Customer Reviews

Anthology: No Big Surprise

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

Mention Steve Goodman's name to any number of people, and chances are that you will get blank stares in return. Mention some of his songs (City of New Orleans, for example) and you get a flicker of recognition. Steve's forte was crafting the consummate "simple song." He was able to tap into those things that lie at the root of all of us.

This anthology captures the essence of Steve Goodman through two separate means. On the one hand (disc one), we are given a sample platter of studio works. We are treated to a well-selected array of his songs as songs. We hear his craft for the right lyric in the right melody. However, we also have disc two--the live songs. In my opinion, it is through live performance that Steve Goodman's quality, charm, and talent shine through. His love of performing oozes off of the second disc, often bursting through the necissarily sterile-ish-ness of the studio to new levels of interpretation and feeling.

This collection is a perfect starting point for those who wish to discover this oft undiscovered gem.

Mention Steve Goodman's name to any number of people, and chances are that you will get blank stares in return. Mention some of his songs (City of New Orleans, for example) and you get a flicker of recognition. Steve's forte was crafting the consummate "simple song." He was able to tap into those things that lie at the root of all of us.

This anthology captures the essence of Steve Goodman through two separate means. On the one hand (disc one), we are given a sample platter of studio works. We are treated to a well-selected array of his songs as songs. We hear his craft for the right lyric in the right melody. However, we also have disc two--the live songs. In my opinion, it is through live performance that Steve Goodman's quality, charm, and talent shine through. His love of performing oozes off of the second disc, often bursting through the necissarily sterile-ish-ness of the studio to new levels of interpretation and feeling.

This collection is a perfect starting point for those who wish to discover this oft undiscovered gem.

Even with the efforts by John Prine and others to keep the songs of Steve Goodman alive (Red Pajama, et al) a lot of his more obscure releases have become difficult to find. This collection includes old standby Goodman songs along with a lot you might never have heard. Others you might have heard, but mightn't know they were originally the work of Steve. His rendition of City of New Orleans never achieved the popularity of Arlo Guthrie's. But the experience and the song were his, written on the campaign train with hhmmmm Hubert Humphrey? Maybe. "Would You Like to Learn to Dance?" is one of the more touching love songs from the 20th century that never made it big outside the Steve Goodman circle of fans. "Talk Backwards" was originally dedicated to the oncologist treating him during his long struggle with leukemia (for not talking backwards). "You Better Get It While You Can (The Ballad of Carl Martin)" is just one of those lively songs dedicated to musician Carl Martin. Makes those of us who never heard Martin wish we had. "Banana Republics" made a medium-sized hit for Jimmy Buffet. The song carries weight of its own, no matter who sings it. If you don't know Steve Goodman this collection is a great place to begin letting him introduce himself into your life. If you have been following him for a generation and just want to hear some old ones you figured were fallen by the wayside, you'll love it too.
Stevie at good, if not always best.

If you never buy another Live folk CD - then own this one. Steve
covers the whole spectrum from the silly "Vegematic" and "Cub Fan's Dying Request" to the poignant versions of "Danger", "Yellow Coat" and "Would You Like To Learn To Dance". This CD - divided into one CD live and one CD in studio is an absolute MUST for anyone that wants to get a flavor of the 70s music scene. Unfortunately, Steve died young, but his music lives on ! ! I'd give this 100 stars if I could..........

...and good 'have-at-the-office set for old-time fans, this blend of live and studio tacks is bound to please. I didn't notice too much here which wasn't on other albums I own by Goodman, but I like having this collection at work, to brighten a blah day, or to code by. I can't help missing a man I only knew through his songs.

When Steve died, the music world lost a treasure that most people didn't realize was there. He was a gifted performer whose ease with spontaneous creation was unsurpassed. This collection features a song about a guitar string that broke on stage, another occured when, in search of a cowboy hat, he was instead passed a motorcycle helmet which inspired him to launch into a medley that began with "Born to be Wild" and ended with dead girlfriend songs. The classics of Steve's are here such as "City of New Orleans" and "The Dutchman", but also there are undiscovered gems such as a version of "Time Goes By" that gives every indication of being recorded alone in a studio in the wee hours of the morning and is intended as a love song for his absent wife that he misses, "The world will always welcome lovers...thank goodness...as time goes by..." Such boundless joy is wrapped in a sense of loss that lies just around the corner (he was a Cub fan, of course). This collection cannot be more highly recommended. Listen, and you will have discovered an unmet friend...

My title says it all. I was not a Steve Goodman fan until just a few months ago. After hearing just one album, I knew I was hooked. I later bought the anthology double disc set and was pleasantly surprised. The studio disc is of great quality and has a lot of favorites. More of a prize (at least to me) is the live disc. This disc truly captures how much energy and spontenaity Steve performed with. This is easily displayed in the Medley on track 16. This disc also contains a few other gems in Is It True What They Say About Dixie, Turnpike Tom, and Wonderful World of Sex. Buy this double disc set!