Editorial Review

Johnny Cash had been breaking new ground for a decade when Read more

Features

• Extra tracks
• Live
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (161)

Johnny Cash at His Best
This is Johnny Cash at his best. With the bio-pic "Walk The Line" making the cable TV circuit (I've watched it on HBO at least three times in the last week), people are going to start searching out Cash's albums. If you're a fan, like I am, please direct them to this honest, insightful album. The music alone is well worth the small price of this CD, but with the additional gems such as the extra photos, liner notes, and Johnny's banter between and during songs, this is by far one of the 20th century's musical classics. June Carter's wit shines through, however briefly, and her voice is as lovely and true as Cash's. Don't mistake this for your run-of-the-mill country album. This is the Man in Black at his darkest, playing prison songs to approximately 2,000 inmates. This is Cash bringing entertainment and inspiration to hardened men who are probably smiling and laughing for the first time in years.
One of the best CDs I own
This CD is an absolute blast to listen to. Not only is each and every one of the songs great, this CD also includes some of the onstage interaction between Cash, his band, and his audience that really livens things up. And this CD has very, very good sound that has been digitally remastered for the best quality of this recording to date. Crank up the volume on a good sound system and you can hear the prisoners shout all kinds of funny stuff. All in all, a very good portrait of a great entertainer.

Lots of Fun
It is ironic that even though this concert was given at a prison and most of the songs are about being destitute, this recording is fun to listen to. It really helps to have seen the movie, "Walk the Line." When you listen to the CD in the context of Cash's life and the reason he played at Folsom, this CD takes on a whole new dimension. I am not usually a fan of Country music, though I have been striving to care less about style and more about content, but this music has a lot of heart. It is not intricate, nor is it ingenious in its conception, but the passion is there. The only annoying thing is that if you are not careful, these songs get stuck in your head, especially "Folsom Prison Blues."
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Subjects:  1. Country    2. Country & Western    3. Country-Pop    4. Pop    5. Progressive Country    6. Rock & Roll    7. Rockabilly    8. Traditional Country    9. United States of America   

Editorial Review

As the frontman for the Mavericks and a member of Los Super Seven, Raul Malo has applied his Orbison-like delivery to an eclectic array of material. On this, his latest solo effort, the warbler enlists veteran producer Peter Asher to focus on romantic balladry, as string-laden arrangements surround Malo's tremulous voice on the opening title track (a '70s hit for songwriter J.D. Souther) and the soaring "Feels Like Home" (reprised as the closer in a duet with Martina McBride). The song selection highlights Malo's vocal range, as he finds the bittersweet essence in a slowed-down rendition of the Everly Brothers' "So Sad," a dramatic reading of the Bee Gees' "Run to Me," and a lilting take on Ron Sexsmith's "Secret Heart."He even tackles Etta James's signature tune, "At Last," its jazzy, smoky sophistication punctuated by a trumpet solo.The cover of Willie Nelson's "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground" provides the album's main link to country, but even here the bedrock organ and soul choir sound closer to the church than the roadhouse.The stellar selection provides a superb showcase for Malo's shimmering voice. Read more

Reviews (36)

Depressive....
Raul Malo is probably the best singer around today and is also my
A gift from God
One wonders what it must be like to sing like Raul....really....can you imagine it?To hit those notes, to round those notes out, to put feeling into them...and he only gets better.
Wonderful
This is what music should be & do-----take you away to another place and time. The first 5 songs are my favorite especially Willie Nelson's 'Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground'. I thought no one could ever touch Willie's versions, but I was wrong. Breathtaking. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Contemporary Country    2. Neo-Traditionalist Country    3. Pop    4. Progressive Country    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop    7. United States of America   

Editorial Review

It's a great and perhaps impossible challenge to encapsulate the highlights of Johnny Cash's vast musical catalog in a two-CD, 36-song collection like this. Yet, though it barely scratches the surface, 2002's Read more

Features

• Limited Edition
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (70)

Sony censors Cash
Overall, this would have been a pretty good Johnny Cash compilation.
"Essential"for Cash fans
I have always loved Johnny Cash. He is defitnetly the best country music singer there ever was. This CD is an absoulutely perfectly done collection in honor of the artist's 70th birthday. It has all of his best songs,(but where's rusty cage?) From I Walk The Line to The Wanderer with U2. A great reprersentation of Cash's career. Buy this CD, you won't regret it.

