Customer Reviews

The Best Of John Hiatt

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There are many John Hiatt compilations in existence, but in the latter 90's, it got especially confusing, as three competing record labels weighed in: this one from Capitol in 1998, A&M with "Greatest Hits" in 1999, then HIP-O with the 2-disc set, "Anthology" in 2001. Oy!

Of the two Capitol and A&M single-disc compilations, which to buy? Is there a difference in the audio quality between the two?

You bet. If you're looking for the disc with the best audio, this is it.

The Capitol & A&M titles share eight identical tracks:

2. Thing Called Love
5. Slow Turning
7. Memphis In The Meantime
8. Child Of The Wild Blue Yonder
11. Buffalo River Home
12. Feels Like Rain
14. Perfectly Good Guitar
15. Tennessee Plates

Six of these tracks have noticeably better audio on this disc vs. the A&M version. Tracks 2 & 14 sound identical.

Two tracks whose titles appear on both CD's, but in actuality are different versions are (on this disc):

1. Have A Little Faith In Me (re-make with chorale, I prefer the original version)
9. Drive South

This CD has six other tracks which do not appear on the A&M version.

Compared to HIP-O's more expensive, 2-disc "Anthology", the audio on this disc is virtually identical, though both sets were mastered by different engineers at different studios. So, it looks like HIP-O & Capitol tried harder or had better source material, and the A&M is sub-standard.

There are only 5 tracks on this disc that do not appear on the HIP-O "Anthology" (#'s 1, 6, 13, 16, 17).

So, the HIP-O set is probably your best investment, as its resale value, should you ever choose to sell it, or more likely, when ANOTHER Hiatt "Best Of" shows up, will be higher than the other two discs.

The problem with making a "best of" album for Mr. Hiatt would be the same with making one for John Prine or Tom Waits. All have written hits for many artists but none have one of their own. Devoted followers will always bemoan their favorites that were left off. But cds like these aren't for the true fans. They are for the uninitiated. In this respect this is a fine album that I enjoy immensely. I own a few of John's albums and am glad that four of my favorite songs from them are included but the real treasure here is finding the gems I've never heard. This artist is a great songwriter and an enthusiastic performer. This cd showcases both aspects quite well.

Best of? Not exactly. Music buyers would be better off skipping this disc and loading up on a half dozen or more of Hiatt's other recordings, including these wonderful tunes: Seven Little Indians (Stolen Moments) Through Your Hands (Stolen Moments) Blue Telescope (Perfectly Good Guitar) Is Anybody There? (Slow Turning) Lipstick Sunset (Bring The Family) Stood Up (Bring The Family) Ethylene (Walk On) One Step Over The Line (Will The Circle Be Unbroken, Volume II: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, featuring a terrific duet with Rosanne Cash) and John H.'s best song and one of the best songs from anybody in a long time: Don't Think About Her When You're Trying To Drive. (Little Village with John on vocals and Ry Cooder on electric guitar.)

This album was originally titled "The Best Of John Hiatt 1973-1998", but since it effectively sidesteps his earliest recordings, it is actually more like "The Best Of John Hiatt 1983-1998".

Compared with A&M's "Greatest Hits 1987-94", this Capitol release also features material from Hiatt's 1983 album "Riding With The King", from which it draws the title track, but unfortunately not the great roots-rock of "You May Already Be A Winner" and "She Loves The Jerk".
But there is a lot of good stuff here anyway (the track list is quite similar to the A&M compilation). Hiatt's tough, muscular blend of rock, folk, country and blues works particularly well on "Perfectly Good Guitar", "Cry Love", "Child Of The Wild Blue Yonder", "Slow Turning", and the excellent "Don't Know Much About Love" (a new song which is unique to this album, as is the fine ballad "Love In Flames").

"The Best Of John Hiatt" also features the wonderful "Buffalo River Home", one of Hiatt's best tunes and lyrics. Hiatt's first recording of his own "Angel Eyes" (which he gave to Jeff Healy, who had a hit with it in 1989). The groovy, slow and sexy R&B of "Take Off Your Uniform". And a lovely country-rock duet with Roseanne Cash, "The Way We Make A Broken Heart".

