Country Rock [Import]

country rock [import]

Track Listings
1. Jackson Browne- Running On Empty
2. Lynyrd Skynyrd- Sweet Home Alabama
3. Doobie Brothers- China Grove
4. Zz Top- Tush
5. The Allman Bros Band- Ramblin' Man
6. Buffalo Springfield- For What's Worth
7. The Byrds- Mr Tambourine Man
8. Steve Earle- Copperhead Road
9. Rod Stewart -Broken Arrow
10. Dan Fogelberg- Part Of The Plan
11. Orleans- Still The One
12. Andrew Gold- Lonely Boy
13. Australian Crawl- Oh No Not You Again
14. Cold Chisel- Flame Trees
15. Richard Clapton- Best Years Of Our Lives
16. Steve Forbet- Romeo's Tune
17. Warren Zevon- Werewolves Of London
18. Joe Walsh- Life's Been Good
19. Stevie Ray Vaughan- Couldn't Stand The Weather
20. Jeff Healy Band- While My Guitar Gently Weeps
See all 35 tracks on this disc

Country Rock,Various Artists,Sony,Rock


Country Rock [Import]
Five Leaves Left
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Hauntingly Beautiful
  • about volkswagen and pink moon
  • I like Nick Drake better than Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, and Leonard Cohen
  • The Start Of The End...
  • A perfect album.
Five Leaves Left
Nick Drake
Manufacturer: Umvd Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. XO
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ASIN: B000026FOA
Release Date: 2003-05-06

Tracks:

  1. Time Has Told Me
  2. River Man
  3. Three Hours
  4. Way To Blue
  5. Day Is Done
  6. 'Cello Song
  7. The Thoughts Of Mary Jane
  8. Man In A Shed
  9. Fruit Tree
  10. Saturday Sun

Amazon.com

There's not a single dud in the trilogy of albums that singer/songwriter Nick Drake released during his all-too-short career. And 1968's Five Leaves Left--his first album--is certainly no exception. Drake's sensitive guitar work and sensitive vocals are backed by the baroque sounds of a chamber string group, and the platter's lyrics show maturity well beyond the age of their 20-year-old creator. Sparser than its follow-up, the jazzy Bryter Layter, but less tortured than Drake's dark final chapter, Pink Moon, Five Leaves Left is a classic British folk disc. Songs like "River Man," "The Thoughts of Mary Jane," and "Day Is Done" are among Drake's finest moments. Newcomers be forewarned: this music is as infectious as it is bleak, and a purchase of Drake's boxed set Fruit Tree might be a wise investment. --Jason Verlinde

Album Description

Reissue of the late British folk icon's 1969 debut album. Ten tracks. Island.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Hauntingly Beautiful.......2007-06-08

With this ten dollar CD purchase, I replaced the import vinyl version I purchased back in the 70s for basically the same amount of dough. "Five Leaves Left" is probably one of the best debut albums anyone's ever produced (there's a list I need to make), and nearly four decades after it was released it sounds amazingly fresh. "Cello Song," "When the Day is Done," "Man in a Shed,"...I could rave about individual songs but the truth is there's not a clunker in the bunch.
A lot of CD collections have been compiled of Drake's music, with added outtakes, demos and such. I think the best way to listen to "Five Leaves Left" and "Bryter Layter" are to listen to the songs in the order that they were originally presented. A lot of musicians cite Drake as an influence, but his vocal phrasing, poetic lyrics and odd guitar tunings make his music like no other I've ever heard. Some find his music depressing, I find it like a rainy Sunday afternoon...melancholy but much needed for growth.

5 out of 5 stars about volkswagen and pink moon.......2007-03-05

Some reviewers are critical of Volkswagen's use of Pink Moon in one of their commercials. I'm not. I praise it.
I lived in Germany when the commercial was aired the first time, - it came on TV one late night. And like many other viewers, I was hypnotized.
Did we all run out to buy cars? No. But we all called or wrote to VW, to ask who the singer was.
After that, I have always had a warm little spot in my heart for VW, becaused they introduced Nick Drake to the world. Money here, and money there. I still believe there was a large part heart in the making of that commercial.

5 out of 5 stars I like Nick Drake better than Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, and Leonard Cohen.......2007-01-18

I understand that that's quite a bold claim I'm making, placing this little known songwriter ahead of the greatest folk singer songwriters of our era. Now I love all the aforementioned artists, so let me list my reasons. The lyrics can be read by themselves like poetry, they are less obtuse than Bob Dylan (they make sense), less sullen and artsy than Leonard Cohen (they are clearly song lyrics, but no less expressive), and no doubt more profound than Simon & Garfunkel. I really connect to his lyrics which are clearly borne out of deep despair, but because they are so beautiful and paired with such beautiful music they aren't sullen and melancholic. Rather, the music is cathartic in its despair and uplifting in its beauty. In fact, I think his lyrics are so universal that I can use the chorus from one of his most famous songs to describe him:

Time has told me
You're a rare rare find
A troubled cure
For a troubled mind.

How true. Now as far as my personal taste, I prefer Nick Drake and especially this album for my own reasons. I'm a sucker for virtuoso finger picking on acoustic guitar, achingly beautiful string arrangements, and cathartic singing. Nick Drake is virtuosic with all 3 on this album, so I'm really happy I found this, I actually wasn't crazy about him at first but I think he might now be one of my favorite artists. As far as where to start, go for this album or Pink Moon. This album has more musical depth instrumentally (lots more strings etc.), and Pink Moon is more tortured and much sparser, which in some ways makes it more powerful. Play this in the background while you work, then go to bed early and listen to this in the dark with some good headphones. The only con is that his music is not catchy like the 3 artists I compared him to. I think that's all that held him back. Enjoy!