Essential Johnny Cash
This is what country music should sound like. Most "so called" country music today all sounds the same. There is no mistaking the sound of johnny cash. This is a very good CD. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Country    2. Country & Western    3. Country-Pop    4. Guitar    5. Pop    6. Progressive Country    7. Rock & Roll    8. Rockabilly    9. Traditional Country    10. United States of America    11. Vocals   

Editorial Review

While Read more

Features

• Live
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (84)

I REMEMBER JOHNNY
I am a Johnny Cash fan from the very first time I heard RING OF FIRE played on a juke box.I have looked over and listened to the samples on this recording and all I have to say is WOW!!!! GREAT, GRAND, GLORIOUS.I've Gotta Have THIS CD also.I also have his other CDs.Love them all.

A flash from the past
I grew up on Johnny Cash's music, and this CD held great memories!It arrived in perfect condition as well.
NOW it makes Sense!!
This was one of the first albums I owned on Vinyl, and I loved it but there were parts that didnt make any sense.Now with the full concert on CD, with no censorship of the dialogue, it all makes sense and is just as enjoyable an album. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Country    2. Country & Western    3. Country-Pop    4. Guitar    5. Pop    6. Progressive Country    7. Rock & Roll    8. Rockabilly    9. Spirituals    10. Traditional Country    11. United States of America    12. Vocals   

Editorial Review

With her fourth album, Australia's Kasey Chambers is expanding her realm. There are bigger sounds, including a flurry of electric guitars, and she has winningly created a whole new set of mysterious tensions. Eschewing the softer sound that had defined her earlier work, Chambers' innocent sounding voice is now set against a world of shadows and acute angles. The band also eases into a range of sophisticated grooves, from the noir-infused "Light up a Candle" to the barn burning "Got You." Chambers can still churn out catchy melodies, which she does at every turn (the chorus to "Sign on the Door" is unstoppable), though she keeps them from ever becoming cloying. Also with the expansive arrangements there's a dynamic quality to the album as a whole, as density gives way to open spaces. Indeed, Read more

Reviews (2)

Absolutely Divine
This is a phenomenal album that grows stronger w/each listen. From the opening, hypnotic "Colour of a Carnival" to the closing, heartfelt "Don't Look So Sad," there's nary a weak track. And while it's true that Kasey has eschewed some of the alt.country underpinnings of her previous works for a more mainstream approach, there's still plenty of twang here - "Light up a Candle," "Hard Road" and "Railroad," for instance, the latter of which chugs along a la Lucinda Williams' "Joy" (and feature an incredible vocal from Kasey). Other highlights include the rollicking "I Got You Now" and the absolutely divine "You Make Me Sing" ... plus "Dangerous," which - as all the songs here, actually - features a hypnotic vocal. Perhaps that's why the change in sonic colourings almost seems a moot point. Her voice is such an expressive instrument that, regardless of context, you come away entranced. I do, at any rate.

Lonely don't live here anymore
Kasey is back with a new cd.She's stepped farther way from her country and alt/country roots and approached the rock-tinged, singer/songwriter sound with her considerable song writing talents intact.She's accomplished this with more success and sincerity than either the Dixie Chicks or Allison Moorer did in their recent releases.
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Subjects:  1. Australia    2. Country-Folk    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop    6. Singer/Songwriter   

Reviews (42)

Definitely a must buy
I really think John Denver's songshas more to it then amazing melody and lyrics and ofcourse not to forget his voice.Its actually hard to compare him with other artists but I can definitely say that I feel the best listening to his songs. Although some of my other fav songs like love again are not included in this cd but still the cd has most of his best songs. The highlights of the cd are the unrealeased version of calypso and leaving on a jet plane. so, If you have heard his songs before or not, this cd is a must buy for all.

