smart-ass folkie Prine and bluegrass totem Wiseman, but the singers themselves chose the repertoire, which reads like songs people of a certain age might pick on a dry drunk. The tunes range, believe it or not, from religious hymns to covers of Patti Page's 1957 hit "Old Cape Cod," Kris Kristofferson's underrated "Just the Other Side of Nowhere," and Tom T. Hall's "Old Dogs, Children, and Watermelon Wine," with a little Elvis and Ernest Tubb thrown in for good measure. It's fitting that Prine and Wiseman revisit the Hall standard, since oddly, both singers vocally favor the Nashville storyteller from time to time. But one has to question their use of the Grand Ole Opry's Carol Lee Singers, who show up on several cuts and seem, well, just bizarre on a John Prine record, even as they evoke the lushly famous Nashville Sound of the 1960s. Suffice it to say, this is a quirky project, and if Prine's scratchy baritone and Wiseman's melodic tenor sometimes overlap to where you can't tell who's singing what, it doesn't much matter. You're listening to two new pals having what seems to be the time of their life. --Alanna Nash

Customer Reviews:

Prine and twang.............2007-07-03

I first caught the wind of the country & western direction in John Prine when I heard his earlier CD "In Spite of Ourselves." The Nashville influence has laid a noticable twang on his voice to the extent that the vocals are sometimes hardly recognizable as Mr. Prine. As mentioned in some of the other reviews, on my first listening, I also thought immediately of Tom T. Hall. For long time followers more accustomed to John's rebellious angles (and the wry title, at least, is pure Prine) this CD might be quite a shock. But I accept it as simply the mark of a mature artist stretching himself artistically, not "selling out" for the sake of sales to a mellower audience. My apologies for not commenting more about Mac, I am less familiar with his work but I assume that stylistically this is more in his comfort zone. His vocals bond nicely with John's and this is definitely equality in a duet. A nice relaxing work, accept it for what it is, not what you expect of John Prine.

I guess I'm an "average people.".......2007-06-27

I heard John Prine and Mac Wiseman on NPR one afternoon
and fell in love. Their song choices are wonderful.

A Disappointment ...and so sorry to say it.......2007-06-26

This was such a disappointment. I had looked forward to this for months, having admired Mac Wiseman for over fifty years, and Prine for thirty or so. But this just doesn't work.

The songs are such classics that each singer could do them well while singing by himslef. But there are just no strong emotional tugs from these "collaborations." Mac has done some great work singing with other bluegrass singers, and Prine has been terrific in his work with women singers ... but these two great men never seem to feed off one another. The feel suggests that these guys were not even singing together. I'll lay this away and go back to the many songs that I have by each that are so terrific.

John Prine Love.......2007-06-14

I don't think there is anything John Prine could do to diminish the love we feel for his music in our family. We think he might be America's poet, or one of them anyway. This CD is sweet and lovely and seems like two great guys sitting down playing and singing some nice tunes together and we all get to listen or sing along. "Standard songs for average people..." - the title says it all. Just a sweet ole time with John Prine and, in this case, with Mr. Wiseman, too. I gave this to my husband for our anniversary, along with the recently released John Prine DVD, and we are always just so grateful for great artists and John Prine is surely one.

Awfully corny.......2007-06-12

Sorry, love nearly all of JP's output but this is the worst I've ever heard, schmaltzy, corny, cringe-inducing, hurts me to say but it's the way I would see it. Bought it blind on the strength of all John's other stuff and regretted it immediately. If everyone else thinks it's great, maybe I can get my money back on ebay...

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