Anthology: No Big Surprise

Steve Goodman | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 15, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Red Pajamas
• ASIN: B000000DM7
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,671 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, Grace, May 11, 2003

By 

Roger D. Surbaugh (Lilburn, Georgia United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Anthology: No Big Surprise (Audio CD)

This may be the best "compilation" album of all time. It captures the refined purity of lyrics and music on the studio disc, and the unbelievable connection Steve made with audiences through his music and humor on the live disc.

I am not the least bit objective about Steve Goodman; we were friends together at the University of Illinois ("City of New Orleans" was the Illinois Central train we most frequently rode between Champaign and Chicago), and I was one of his strongest supporters when he started his professional career in 1969. I was actively involved in organizing his "memorial concert", and I would sell his CD's door-to-door if I could.

If you do not buy this CD, you will miss the essence of one of the greatest songwriters, best performers, and sincerest human beings that ever graced the cover of an album, or walked on earth.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Steve Goodman at his best!, December 12, 2001

By 

E. Frobish "[e-mail]" (Morris, IL United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Anthology: No Big Surprise (Audio CD)

I first got turned on to Steve Goodman as a kid listening to WGN and Chicago Cubs games when they would play "Go Cubs, Go!" before the games on the radio broadcasts. Of course, "The Dying Cub Fan's Last Request" was always a perennial favorite as well in the Chicago area. I kind of accidentally rediscovered him when I recently heard David Allan Coe's version of "You Never Even Called Me By My Name" for the first time in years. For anyone who has ever listened to Steve's music, you realize that it's habit forming and one album just isn't enough. However, this album comes about as close as possible. Disc #2 is especially great stuff as it is all live performances of his more satirical/comedic songs. He is one of the most undeservedly unknown singers/songwriters/entertainers of all time and the world is a worse place for having lost him at such an early age. Even if you have never heard of Steve before (which is unlikely or you wouldn't be reading this!), do yourself a favor and add this set to your collection - it's worth it at twice the price!

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just plain music from the heart---You'll laugh and cry, February 11, 2001

By 

J. Brodnicki "HypnoJoe" (Hendersonville, TN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Anthology: No Big Surprise (Audio CD)

Back in the days of vinyl (c. 1978), my brother and I had a steady practice in stealing albums we liked from one another. I waited to lift "The Essential Steve Goodman" unitl the day I moved 1,000 miles away and wore several copies of it out.

Steve Goodman's music is still fresh years after his death. "No Big Surprises" captures the warmth and humor of the artist in a series of live and studio cuts. For Goodman fans, many of the studio cuts are alternate takes of previously released material along with some previously unreleased material. These takes give a different flavor to the songs, making this far more than a re-packing of popular material.

The live material is priceless. They capture the energy, creativity, spontanaity, and personality of Goodman.

The recordings were selected for their ability to capture the essence of the performaer and some aren't the highest quality. Having said that, all are of passable quality and any defects are more than compensated for by the quality of the performance.

My wife and I don't share a lot in common musically, but we both were riveted to our first listening of his CD. We laughed and cried out loud. This material that goes beyond the folk genre and capture everyday a slices of America. The liner notes are also a moving tribute to Steve Goodman.

I've never been so moved by a recording.