Sunshine Music Lives On
John Denver has melted hearts for generations with what can be described as "sunshine music".A mix of country, bluegrass, folk, and great pop sensibilities, Denver has always been the lucky peoples' choice (even if he is the critics' underdog as a singer songwriter).His voice is excellent. As though he would really need a defense, anyway, his collaboration with Pacido Domingo, one of the three tenors, is certain testimony to his vocal credibility.Cynics need not apply, for if some of his more sentimental songs are "sap," then at least we know he got his ingredients fresh from the best trees in Vermont.He created great soaring songs for lady and land.Some are orchestrated to perfection; others are homegrown prizes."Sunshine on My Shoulders," "Rocky Mountain High," and "Take Me Home, Country Roads" all resonate with articulate sweetness.He perfected ruggedness with "Thank God, I'm a Country Boy" and "Wild Montana Skies," but his serenades are also expert, including "Andromeda, (Welcome to My Morning)" and "Annie's Song".Subjectively, "Calypso" is no hokey homage, but a heartfelt classic that demonstrates a fine vocal range.Besides covering all of the classics, this C.D. collects some great, unfamiliar terrain."Fly Away" and "Sweet Surrender" are excellent songs that add to the scope of the album and his legacy. For those of us willing to stand our ground, his 'Definitive All-Time Greatest Hits' gives us all his famous songs and all the unfamiliar territory we might have missed.John may have left us early, but his portfolio of "sunshine music" has yet to be imitated much and never completely dismissed.
Appreciation later in life.....
I was never a 'fan' of John Denver in my growing up years.His music was a part of those years, but I took it for granted just hearing it on the radio. Now, some 20 years later, I can appreciate it more than ever. His beautiful mind, his thoughts, his feelings all come out in his music. My husband and I now own property in West Virginia and when I play 'Country Roads' it makes me cry.Because now I feel the love for that place just like he did when he wrote that heartfelt song.Take me home, country roads...to the place I belong - West Virginia! It makes my heart long for our beautiful mountain! All those songs of yesteryear now mean something to me. I love his style, his words, the arrangements. Just a must play cd long rides in the country or just listening to while cooking supper in the kitchen! Thanks John Denver for making songs that touch the heart! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Country-Folk    2. Country-Pop    3. Folk-Rock    4. Pop    5. Pop/Rock    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. Singer/Songwriter    9. Soft Rock    10. United States of America   

Editorial Review

Though this 1975 album cost Willie only $20,000 to record, it handed him the success he'd craved after years as a hit songwriter and modestly successful singer. By blending originals and vintage material, he created a timeless Western saga, one that originally left Columbia Records, who'd guaranteed him artistic control, skeptical. The label's doubts, amplified by the fact that Nelson had recorded the album in Texas with only his seven-piece touring band, evaporated after the album and two singles, "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" and "Remember Me," became huge hits and launched Willie into the stratosphere. This enhanced version preserves the original sequence, adding four bonus tracks. One, a brief snippet of Bach's "Minuet in G" from the 1986 Read more

Features

• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (61)

Its alright, depends on what you're expecting
Not one of my favorites but still an important work for Willie Nelson fans.It is not a flashy studio recording - many of the tracks seem hardly more than Willie and his guitar. Oddly enough, I think I the bonus tracks are the best part of this recording for me.If you are looking for vintage Willie, however, this could be the recording for you.

Classical Greatness
I think Willie is a great singer but he has never been a personal favorite. This album, though, is among my favorites. In it, he demonstrates his skills as a lyricist, he mellow voice and his ability to narrate a song.
CD-Red Headed Stranger-Willie
This is the ONLY album I enjoy from beginning to end! Unlike other CDs', each song stands on its own merits. I am happy it came out in CD form---great quality recording!!!!Thanks! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Country    2. Country & Western    3. Outlaw Country    4. Pop    5. Progressive Country    6. Traditional Country    7. United States of America   

Editorial Review

With stunning album-length explorations of jazz and 1950s acoustic skiffle and a country-rockabilly collaboration with Linda Gail Lewis behind him, Van Morrison continues exploring classic country with compelling reinterpretations of standards from the 1950s to the 1970s. He reaches back over half a century for Hank Williams Sr.'s "Half As Much," "Your Cheatin' Heart," and "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It" and Webb Pierce's landmark honky-tonk hits "Back Street Affair," "There Stands the Glass," and "More and More." Moving to the mid-'60s, he capably explores George Jones's "Things Have Gone to Pieces" and Connie Smith's "Once a Day." The 1970s are his limit, however, as he probes Rodney Crowell's "'Til I Gain Control Again." Three Morrison originals blend nicely into this mix, as do two non-country favorites: Chuck Willis's "What Am I Living For" and a gleeful spin on Blue Lu Barker's 1938 jazzy, single-entendre favorite "Don't You Make Me High." Recorded in Ireland with uncluttered hard-country backing, Read more