It is by no means defintive, but it is a very good sampler, and long-time fans will certainly not be disappointed with the new material.

My best friend got into John Hiatt several years ago, and kept trying to get me to listen. Finally he bought this album for me, and I was floored. Buy it--and play it the next time you've got a 2-3 hour drive somewhere, through the country. It's great road music--from Crazy Little Thing Called Love ( 3X better than the lovely Bonnie Raitt version) and Memphis in the Meantime, which are both slinky R&B to the outright country of Tennesee Plates and Slow Turning, it's clear-eyed, funny, funky music from one of the 2-3 best indie country writers ever. Raitt, Eric Clapton, and Ry Cooder have all made big hits with songs on this album. This is the perfect doorway into a brilliant gem of a singer-songwriter.

This one had the feel of a middle finger being raised in the direction of A&M Records, who had recently dropped him. Hiatt and his new label cobbled this collection together from live recordings and newly recorded versions, along with a recent track ("Cry Love") and some licensed older material. A&M would return the favor a year later with the vastly superior "Greatest Hits". While the title may be misleading, there certainly is good music here. "Riding With the King" was until recently an overlooked classic, and "How We Make a Broken Heart" (with Roseanne Cash) is quite nice. The set also features two new songs, "Don't Know Much About Love", and "Love in Flames". If you're a Hiatt fan looking to expand your collection, this may interest you. Those seeking an introduction or essential best-of are referred to the aforementioned "Greatest Hits".

My wife bought this CD when she heard someone in the store say "now this is a really good CD". She bought it because she recognized "A Thing Called Love" which she loves...the Bonnie Raitt recording of it. We listened to it together in the car the first time. Wow. We were hooked immediately. I was blown away by "Buffalo River Home". I have never heard a more magic song. It reached something deep and personal for me. I can't explain it...it's part geographical, part life's stupid pet tricks, but he brings it all home to the wild pony word picture that strikes a fluid bronze sculpture depicting the tree covered green river bank of the south Tennessee River tributary reminding us aging Baby Boomers on the timeless thread of life. I will be listening and learning his songs. Period.

Super adult, contemp. music.
Heard a song during the movie, "RAISING HELEN"...researched it, found
it (THIS JOHN HIATT ALBUM)...didn't stop playing it for 3 days!!!!
Loved every track on it. What a gem.
Would highly recommend it, just for pure vocals and soothing
dynamic. LOVED IT!

Hiatt fans were understandably distraught when this compilation first came out, because no comprehensive collection of his estimable talent had been available at the time. But now that Hiatt has two compilations covering both halves of his career ("Y'all Caught?", the MCA & Geffen collection, and "Greatest Hits," from the A&M years), "The Best of John Hiatt" serves a worthy purpose that the other two don't: it gathers in some stray, unreleased songs that have littered the path of his prolific career: the band-and-choir version of "Have a Little Faith in Me"; Hiatt's duet with Rosannce cash on the gem "The Way We Make a Broken Heart" (from the "Riding with the King" sessions); a studio version of "Angel Eyes," and two others from sessions that never made it to albums. So...with this optional "Best" release, it's possible we're actually seeing the germ of a long-awaited, and long-deserved, box set from an undersold artist whose work historically has been scattered hither and yon among other, appreciative artists. May Hiatt long be permitted to litter so freely. And may Rhino or some other venerable instituion provide clean-up duty.

I am a huge Hiatt fan, having all of his CD's except one.. I was not thrilled with his new version of Have a Little Faith on this CD.. The original on BRING THE FAMILY is the ultimate.. It is very hard for me to say which album of his is my favorite b/c I love them all.. but BRING THE FAMILY is awesome with Ry Cooder's beautiful slide guitar wailing in the background! I love the mandolins in all of his newer stuff too.. catch him live in concert, and you'll be hooked for life! Slow Turning, Stolen Moments, Perfectly Good Guitar, Walk On, Little Head, and Little Village is another cool project that's worthwhile! And I truly love his very first album ever, HANGIN AROUND THE OBSERVATORY made in 1974.. his voice sounds different, but the more I listen to it, the more I love it!