5 out of 5 stars The Start Of The End..........2006-12-15

If you ask most of the general public who Nick Drake is about 90-95% won't know who you are talking about. That is because Nick was unknown during his lifetime and today he is still a relatively underground artist. However, all his studio albums are regarded as classics and all three frequently pop up on lists of great albums.

This was the album that started it all, the fascination. His debut album is generally regarded as being less depressing than it's successors. It contains a lot more orchestration and world music influences. Overall, it is a lot more richer in a generical sense.

The album starts off with "Time Has Told Me", a great little tune, which has some amazing instrumentation and has touches of country music inspiration. The electric guitar part is truly irresistable, while Nick's voice is strangely uplifting. Next is "River Man", this song is in a rather unusual time signature of 5/4. This gives the song and unorthodox structure. The string section is breathtaking.

The next song "Three Hours" is the first of two songs on the album to feature a slight world music touch courtesy of superb conga work by Rocki Dzidzornu. Following on from that is a song that is widely regarded as one of Nick's best and signature tunes, "Way To Blue". This song was also the title of a compilation of Nick's work released posthumously in 1994.

"Day Is Done" continues the rather autumnal, strangely mellow feel of this album. This song along with most in Nick's career features a string section arranged by his good friend Robert Kirby, who has gained fame for his work with Nick. "'Cello Song" s probably most notable for being featured in "The Good Girl" a movie starring Jennifer Aniston and Jake Gyllenhaal. It is used in the scene where Jake's character commits suicide. The superb cello work which gives the song its name is also very reminiscent of the cello part in PJ Harvey's song "Plants and Rags".

7 tracks in, "The Thoughts Of Mary Jane" may be viewed by many to be a reference to the infamous drug marijuana, this may be true as Nick was known to be a recreational marijuana user. "Man In A Shed" is a beautiful song whose lyrics give a meaning of isolation and seclusion, obviously autobiographical in Nick's case.

The final two songs are really great. It starts off with "Fruit Tree", whose lyrics offer a chilling insight into the mind of this tortured artist. The lyrics to this song have often been used as a template for Nick's life and sometimes to describe his mental state. Finally, "Saturday Sun" lifts the mood slightly up a bit. This song features Nick on piano and offers a glimpse of what subsequent albums could have been if he lived and experimented with his secondary instrument. Overall it is a beautiful track that has some jazzy bits.

In conclusion this album is definitely not as depressing as "Pink Moon" or as varied as "Bryter Layter", but it is still a magestic effort nonetheless. Nick is one the few artist whose every song is flawless, and even if he had lived longer subsequent albums would have almost guaranteed to be perfect.

5 out of 5 stars A perfect album........2006-10-16

I was lucky enough to hear to original LP when I was younger as my father was a huge fan of the ever thoughtful and often melancholy genius of Drake. There's nothing I can add that hasn't already been said with one exception. The re-master of this album is showing its colors in that there is a noticeable gain hiss from the original session tapes. This may have been a problem to deal with in the late 90's when this was re-mastered and re-issued. But with todays "de-hiss" technology, it effectively eliminates this slight noise that blankets the entire album. They really should reconsider re-re-mastering this album, again, from the original tapes, and not from this master to make this a completely perfect album in both execution and final CD (or DVD Audio) pressed result.
Chester & Lester
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • One of the best guitar albums ever
  • Classic meeting of the Greatest!
  • Shagadelic baby
  • Entertainment at its best, for the players and listeners.
  • This is why those Brits picked up their axes!
Chester & Lester
Chet Atkins
Manufacturer: Import [Generic]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Neck and Neck
  2. 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Les Paul
  3. Guitar Wizard
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  5. A Master And His Music

ASIN: B000007691
Release Date: 1997-03-26

Tracks:

  1. It's Been a Long, Long Time
  2. Medley: Moonglow/Picnic
  3. Caravan
  4. It Had to Be You
  5. Out of Nowhere
  6. Avalon
  7. Birth of the Blues
  8. Someday, Sweetheart
  9. 'Deed I Do
  10. Lover, Come Back to Me

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars One of the best guitar albums ever.......2005-12-14

This album focuses on two of the greatest guitarists, who you can easily hear their different styles on this recording.

The production and material is brilliant as well.

Once you could find this recording on a two for one cd, with the other recording they did called Guitar Monsters.

Les Paul supposively showed up with a cold and the performance is not as good. There is more joking around as well.

Never the less, if that recording, buy it. Else, purchase this recording.

By the way, why does Amazon include a 'NO' in 'was this review helpful to you?'. People are only human and don't like opinions that differ from themselves. With some who are less mature, this the 'NO' makes it too easy express such displeasure.

Are they trying to discourage negative reviews, hence not purchase the CD. Such reviews only help a person in not being dissatisfied a product that received positive reviews

5 out of 5 stars Classic meeting of the Greatest!.......2005-07-21

If you don't get any other Chet and/or Les album/CD's, get this one.
It's a wonderful chance to hear two of the greatest electric guitarists together. The vastly different styles of these two are a perfect blend, and the meeting of two old pros is classic. It's a lot of fun and great music.
I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

5 out of 5 stars Shagadelic baby.......2000-01-01

A most excellent listening experience. Two different and distinct styles that when combined with the proper amount of Budweiser creates a most shagariffic time.

