Post by Slinger on Jan 31, 2016 17:01:25 GMT
Whenever I reply to a "name your top 10 albums" type post most of my choices go unremarked. This one usually get the response "who?" from at least one person.
Harry Chapin (December 7, 1942 – July 16, 1981) was a singer-songwriter who carved out a significant niche for himself as a writer of what became known as "story songs." Basically this meant that they told a story in however long it took to tell that particular story, be it 3 minutes or 13.
You may remember him for the odd hit like W.O.L.D. or Cat's In The Cradle (also covered quite well by Ugly Kid Joe) but that doesn't even scratch the surface of his talent. Harry wrote "your" stories and set them to music. Heartache, heartbreak, joy, bananas (yes really), love lost and found and all points in between.
Harry had the greatest band in the world. Not the greatest musicians necessarily, although they were bloody good, but the loosest sounding tightest playing bunch of guys you could wish to hear, and a bass player named Big John Wallace, of whom more later. And of course he had a cellist.
I've chosen this album above all of his others because it's probably one of the best, and certainly one of the most enjoyable, live albums I've ever heard. It actually captures the performance rather then simply recording the music if you know what I mean. When I got my first CD player this was one of the few vinyl albums I duplicated by buying the CD as well, I love it that much (Al Stewart's 'Year of the Cat' was the only other one at the time.)
I'd love you to play the whole thing but I understand that it's quite long, and maybe you're a bit busy and... Nonsense! Put down whatever you're doing and listen to Harry and his band.
Seriously though, if you just want a "taster" before committing yourself to the whole thing try 'Mr. Tanner' and listen out for the contribution by the aforementioned Big John Wallace. WARNING - This song may well give you a lump in your throat.
On a lighter note have a listen to Circle, or 30,000 Pounds of Bananas. They give you a really good idea of what Harry was like live I think.
I never got to see him play in the flesh, but I'll always have this, and it's the next best thing. Enjoy.
Harry Chapin (December 7, 1942 – July 16, 1981) was a singer-songwriter who carved out a significant niche for himself as a writer of what became known as "story songs." Basically this meant that they told a story in however long it took to tell that particular story, be it 3 minutes or 13.
You may remember him for the odd hit like W.O.L.D. or Cat's In The Cradle (also covered quite well by Ugly Kid Joe) but that doesn't even scratch the surface of his talent. Harry wrote "your" stories and set them to music. Heartache, heartbreak, joy, bananas (yes really), love lost and found and all points in between.
Harry had the greatest band in the world. Not the greatest musicians necessarily, although they were bloody good, but the loosest sounding tightest playing bunch of guys you could wish to hear, and a bass player named Big John Wallace, of whom more later. And of course he had a cellist.
I've chosen this album above all of his others because it's probably one of the best, and certainly one of the most enjoyable, live albums I've ever heard. It actually captures the performance rather then simply recording the music if you know what I mean. When I got my first CD player this was one of the few vinyl albums I duplicated by buying the CD as well, I love it that much (Al Stewart's 'Year of the Cat' was the only other one at the time.)
I'd love you to play the whole thing but I understand that it's quite long, and maybe you're a bit busy and... Nonsense! Put down whatever you're doing and listen to Harry and his band.
Seriously though, if you just want a "taster" before committing yourself to the whole thing try 'Mr. Tanner' and listen out for the contribution by the aforementioned Big John Wallace. WARNING - This song may well give you a lump in your throat.
On a lighter note have a listen to Circle, or 30,000 Pounds of Bananas. They give you a really good idea of what Harry was like live I think.
I never got to see him play in the flesh, but I'll always have this, and it's the next best thing. Enjoy.
