Free Music Notes for Essentials

Harry Chapin - Essentials

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Free Music Notes for Essentials

Free Music Review: In the High School English Book!
Hit: 5 Stars

I teach and the kids read the poetry book and NEVER heard of Harry.
iPODS surrounded

Free Music Review: What a loss to the music scene.
Hit: 5 Stars

Harry Chapin was a talented singer and songwriter and this album contains some of the best of his work.

Free Music Review: A Storyteller's Dozen
Hit: 4 Stars

The late Harry Chapin had few peers in the seventies. Like Jim Croce and Harry Nilsson, Chapin was a troubadour in the storyteller's tradition. At his best, he spun tales of folksy everymen gone down on their luck ("Taxi" and "WOLD"). He could also go all out cinematic, like the 10-plus minutes of "Sniper," which could be one of the weirdest songs ever recorded by a so-called folk artist. (And one of the most disturbing I-hate-my-parents howls this side of The Door's "The End.")

But he also had a sanctimonious streak that could turn downright corny (his biggest hit, "Cat's In The Cradle") or treacley at its worst - the pointless "Sequel." But Chapin was - like many storytellers - best experienced live. I got to see him play one of his many benefit shows, at Susquehanna University in 1980. The crowd heartily joined in for "30,000 Pounds Of Bananas," which is presented here live, as it should be.

Chapin's baritone voice barrels out atop the songs, richly expressive for every song here. Like Jim Croce, Chapin's voice was instantly recognizable and his writing style very much of his own personality. He drew from both folk and tin-pan-alley, with songs like "Remember When The Music" and sentimental fare like "Dreams Go By" being the stuff of stage musicals.

I am not the huge fan here that some claim to be, so I think this is all the Harry Chapin I - a casual listener - would need. The only song I really see as missing is "Circles," but for the budget price, I can live with that omission. Worth it for the 72 minutes of music; for a change, one of the "Essentials" discs in the Rhino series that lives up to its name.

Free Music Review: 70-Plus Minutes of Essential Chapin
Hit: 4 Stars

Essentials gives you 12 self-penned songs from one of popular musics great storytellers and humanitarians. While Chapin had only four bona fide hits, you get a generous sampling of key album tracks and concert favorites. [The only glaring omission is "Circle."] Unlike other releases in The Essentials series which all limit song selection to 12 tracks and consequently a relatively short playing time, with tracks like "Sniper" (9:57) and "30,000 Pounds of Bananas" (10:58), you get over 70 minutes of music. RECOMMENDED

Free Music Review: Still the greatest!
Hit: 4 Stars

Years later Harry Chapin is still the greatest. The stories of life he tells are wonderful. I can picture every line in my head. One of my favorites.
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