5 out of 5 stars Entertainment at its best, for the players and listeners........1999-04-29

Chet Atkins reminds me of my father who used to play every evening in the living room after dinner. He'd listen to this album, get a good laugh, and start playing Caravan or Avalon. I have not seen my father for 20 years now but this record reminds me of those days. Days when I'd rather watch TV instead of listen to dad's picking. Days when country music was definitely not for a 10- or 11-year old growing up in southern California. Now that I have kids with whom I'd like to spend more of my time with, I realize the plain simple fun that my father was trying to have. He wasn't professional, but when he played with friends or relatives, it sounded like the fun Chet and Les are having on this album. I'd really like to dedicate this review to my father who lives somewhere in the US. We've lost contact for the last 20-some years, but I know he's listening to the analog version of this album very often. It was his favorite and now I know why.

5 out of 5 stars This is why those Brits picked up their axes!.......1998-07-12

The playful joy found in the interplay between These two masters of the guitar make you wish this record wouldn't stop! Part of the fun comes from the between songs banter between the "boys" left in tact. My only wish is that it was longer. Just can't get enough of these two together.
Dirt, Silver & Gold
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • A whole lot of memories
  • Dirt, Silver and Very Gold
  • Last of the good albums
  • NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND DIRT SILVER & GOLD
  • Outstanding
Dirt, Silver & Gold
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Manufacturer: Import [Generic]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000A2XRO
Release Date: 2003-09-08

Tracks:

  1. Buy for Me the Rain
  2. Melissa
  3. Collegiana
  4. Mournin' Blues
  5. Willie the Weeper
  6. Uncle Charlie Interview
  7. Mr. Bojangles
  8. Some of Shelly's Blues
  9. Cure
  10. House at Pooh Corner
  11. Randy Lynn Rag
  12. Clemente Opus 36 (John)
  13. Livin' Without You
  14. Sixteen Tracks
  15. Fish Song
  16. Creepin' 'Round Your Back Door
  17. Honky Tonkin'
  18. Togary Mountain
  19. Soldier's Joy

Tracks:

  1. Ripplin' Waters
  2. You Are My Flower
  3. Battle of New Orleans
  4. All I Have to Do Is Dream
  5. Rocky Top
  6. Gavotte No. 2
  7. Jamaica Lady
  8. Mother Earth (Provides for Me)
  9. Falling Down Slow
  10. Bowleg's
  11. Doc's Guitar
  12. Bayou Jubilee/Sally Was a Goodun
  13. Cosmic Cowboy, Pt. 1
  14. Win or Lose
  15. Woody Woodpecker
  16. Visiting an Old Friend
  17. Will the Circle Be Unbroken
  18. Foggy Mountain Breakdown

Album Description

2003 reissue of 1976 compilation that features some of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's greatest moments up to this point in their career. 37 tracks representing the largest anthology ever done on NGDB, originally released on 3 LPs. Slipcase. BGO.

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Edition of the Original Triple Album on Two Compact Discs. This 1976 Compilation Summarized their Recordings to that Year and features Guest Appearances from the Late Mother Maybelle Carter, Russ Kunkel, Byron Berline, Bobby Mason, Brian Savage, Jim Gordon and Many More. Includes "House at Pooh Corner", "Honky Tonkin'", "All I have to Do is Dream", "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" and of Course, "Will the Circle Be Unbroken".

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A whole lot of memories.......2007-05-07

I had this 3 record album back in college in the early 80's. This was one of the standards for our dorm parties. I lost the third record. I have been searching for the CD for years. I love Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's music and this one is classic.

5 out of 5 stars Dirt, Silver and Very Gold.......2007-01-29

Awesome album and a must for anyone into the bluegrass/country genre but likes a little rock and creative orchestration thrown in. Great covers and signs of better times--who would dare cover "House at Pooh Corner" these days? Tons of great music in this double album. Put it on, kick back and you'll be hummin' and singin' along before you know it.

5 out of 5 stars Last of the good albums.......2007-01-06

This is one album I have in vinyl, on tape, and now on cd. This has the good songs, the memories and the good times. After this, I lost interest in most of what the Dirt Band was performing. Either I grew up or they changed or just maybe, both.

5 out of 5 stars NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND DIRT SILVER & GOLD.......2006-11-10

Dirt Silver & Gold is a great CD. I owned a copy of the original two album set. The CD has been remixed and sounds great. The CD contains a great collection of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Bands best songs. I highly reccomend this CD to all Nitty Gritty fans.