Reviews (69)

Cross-genre master
Morrison has produced credible albums in Rock, Blues, and Jazz genres. Pay the Devil has the Irish soulster performing classic American country music and some originals that sound entirely appropriate between Hank Williams and Clarence Williams.
Sweet and Sharp - Deceptively Well Crafted
This album is deceptive - on first hearing in a setting with lots of distractions, it actually sounded unremarkeable, as if the songs were done almost casually, one or 2 takes each.But as I listened again, I was stopped when I heared that familiar sharp, plangent, emphatic and superbly modulated voice reaching for real feeling in "What Am I Living For?" - "hey, he cares about this stuff!" I said to myself.At the end of that song someone (Van?) says "hey, that was worth it."Indeed it was! - great country soul singing of a not-normally-country tune.The next tune, a Van original, "This Has Got To Stop," knocked me out - uncompromising deeply felt lyrics, rolling beat, syncopated shouts - a real Van Morrison song, country style.Then the rest of the record came clear to me.There are some great renditions of songs that should sound completely hackneyed, a la Ray Charles' "Modern Sounds," which may well have been the starting place for this record.And - the crucial test - his Hank songs add to the vocabulary.Van doesn't give anything away to any country singer, or even Ray.He channels that feisty, angry, hurt, caring persona into some great country music - this said by a guy (me) who owns 20+ each of Hank Williams and George Jones records, 30+ Ralph Stanley/Stanley Bros. records, and everything Merle Haggard, ever did, etc.

marking time
When Van Morrison is on his game-Astral Weeks, Moondance, Into the Music, Tupelo Honey etc. he's as good as it gets.When he misses, (A Period of Transition, Avalon Sunset) there are moments of brilliance, but the record never seems to come together.Pay the Devil has moments that are quite good (Your Cheatin' Heart, Big Blue Diamonds, Half as Much, What Am I Living For) but far too many misses. IMHO he misses badly in his interpretation of Rodney Crowell's Till I Gain Control Again.
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Subjects:  1. Contemporary Country    2. Country Boogie    3. Country-Pop    4. Country-Soul    5. Honky Tonk    6. Ireland    7. Nashville Sound/Countrypolitan    8. Neo-Traditionalist Country    9. Pop    10. Pop/Rock    11. Progressive Country    12. Rock    13. Rock/Pop   

Reviews (8)

A Cut Above Country Radio Regulars
Charlie's latest has no weak tracks whatsoever.The title song is full of tongue-in-cheek humor and rebellion, hearkening to some of John Prine's best songs.It has one of the catchiest lines ever in country music:"Buy me a whiskey, get yourself stoned, we gonna have a good time." As usual, Charlie tells a great many stories in his songs:a unrepentant pleasure seeker lets it all hang out south of the border in "New Year's Day;" a man hits the skids emotionally in "The Bottom;" the narrator remembers his own broken childhood and admires his infant son in "Photograph;" a dissipated adult recalls his first drink and charts his own disgrace in "Something in the Water;" a girl weds a bad man in the haunting "Magnolia," a story-telling style that is reminiscent of Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying." Charlie Robison has more talent as a writer and performer than 99% of anyone in Nashville.Please buy this album; do yourself a favor.If you like songs deeper than your average mud puddle but still universally-applicable, this CD is for you!

Different, But Good
I found this album to be quite different then what I've come to expect from Charlie, but it is still good and worthy of attention."El Cerrito Place" is the best song on the album and I find myself listening to it over and over.If you are a Texas Country Music Fan or a Charlie Robison fan then you will like this album.Also, if you like Charlie, check out his brother Bruce Robison as well.

Charlie Robison's Best Yet
This is Charlie's best release yet.It features a wide range of songs that will keep everoyone happy! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Country    2. Contemporary Country    3. Country    4. Pop    5. Progressive Country   

Editorial Review

With 41 tracks drawn from nine record labels, the two-disc Read more

Features

• Box set
• Limited Edition
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (23)

The Essential? Yes, OF COURSE!
This CD is a definite essential to your music collection.Willie, as well as this 2 disc set, is timeless.The Essential is awesome because it has every great Willie song on it, and then some!Also, some tracks with guest singers add even more to this classic.