5 out of 5 stars Outstanding.......2006-05-08

Nothing will ever replace the fold-out cover and enclosed book and poster of the original vinyl packaging, but the songs...and the sound. It's all here. And it's outstanding.
Greatest Hits: Platinum Edition
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Before Meat Loaf, there was Tom!
Greatest Hits: Platinum Edition
Tom Jones
Manufacturer: Umvd Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000FFCLPM
Release Date: 2006-05-15

Tracks:

  1. It's Not Unusual
  2. What's New Pussycat
  3. Green, Green Grass of Home
  4. Delilah
  5. Funny Familiar Forgotten Feelings
  6. I'll Never Fall in Love Again
  7. I'm Coming Home
  8. Help Yourself
  9. Love Me Tonight
  10. She's a Lady
  11. Thunderball
  12. Daughter of Darkness
  13. If I Only Knew
  14. Til
  15. Young New Mexican Puppeteer
  16. Boy from Nowhere
  17. Art of Noise - Tom Jones,
  18. Burning Down the House - The Cardigans, , Tom Jones
  19. Bab, It's Cold Outside - Tom Jones, Cerys Matthews
  20. Mama Told Me Not to Come - Tom Jones, Stereophonics
  21. Sexbomb - Tom Jones, Mousse T, Mousse T.
  22. Medley [From the Full Monty] - Robbie Williams
  23. Stoned in Love - Chicane, , Tom Jones

Album Description

Import only 24-track collection. The only collection that spans his entire career. Includes his biggest and best hits including 'It's Not Unusual', 'What's New Pussycat', 'Delilah', 'She's A Lady' along with his collaborations with The Cardigans, Cerys Matthews, Kelly Jones, Mousse T and his Brit Awards Full Monty Medley featuring Robbie Williams plus his 2006 single, 'Stoned In Love' with Chicane. Universal.

Album Details

Updated 2006 Version with the Single "Stoned in Love" Added.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Before Meat Loaf, there was Tom!.......2007-07-11

This compilation encompasses both the early and the later hits of the legendary vocalist. The most unforgettable songs from his most productive period in the 1960s and early 1970s are here: the country classic Green Green Grass Of Home, classic pop like It's Not Unusual, What's New Pussycat, She's A Lady and I'll Never Fall in Love Again and pulsating vocal rock or dramatic power ballads (Pre-Meatloafian) like Delilah, Thunderball, Help Yourself, Daughter Of Darkness and Young New Mexican Puppeteer. There are some omissions, like Detroit City and minor hits such as Once Upon a Time, Little Lonely One, and With These Hands.

The second phase of his career is well represented by his innovative collaborations with new generation artists like Art Of Noise - the magnificent Kiss (1988), Burning Down The House with the Cardigans, the cover of the Three Dog Night hit Mama Told Me Not To Come with Stereophonics, the Medley with Robbie Williams and Stoned In Love with Chicane. Of course his booming baritone is the factor that holds all the styles together, whether it's the lush orchestral arrangements of the 1960s or the more experimental stuff of recent years. So although there are some important omissions, this album deserves five stars for providing a thorough overview of an impressive body of work.
Rise
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Mixed Results
  • Subtle delight
  • Bright artwork hides mellow album
  • Rise
  • also first heard on Angel "Shells"
Rise
Kim Richey
Manufacturer: Mca Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Glimmer
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ASIN: B00006F2P1
Release Date: 2007-03-19

Tracks:

  1. Girl In A Car
  2. A Place Called Home
  3. Me And You
  4. The Circus Song (Can't Let Go)
  5. Fading
  6. Without You
  7. Reel Me In
  8. No Judges
  9. This Love
  10. Good Day Here
  11. Electric Green
  12. Hard To Say Goodbye
  13. Cowards In A Brave New World

Amazon.com

Nashville's loss is Kim Richey's gain. Though she has written chart-topping hits for Radney Foster and Trisha Yearwood and pursued a recording career on the fringes of the country mainstream, her fourth and best album sounds like a fresh start. It certainly doesn't sound like contemporary country, as the artist and producer Bill Bottrell (who helmed similarly creative breakthroughs by Sheryl Crow and Shelby Lynne) collaborate on a sensually bluesy song cycle that shows a determination to defy categorization, follow its own musical dictates, and find its own audience. The album-opening "Girl in a Car" sounds like it could have been a highlight for Lucinda Williams, while the languid atmospherics of "Fading," "Without You," and "Reel Me In" have a seductive intimacy that is equal parts torch song and lullaby. From the Wurlitzer organ on "The Circus Song" to the bouzouki that lends an Eastern tinge to "This Love" and "Electric Green" (the latter written and sung with Pete Droge), the stripped-down arrangements accent the freshness of the material. --Don McLeese

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Mixed Results.......2005-07-07

This album makes for a very difficult review. Not only is the material a little darker than one is used to on a Richey effort but the musical style is quite varied within the collection. I have been listening to Richey for years and have her other studio albums as well but only recently have I started to consider her one of my favorite artists. I applaud her chameleon like ability to throw herself into new musical territory for each new album. She attempts to make each album fairly thematic but always tries to mix in a few more mainstream songs as well.

For the benefit of those of you not familiar with her catalog, the first two albums(Kim Richey & Bittersweet) are very country with the first one being maybe more Alt-Country and the second more mainstream Country. Her latest two albums(Glimmer & Rise) only have a hint of Country in them at all. Glimmer is a contemporary folk/pop sounding record brilliantly produced by Hugh Padgham very similar to what Shawn Colvin was doing in the early 90s. Richey brought to this musical style an almost unparalleled ability to vocalize a mood change or emotion(or as Radney Foster said she can really "interpret a lyric"). This combination produced several outstanding tracks most notably "If You Don't Mind" and "Didn't I" and I'm not ashamed to admit that Glimmer is my favorite Kim Richey album.

This brings us to Rise which opens with two more songs that expand on anything she had done previously. "Girl In A Car" is a low key bluesy song of self examination and "A Place Called Home" is a straightforward folk song(with some nice touches in the production) about a wanderer yearning for a sense of place. Both songs are breathtakingly simple. Unfortunately after the harmless "Me And You" the album takes a drastic turn that it can't recover from for several tracks. "Fading" and "This Love" are ok but the other tracks in the middle of the album are horrible.....And then...."Good Day Here" is I think Ms Richey's finest piece of work but again one that is very dark and not likely to win over the casual listener. "Electric Green" and "Hard To Say Goodbye" are also excellent before the other evil side of the record returns in the final cut.