Classic Willie singing the blues
Great album. A must have if you are a Willie Nelson fan. The duets are incredible. Seven Spanish Angels with Ray Charles has to be one of the greatest duets of all time. And when Julio Iglesias sings "To all the girls i've loved before" I actually believe that there may have been quite a number (I still don't believe Willie when he sings that).

WOW Ten star winner
WOW....This two disc set is awseome. Last week I was listening to NPR's Fresh Air and heard Willie Nelson talking about a song that was obscure and low and behold its on this.Anyway this is a CD that I have had playing nearly nonstop since I bought it. Crisp clear recordings that seem ageless. And such a nice selection of songs from decades of performing.If you own just one of Willie Nelsons CD's this should be the one. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Country    2. Country & Western    3. Country-Pop    4. Nashville Sound/Countrypolitan    5. Outlaw Country    6. Pop    7. Progressive Country    8. Traditional Country    9. United States of America   

Editorial Review

Though he rose from the ranks of journeyman '60s folksinger to become apotent and consistent '70s hit maker, Canadian singer-songwriter GordonLightfoot's stock in trade was as much hard-eyed, dispassionate observation asromance or poetic whimsy. Perhaps that's why his songs have been covered byeveryone from Elvis (thisset's "Early Morning Rain") toDylan. If there's such athing as an alpha-male folkie, Lightfoot certainly fits the bill. Spanning thetongue-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'scareer and craft. After his career peaked with one of the most unlikely top fivehits 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 songwriterand performer. Read more

Reviews (58)

Excellent collection of best songs
Gordon Lightfoot had some great records back in the '70s and had such brilliant songcraft on all his songs. Sometimes, he and his band had some funky grooves and beats, especially on Sundown. If You Could Read My Mind is very revealing song wise.Carefree Highway is still astounding. But one standout is The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald, which has had a long shelf life.And beating radio's let's-cut-it-down-to-3-to-4 minute rules, all 6 minutes of the song were played on the radio!This song showed that Gordon was ahead of his time musically, as he sang about a story about a sunken ship and the people on it in storytelling form.Although Gordon hasn't put as much music output recently, this collection shows his dominance in the '70s as a dynamic songwriter, performer and artist.

Wonderful
I loved the songs, etc.Sound was clear and really enjoyable to listen to.

Gordon Lightfoot
The very best of the velvet voiced Gordon Lightfoot. His style and songs are immortal. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Folk & Traditional    2. Pop    3. Canada    4. Country-Folk    5. Folk    6. Folk-Rock    7. Popular Music    8. Singer/Songwriter    9. Soft Rock   

Editorial Review

Too much of Cash's best work is left out to make this collection anything more than a cursory introduction to country's Man in Black. The double-CD compilation, fittingly dubbed Read more

Reviews (36)

Great Compilation From The Man In Black
This is an interesting CD. Even though the title proclaims "16 Biggest Hits" there is always a huge amount of subjectivity in choosing from a catalog spanning fifty years. In general I am very happy with the CD, and it's a great introduction to Johnny for people new to his music. The collection is from the "classic Cash" era, and while there are songs I wish were on the CD ("Orange Blossom Special" comes to mind,) as a collection I think it succeeds.
16 Biggest Hits - Hah!
This collection is a mixed bag.The biggest problem I have is with the title.I am unsure of how they decided these 16 songs were the "biggest" hits, but it is obvious that many other worthy Johnny Cash songs were left off the CD.If you are looking for a more comprehensive collection, I recommend either "The Essential Johnny Cash," which has 16 tracks, or "The Legend" boxed set, which has more than 100 songs.The best this collection can be is an introduction to Johnny Cash.
I SAY THE CLOSEST YOU'RE GONNA GET.......

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Subjects:  1. Country    2. Country & Western    3. Country-Pop    4. Guitar    5. Pop    6. Progressive Country    7. Rock & Roll    8. Rockabilly    9. Songwriter    10. Traditional Country    11. Vocals   

Editorial Review

To listen to Ray Wylie Hubbard's Read more

Reviews (6)

Dirty and Mean with good guitar work
The whole album has that old southern blues rock grind, but it doesn't lose the Ray Wylie effect.Good guitar work throughout the entire album.As most of Ray Wylie's songs they are songs of blood, sweat and grease with a touch of sin and redemption.He and Gurf Morlix really sound like they are having fun playing together and that always makes an album special to me.
Love at first note...
I can't get this cd out of my player. I love Austin music and Ray is the best. The swampy, sultry sound can take you away. The lyrics are amazing and certain lines stick in my head. Amazing stuff and a far cry from 'Up Against the Wall Redneck Mothers' although I like that too.