In summary what you get with Rise is four or five terrific tracks which rank among her best, along with about five awful tracks that are among her worst and a few others. As an album it is a failure but my admiration for the artist has increased.

4 out of 5 stars Subtle delight.......2005-06-17

This album's dreamlike flow is probably not going to win any instant converts, but give it a chance and it will insinuate itself into your psyche, and you will find yourself taking delight in its many subtle charms. Similar in feel to some of Lucinda Williams' later albums, it is more poppy, less bluesy. It is also more experimental, but not overtly so: The way a high-top is suggested in the drum rolls in "The Circus Song", the cool -- as in a wisp of peppermint -- guitar break in "Without You", the bodhran opening of "Reel Me In". There are layers and details here that will reward repeated listenings with increasing appreciation for what Richey and her producer, Bill Bottrell, have crafted.

5 out of 5 stars Bright artwork hides mellow album.......2005-04-13

I can understand why this album disappoints some of Kim Richey's fans (this is very different from Kim's earlier albums) but I can also understand why other fans love this album - and I am in the second group. Played as background music, all the songs may well sound similar. This album is definitely unsuitable as background music at least until you have played it enough to be familiar with it.

Produced by Bill Bottrell, who has previously with Sheryl Crow and Shelby Lynne among others, this album definitely needs a few plays to be appreciated although Kim sings as good as ever. I have not followed Kim's career closely but I get the impression that she was at a point in her life where there was a lot of uncertainty. Kim spends a lot of time remembering the past and wondering what the future might hold. Most of the songs are slow, reflective ballads with a bluesy feel to them. Kim even sings a song about good memories (The circus song) reflectively, rather than making it into an upbeat, joyful song.

The tempo picks up a little on No judges, which some people interpret as a gospel song. It could be, but then again it could be a simple love song - or just a song about forgiveness. The tempo picks up a little more on the next track, This love. Again some might interpret this as a gospel song (and it contains references to Jerusalem\) Again, it might be but I interpret it as a love song. It's back to normal for this album with Good day here, in which Kim tries to prevent somebody digging up the past, thus potentially spoiling a good day. After two further mellow tracks, the tempo picks up once more for the final track, Cowards in a brave new world, thus ending the album on a cheerful note.

This is a very mellow, often melancholy, album that may not suit everybody but, after a few spins, I quite enjoy it.

5 out of 5 stars Rise.......2004-08-04

This is my favorite album from Kim Richey. It's a far cry from the material she did on past albums (which is excellent too). RISE is a more edgy, and experimental album, than any of her prior ones. On this disc, Kim Richey worked with producer Bill Botrell, who previously worked on Sheryl Crow's breakthrough debut album TUESDAY NIGHT MUSIC CLUB, and Shelby Lynne's I AM SHELBY LYNNE disc. The two are a good match, and I can only hope that they will work together again. The lyrics still have the introspection that we've come to love and expect from her. "This Love" is one of my favorites, a fun uptempo song. "Fading" is so sad, she sings so softly and so sadly on this one. "Girl In A Car" is very introspective and revealing, as is "A Place Called Home" which she recorded in one take, and she was choked up while singing this song about searching for a place of her own. "The Circus Song (Can't Let Go)" is very cool. Another highlight is the haunting "Electric Green". Overall a great album!

4 out of 5 stars also first heard on Angel "Shells".......2004-05-07

I also first heard the song "Place called home" at the end of the Angel episode "Shells". I don't have words for how moving it was, I just had to go and find it.
Essential Bob Dylan
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • loving it!!
  • Essential or a fair collection
  • Essential Bob Dylan Import, Six Reviews in One
  • Pick this one over the American version
  • A Great Introduction To Dylan
Essential Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Manufacturer: Sbme Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00006830P
Release Date: 2002-07-09

Tracks:

  1. Blowin' in the Wind
  2. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
  3. Times They Are A-Changin'
  4. It Ain't Me Babe
  5. Maggie's Farm
  6. It's All over Now, Baby Blue
  7. Mr. Tambourine Man
  8. Subterranean Homesick Blues
  9. Like a Rolling Stone
  10. Positively 4th Street
  11. Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?
  12. I Want You
  13. Just Like a Woman
  14. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
  15. All Along the Watchtower
  16. Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)
  17. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
  18. Lay Lady Lay
  19. If Not for You
  20. I Shall Be Released
  21. You Ain't Going Nowhere
  22. Knockin' on Heaven's Door

Tracks:

  1. Forever Young
  2. Tangled Up in Blue
  3. Shelter from the Storm
  4. Hurricane
  5. Changing of the Guards
  6. Gotta Serve Somebody
  7. Blind Willie McTell
  8. Jokerman
  9. Tight Connection to My Heart (Has Anybody Seen My Love?)
  10. Silvio
  11. Everything Is Broken
  12. Dignity [Original Version]
  13. Not Dark Yet
  14. Things Have Changed

Album Description

Every ebb and flow in popular music over the past 40 years can be heard here! Career spanning collection of 36 tracks. Digitally remastered. Columbia. 2002.