Middle-of-the-night music, fuel for bonfires, dice, and showdowns
Ray Wylie Hubbard's "Snake Farm" is one evil, growling monster of a record, a finely focused muscular effort that effuses grit, malice, and funk. The sound ripples with thick, raw grooves that compliment the subject matter: the devil, women, redemption and damnation, hexes, and guitars. Clearly, this stuff is middle-of-the-night music, fuel for bonfires, dice, and showdowns.
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Subjects:  1. Americana    2. Country-Rock    3. Folk    4. Folk & Traditional    5. Outlaw Country    6. Pop    7. Rock & Roll    8. Singer/Songwriter    9. Swamp Blues    10. Texas Blues   

Editorial Review

The Wailin' Jennys--Cara Luft, Nicky Mehta, and Ruth Moody--are three Canadian singer-songwriters with already established careers who first got together for a one-shot gig in 2002 and, to their surprise, discovered that their voices blended in an almost magical harmony. They decided to put their solo endeavors aside for a while to see where this gift would take them, and the appealing folk-pop vibe of Read more

Reviews (34)

Canadian treasure
I had never heard of the Wailin' Jennies until I attended a live Prairie Home Companion performance this summer, and everyone I spoke to afterwards were.like me, blown away by this trio.Their crystalline voices and tight harmonies are a treat for the ears.So I ordered their first CD, which is also a pleasure.I'll be ordering their second soon, and looking forward to their next, which will include their incredible performance of "Calling All Angels".

arlington
this is without doubt the most beautiful, moving song i have ever heard.i cry every time i listen to it.i will ask my family to have it played at my funeral.the lyrics and symbolism are born of emotional genius.the solo vocalist and the instrumentation are flawless.this selection is the hope diamond of contemporary music.

Lovely harmonies
I first heard these three girls on a Prairie Home Companion show. I loved the harmonies and the wonderful blending of three different voices. Very enjoyable. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Canada    2. Contemporary Folk    3. Country-Folk    4. Folk    5. Folk & Traditional    6. Neo-Traditional Folk    7. Pop    8. Sea Shanties    9. Singer/Songwriter   

Editorial Review

The title of this album would seem a tad precious applied to the releases of the majority of Nashville musicians. But Guy Clark--song craftsman, guitar builder--has been doing such finely measured work for all of his storied career that "Workbench Songs" aptly sums up the pride and precision he brings to these 11 offerings. Joined by cowriters Darrell Scott, Rodney Crowell, Gary Nicholson, Lee Roy Parnell, and Verlon Thompson, Clark is at turns wry and poignant in chronicling human acts great and small. And, as usual with his albums, a number of these songs resonate long after first listen. "Walkin' Man," a Celtic-flavored demo recording which kicks off the set, pays homage to the pilgrims and searchers--Gandhi and Woody Guthrie--who had the courage to make their own path. "Out in the Parkin' Lot," the Darrell Scott collaboration which Clark recorded on 1997's live Read more

Reviews (2)

latest from a national treasure
There may be better songwriters than Guy Clark-but you can count them on one hand with fingers left over.This disc has him co-writing with some of the best in Nashville-Gary Nicholson, Lee Roy Parnell, Steve Nelson, Ray Stephenson and old standbysRodney Crowell and Verlon Thompson.The result is a project that loses none of Guy's touch, but slightly broadens the musical palate.In addition, there is a greater emphasis on production, making the record sound more like a country record (in a good sense) than a bluegrass or folk record as some projects have sounded in the past.
Excellent latest release
I've been a fan of Guy Clark since Jerry Jeff Walker first sang "LA Freeway" in the early 70s.His distinctive husky voice speaks of roadworn weariness, someone who's lived a long tough life.(And I suspect he sounded that way at 30...)
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Country    2. Country    3. Country-Folk    4. Pop    5. Singer/Songwriter    6. United States of America   