Album Details

Includes Six Tracks that Differ from the USA Version.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars loving it!!.......2007-03-12

bought this for a friend of mine.. He flipped when he saw it and had to play it right away..
Still loving it.. Dylan rocks!!
thanks for the quick service and great quality.

5 out of 5 stars Essential or a fair collection.......2005-03-10

The key word is essential in many ways. It was a smart move not to call it "The best of" or any of those hokey catch phrases for someone's idea of sample mix.
There is enough Dylan to satisfy just about anyone. The first hand full of songs were also made famous by other singers and you have to get over trying to compare, unless like me it has always been Dylan first. Later you get to the good songs; He may not have personally thought so, but many of the songs struck a cord with me such as "Subterranean Homesick Blues."
To understand most of theses songs it would be best to buy a biography or watch one fro A&E. However with out knowing the man behind the song they will still standout in your mind for years.
Still "The Times They Are A-Changin"

4 out of 5 stars Essential Bob Dylan Import, Six Reviews in One.......2003-10-01

Throughout the years the suits at Columbia, then Sony have tried to make more money of Mr. D by mixing and matching his material, not just in a Greatest Hits compilation, but as a "Best of Import" from Japan, Holland, Sweden, or some other far away place. They tout them as better, different, remastered, a gold version and lots of times they'll build these compilations around a song that hadn't appeared on any other album.

The current favorite is the wonderful song, "Things have changed," which shows up on five different sets available today.

"The Best of series Vol. 1 and Vol. 2" Imports are the only one of the 5 sets that you can get separately and, since they couldn't put "Things Have Changed on both CDs, they put "Shelter From The Storm," from the Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding move "Jerry Maguire" on the first disc. If you were to buy both discs in this set you'd be out over fifty bucks. Of course, there isn't a bad song on the discs, but if you're like me, you already own most of them.

"The Very Best of Vol. 1 & 2" Swedish version has 33 songs on it, all available elsewhere except, of course "Things Have Changed." The songs are about the same as on the other compilations and this one will set you back thirty-three dollars.

"The Ultimate Collection," is of course not the ultimate collection, but it is a collection of 33 songs, very similar in scope to the songs in the other collection and built around, "Things Have Changed." This version will shrink you wallet by thirty-nine dollars.

"The Essential Bob Dylan" double CD set has 30 songs on it and has a nice flow to it. Like the other compilations mentioned here it features "Things Have Changed." You'll have to fork over twenty-one dollars to get this one. It's the most reasonably priced of the bunch, and so it's the only one I'm giving five stars to.

"The Essential Bob Dylan" Import has six more songs on it and it'll cost you 16 more dollars. That's a lot of money to pay to get those extra six songs.

Okay after rounding them up and telling you a little about them, I have to say that I'm pretty disappointed in Sony about this group. Unlike "Greatest Hits, Vol. 2" which like these isn't really a Greatest Hits compilation, these CDs cost a whole gang of money and give us only one new song. "GH 2" gave us a half dozen new tunes, so we (not me, cuz I wasn't born yet) didn't feel ripped off when we bought it. Also, the "Biograph" compilation was stuffed with new songs. Ah well, my recommendation would be to buy the American version of "The Essential Bob Dylan" for twenty-one dollars and shine the rest of them on. Five stars for that one, four for the rest.

Reviewed by Stephanie Sane

5 out of 5 stars Pick this one over the American version.......2003-02-27

Pay the extra $...bucks and get this version over the American one. The American version is skimpy, with less than an hour on disc 1, and just barely over an hour on disc 2, while this Australian version has over 77 minutes per disc, and includes more of his best material, including "I Want You", a hit that was left off of the American version.

5 out of 5 stars A Great Introduction To Dylan.......2003-01-01

Featuring six bonus tracks (Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?, I Want You, Changing Of The Guards, Blind Willie McTell, Tight Connection To My Heart (Has Anybody Seen My Love?), Dignity (Original Version)) this is obviously the superior version.

The haunting Blind Willie McTell, recorded in 1983, stands out better than anything else he did in that era. The original version of Dignity is a much livelier mix than the one on Greatest Hits Vol 3. The snare and the lead guitar are now brought froward, which gives the song more of a groove, and everything sounds cleaner than the sludgy mix on the earlier version.
The Hard Way
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Bleak and beautiful
  • Hey Nashville, This aint country
  • The Best Album Ever Recorded
  • Great songs, too much bombast
  • Steve Earle - The Hard Way
The Hard Way
Steve Earle & the Dukes
Manufacturer: Mca Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Exit 0
  2. I Feel Alright
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ASIN: B000006YE9
Release Date: 1996-02-06

Tracks:

  1. Other Kind
  2. Promise You Anything
  3. Esmeralda's Hollywood
  4. Hopeless Romantics
  5. This Highway's Mine (Roadmaster)
  6. Billy Austin
  7. Justice in Ontario
  8. Have Mercy
  9. When the People Find Out
  10. Country Girl
  11. Regular Guy
  12. West Nashville Boogie
  13. Close Your Eyes

Album Description

Special low price import edition of his 1990 album released through MCA. 'I defend The Hard Way to the death, because I almost died in the process of making it', Steve Earle told a reporter in 2000 & he wasn't just being melodramatic. Earle's well-documented addiction to heroin & cocaine was spiraling out of control in 1990 while he was holed up in Memphis recording The Hard Way. 13 tracks in all.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Bleak and beautiful.......2007-07-06

Most people don't write or play so well without any impediments. "Hard Way" came to be during the worst of Earle's drug addiction and it's clearly a crucible time for him. Writing's amazing as always--singing and orchestration are also good. Of course, as many folks way, Steve can't make a bad CD.