Editorial Review

Willie Nelson has never been one to do the safe or expected, and this Booker T. Jones-produced album of pop standards from the '30s and '40s certainly fits the profile. It's also one of the better albums of Nelson's career, allowing Willie to dip his fragile, quivering tenor all around the beat in songs like "All of Me" and "Unchained Melody." Jones's organ, piano, and string arrangements are low-key and swinging (except on the almost wooden "On the Sunny Side of the Street"), and Nelson's vocals on "Georgia on My Mind" and "Moonlight in Vermont" are filled with a dignified and slightly jazzy country soul. The 1999 reissue adds a pair of bonus cuts to the mix, including the lullaby-like "Scarlet Ribbons" and the somewhat out-of-place "I Can See Clearly Now." Read more

Features

• Extra tracks
• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (54)

Who would have guessed?
Willie sings these old standards, making them complete, filling them out with a lilt that matches no other.Rich tones and and his soft voice grabs you until you are sucked into a dreamlike world.You'll love these songs listening to them while sitting with your someone special.

vintage Willie.
Some of the better Willie recordings. He does seem to "fudge" a little bit on pitch, which is not a fatal problem.

Vintage Willie Nelson
I enjoyed this set of songs.I bought it especially for "Stardust."I was not disappointed, but it is not as good as Rod Stewart's version. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Country    2. Country & Western    3. Outlaw Country    4. Pop    5. Progressive Country    6. Traditional Country    7. United States of America    8. Vocals   

Editorial Review

Though Kris Kristofferson has long seemed ageless, the approach of his 70th birthday plainly has the songwriter looking back, taking stock and coming to terms with his legacy and his mortality. The result is his most consistently compelling release in decades, as well as his most stripped-to-the-bone intimate. The spare production by bassist Don Was captures Kristofferson in all his rough-edged, plain-spoken, and big-hearted glory, with occasional support from guitarist (and longtime Kristofferson compatriot) Stephen Bruton and drummer Jim Keltner putting the focus on songs that combine the poetic grace of Kristofferson's early classics with a conviction that has grown stronger with the passing years. "Wild Americans" offers a roll call of outspoken heroes--from American Indian activist John Trudell to country maverick Steve Earle--while "In the News" lambastes the very concept of a holy war. Yet it's the spiritual side of Kristofferson that really touches the soul, from a father's wonder at the "Holy Creation" of his children's birth to the bittersweet benediction of "Thank You for a Life." With the title cut, "The Last Thing to Go," "The Show Goes On," and "Final Attraction," he takes a look back at the life of a troubadour and decides that, for all the bumps, this road has been one of incomparable rewards. The listener shares the riches. Read more

Reviews (36)

Just plain fantastic
So full of integrity, craft, sweetness, sadness, and passion.I want to listen to it constantly.And now that I have the whole thing nearly memorized, "How can I keep from singing?"

Kris Kristofferson's Old Road
Anything Mr. Kristofferson does recording wise is always super.He needs to keep those CDs coming out.

Glad He's Back
It's really good to see Kris has slowed down enough to write again.Usually when they start releasing greatest hits albums and tribute albums ("The Pilgrim"), the singer is over the hill, but he has proven it wrong this time (so has Merle Haggard and, of course, Dylan).Hope he keeps writing and singing forever. By the way, one of his best songs ever, in my opinion, was on the first "Highwaymen" album.It's called "Here Comes That Rainbow Again", inspired from a scene in "The Grapes of Wrath".Check it out. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Country    2. Country-Rock    3. Pop    4. Progressive Country    5. Singer/Songwriter    6. Soft Rock    7. Traditional Country    8. United States of America   

Editorial Review

Though the late Waylon Jennings has had numerous greatest-hits compilations, this four-disc box that encompasses almost half a century of music making is his first comprehensive, career-spanning anthology. While the 1970s and early '80s were plainly Jennings's commercial and creative heyday--when the Outlaw movement christened by his recording of "Ladies Love Outlaws" was in full swagger--highlights here extend from his 1958 revival of the Cajun classic "Jolie Blon" (produced by Jennings's mentor Buddy Holly) through his swan-song recordings with Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson as the Highwaymen. The trademark lope of Jennings's music and his penchant for self-mythologizing material give him a strong signature sound, but the anthology shows just how much musical territory he covered--from his folkish reading of Gordon Lightfoot's "(That's What You Get) For Lovin' Me" and his bluesy transformation of Little Richard's "Lucille" through his dips into the songbooks of Neil Young ("Are You Ready for the Country"), Jimmy Webb ("MacArthur Park"), and Los Lobos ("Will the Wolf Survive?"). The 140-page booklet provides thorough credits and annotation, as well as an abundance of photos of Waylon with friends, fellow musicians, and every famous person he ever met (from Muhammad Ali to Metallica's James Hetfield). Read more