"Billy Austin" is one of the hardest songs I've ever heard. Earle can write and sing from the point of view of an outlaw better than almost anyone I've heard. "Justice in Ontario" continues that theme. Ironic Earle himself followed this CD with time in prison.

This CD's labeled country, but I'm seeing too many rock elements to leave it strictly at that.

4 out of 5 stars Hey Nashville, This aint country.......2007-01-03

For all the fog and dim that engulfed his personal life, Steve Earle found a way to take the words and music in his head to the studio and bring it to life with a undefineable mix of growling guitars, flittering mandolins, punctuated snare hits, with his distinctive vocal approach that defies the listener to dare question his honesty. First person, "I am living this song" attitude throughout, it invites you to participate in more than just a casual manner. Earle moves closer to his own influences, invoking George Harrison's Gretsch guitar jangle and Beatles harmonies in Promise You Anything, and then on to the current darker places with "Esmeralda's Hollywood"; revealing his own shadows. Included is the masterful "Billy Austin" exploring the intracacies of a murderer's thinking process and the subsequent followup, "Justice in Ontario.

Different from his first offerings, in that pedal steel prominence has been replaced with authoritative six strings attacked with more than a nod to the arm flailing of a Pete Townsend, The Hard Way brings us straight ahead rock and roll. Borrowing a crunch from fellow Texan Billy Gibbons, "This Highway" starts out with a blues rock riff and a narrative that warns of danger and salvation at the same time only to resurface in the apt titled, "West Nashville Boogie". "Country Girl" takes us back to a honkey tonk setting and then he hints at the forebearer of his Celtic fascinations to come, Regular Guy. Earle picks up whatever instrument serves his purpose and cares not one iota if it fits any notion of formula.

An epic in terms of dramatic pacing and tempo, Steve Earle arrives near the top of America's song writing precipace and gives us a look over the edge. A "must have" collection for anyone who is serious about whats behind the music.

5 out of 5 stars The Best Album Ever Recorded.......2006-10-14

This album is autobiographical. Drugs, guns, and anger. This was Steve Earles world when he wrote and recorded these songs. Steve Earle will offer no appoligies, His words of wisdom, If you don't like it don't listen. His fans however are fiercly loyal, if you don't believe that, just say something bad about Steve Earle around one. Even if you have never heard of Steve Earle, and because of his politics theres a good chance you haven't, buy this CD. There has never been a better album recorded, in any genre of music. And there never will be.

4 out of 5 stars Great songs, too much bombast.......2006-09-30

Steve Earle was coming off the release of "Copperhead Road," before he made this album. That disc showed him turning from a countrified Bruce Springsteen to a straight-out rocker with an eye for the mindset of the underdog. "The Hard Way" continues the trend - detailed story-songs like "Justice In Ontario" and "Billy Austin," an anti-death penalty tale that is among Earle's top works. The Dukes sound like bobcats in a bag snarling to get out, all broken glass and motorcycle engines (one of which would have better if it had been absent from the song "This Highway's Mine"). Some of the production seems done just to made Earle seem big and bad, and Id be rather interested in hearing how a song like "Hopeless Romantics" would sound if it were included on one of his later discs. Listeners get a sense of some of Earle's personal problems in songs such as "West Nashville Boogie." It's a wonderful album, but with some flaws not present on other Earle discs.

5 out of 5 stars Steve Earle - The Hard Way.......2006-08-08

The title of the album probably best describes how Steve was doing things when this album was released. I think this album along with Copperhead Road & his earlier releases are definitely his best works. Personally this album is one of my favorite Steve Earle albums & should be in any true Steve Earle cd collection.
Flyin' Shoes
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Surprised this has not been reviewed already
Flyin' Shoes
Townes Van Zandt
Manufacturer: Import [Generic]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000AKXFQ
Release Date: 2003-08-26

Tracks:

  1. Loretta
  2. No Place to Fall
  3. Flyin' Shoes
  4. Who Do You Love
  5. When She Don't Need Me
  6. Dollar Bill Blues
  7. Rex's Blues
  8. Pueblo Waltz
  9. Brother Flower
  10. Snake Song
  11. Spider Song [*]
  12. Upon My Soul [*]
  13. Buckskin Stallion Blues [*]
  14. At My Window [*]

Album Description

2003 remastered reissue of 1978 album features 14 tracks including 4 bonus tracks in the form of four out-takes from 1973 (originally included on the 1994 reissue), 'The Spider Song', 'Upon My Soul', 'Buckskin Stallion Blues' & 'At My Window'. Charly.

Album Details

Includes Four Bonus Tracks.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Surprised this has not been reviewed already.......2007-02-03

Started listening to Townes back in the mid 70ties when this LP first came out on the Tomato label. Back then even in Atlanta, GA it was extremely hard to find such an esoteric artist. WREK the GA Tech station would play Flyin' Shoes on their very diverse rotation and it's haunting melody is today as mesmerizing as it was then. I have every Townes CD made, even a few bootlegs, and this one stands as my go to CD every time I need the magic of his song. Out of the 10 selections, Who Do You Love, is the only one that doesn't seem to fit. Per the polls, there may be better CDs in his catalog but this one has my vote. As a bonus I might add that the liner notes to this CD and original LP are exceptional in their telling.
Easy Tiger
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Easy Tiger
    Ryan Adams
    Manufacturer: Umvd Import
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B000PDZOK8
    Release Date: 2007-07-09

    Tracks:

    1. Goodnight Rose
    2. Two
    3. Everybody Knows
    4. Halloween Head
    5. Oh My God, Whatever, Etc
    6. Tears Of Gold
    7. Sun Also Sets
    8. Off Broadway
    9. Pearls On A String
    10. Rip Off
    11. Two Hearts
    12. These Girls
    13. I Taught Myself How To Grow Old
    14. Nobody Listens To Silence (Bonus Track)
    15. Alice (Bonus Track)

    Album Description

    Japanese pressing album, the 9th long-player from the alternative country singer/songwriter. This version comes with two bonus track, 'Nobody Listens To Silence' and Japan only track, 'Alice'. Universal. 2007.

    Album Details

    2007 Japanese Edition of Adams' First Post-rehab Album Includes Two Bonus Tracks that Do Not Appear on the Us Equivalent: "Nobody Listens to Silence" and "Alice".
    Essential Steve Earle
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • Excellent Album!
    • this one has all of the best Steve Earle
    • Before He Became A Puffed Up Liberal
    • A real country outlaw
    • A Good Introduction
    Essential Steve Earle
    Steve Earle
    Manufacturer: Mca Import
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B000002ON0
    Release Date: 1993-04-05

    Tracks:

    1. Guitar Town
    2. Hillbilly Highway
    3. The Devil's Right Hand
    4. Goodbye's All We Got Left To Say
    5. Six Days On The Road
    6. Someday
    7. Good Ol' Boy (Gettin' Tough)
    8. Copperhead Road
    9. The Rain Came Down
    10. I Ain't Ever Satisfied
    11. Nowhere Road
    12. The Week Of Living Dangerously
    13. Continental Trailways Blues

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Excellent Album!.......2006-06-21

    All of what Steve does is good... I love these early songs just as much as the songs on "Transcendental Blues" which is a creative leap forward to my ears, but like I say, it's all good when Steve Earle makes music and as far as his politics go, he can speak his mind all he wants to and I would still buy his music, even if I didn't agree with him. So shout it out Steve, I got not problem with Americans having their say and that goes for the Dixie Chicks too. This is America, land of free speech, that's one thing that makes our nation great!

    5 out of 5 stars this one has all of the best Steve Earle.......2006-03-21

    I love Steve Earle, and this one has all of his best. These songs are the absolute greatest! You will sing along with this CD at the top of your lungs. Watch out if you are driving, because this CD will make you drive way too fast! This is the direction country music SHOULD have gone. You can play these songs over, and over and over. They are addictive.

    3 out of 5 stars Before He Became A Puffed Up Liberal.......2005-10-07

    When I was younger, Steve Earle was one of the coolest dudes around. He was a real rebel who rode the fine line between Springsteen and and the 'twang of Rockabilly. He didn't quite fit in anywhere, and this album gives you a good introduction to that sound of a former rebel.

    It includes the hit, "Guitar Town," which is probably my favorite Earle song. Other good tunes here include "Copperhead Road," "Nowhere Road," and "The Devil's Right Hand." Also worthy of note are "The Week of Living Dangerously" and "Good Ol' Boy."

    After Earle cranked out these good tunes, he went and opened his mouth about politics. Steve, dude, shut up about politics and play your tunes. I don't pay to hear the priest give a homily, so why should I pay to hear your opinion. Natalie Maines opened her mouth and now the Dixie Chicks have nothing to look forward to but tree-hugging gigs until the end of time.

    You're too talented to waste away in politics.

    Get this album folks, it's much better than Earle's later releases and bundles up his best tunes into one neat package.

    4 out of 5 stars A real country outlaw.......2004-09-21

    Steve Earle is the real deal. His songs are hard edged tales of love, lust, alcohol, and guns. While some of the tunes here may be a bit too country for fans of "Copperhead Road" (My own intro to Earle's music)give it a try. This man can tell a story and he'll convince you he knows what he's talking about. Listen to the restless soul on "Someday" and you know this guy is the goods. As mentioned in another review, this one's just a sampling of Earle's early work. Try it and see if it will lead you to Earle's later work where the edge just increases as the talent matures.

    4 out of 5 stars A Good Introduction.......2003-11-22

    Having grown-up preferring rock to country, I'm often drawn to those artists who fall in that "not really rock/not pure country" category. For me, Steve Earle is one of those artists. His personal life has seen him delve dangerously into the excesses which befall many artists (country and rock) - going way out on many ledges and managing to pull himself back in from the brink of disaster or even death. While his lifestyle may seem extreme and be painful for fans to watch, there's no doubt that it's yeilded some excellent songs. His ability to tell a story and make you care about the characters in these songs is comparable to Bruce Springsteen or the late Johnny Cash.

    This collection is culled from Earle's first three albums ("Guitar Town", "Exit 0", and "Copperhead Road") plus a couple of tracks he contributed to the "Planes, Tranes, and Automibiles" soundtrack. All of the important tracks from those first three albums are here, including "Copperhead Road", Earle's first real crossover to rock radio. I would recommend this to anyone wanting to become aquainted with Earle's work without buying all of his albums. This particular collection is now out of print, but the recently released "20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection" is nearly identical to this one. While he may be too country for some rock fans and too rock and roll for those who only like country, if you appreciate finely crafted songwritting, you'll enjoy this album.

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    music