Features

• Box set
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (4)

Not Complete!
Where Is The Fifth CD ? It Is Missing A Handfull Of Songs That Were Great
JUST BUY IT!
Don't think twice, because I've noticed that these box-sets have a tendency to go out of print alot quicker than albums.Everytime I have thought twice about buying an awesome collection like this I came back a week later to purchase it and it was gone, never to be seen again! Yes it's a little more money, but you have to consider all of the great music you are getting on 4 discs! Plus it comes with nice packaging and an awesome book with never-before-seen photos of Waylon throughout the years.I didn't think twice on this one, I got it, and it's mine forever! It is also one of the best box-sets that I own, and I own about 40.It's well worth this price so don't hesitate-order now!!!!!!!!!

Here's a 4-CD set that's worthy of its subject
Going toe-to-toe with the monolithic, authoritative import box sets on the Bear Family label, Sony-BMG has finally given American country fans a comprehensive, thoroughly satisfying -- and affordable! -- overview of Waylon Jennings' entire career.From his early years singing in bars in the Southwest through his entry into (and swift departure from) the Nashville establishment, on into his "outlaw" golden years, this captures Waylon at his best.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Box Sets (Audio Only)    2. Country    3. Outlaw Country    4. Pop    5. Progressive Country    6. United States of America   

Editorial Review

Although this is officially singer/fiddler Carrie Rodriguez's solo debut, her musical mentor Chip Taylor--with whom she has recorded three previous discs of duets--is an integral ingredient. Taylor wrote or co-wrote all but one track and is also the album's producer. With Read more

Features

• Enhanced

Reviews (5)

great debut
this is the record nora jones was supposed to make. adult music. complex and very listenable. it keeps getting better. highly reccommended.

A Texas Fiddler Expands Her Horizons
Carrie Rodriguez is well known to me because of three excellent CD's she made with her collaborator and mentor, Chip Taylor, songwriter, professional gambler, and uncle of Angelina Jolie.The style of the two was mostly down-home folk and country.Carrie's Texas fiddle and twangy voice fit the music.
Great Album
Haunting and Mysterious and Original - a great album.Every track is solid.I really like this cd. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Country-Rock    2. Alternative Folk    3. Americana    4. Country-Folk    5. Pop    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

Less successful when it's sentimental (Waylon Jennings' "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys") than when it's wry (Willie Nelson's myth-puncturing "Me and Paul"), this cash-in compilation of previously released cuts was just in time to grab the first platinum record ever awarded a country album. It's not bad, but both Jennings' contemporaneous Read more

Reviews (21)

Don't forget Tompall
I agree, this is one of the best albums ever.I grew up listening to it, and bought the cd as soon as it was released (my old LP is still played as well.)The only thing I would add is that don't forget Tompall.He was one of the best, even though this album wasn't his best effort.I would suggest checking out the newly re-released album "Charley" which is one of the two albums on "My Nortorious Youth".If you love the outlaws you will love this album.BTW, anyone know how tompall is doing these days?

If you truly like country music, you will like this CD.
Waylon and Willie, of course, are the spine of this collection. Jessi Colter adds great measures of marvelous spice with her soulful singing and songwriting. Tompall Glazier registers a tad lesser than the rest, but it's still a fantastic CD. And the bonus tracks are pure icing on the cake. Mmmmmmmmmm. Great country music!!!
One of Countrys Best Albums
This is one of Countrys best albums ever.4 of the best from country music. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 70's    2. Alternative Country    3. Americana    4. Country    5. Country & Western    6. Country-Pop    7. Heartland Rock    8. Nashville Sound/Countrypolitan    9. Neo-Traditionalist Country    10. New Traditionalist    11. Outlaw Country    12. Pop    13. Progressive Country    14. Rock/Pop    15. Roots Rock    16. Singer/Songwriter    17. Traditional Country