The Boy From Down Under: The Very Best of Peter Allen

Peter Allen | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 27, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: A&M Records/Chronicles
• ASIN: B00018D3DW
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #80,768 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The late Peter Allen became an international pop icon of many a disparate part: evocative tunesmith of such unabashed sentimental pop as "Don't Cry Out Loud" and "I Honestly Love" you (both original versions of which are included here); vigorous stage performer who willfully blurred the line between mere flamboyance and outright camp; the original ex-Mr. Liza Minnelli; one of the first celebrities to openly admit their homosexuality. Such was Allen's life that it became the basis of the hit stage musical The Boy From Oz in his home country of Australia in the late 90's, then a Hugh Jackman-starring Broadway edition for the 2003 season. The 20-tracks here make a fine companion piece to that Allen revival, wending their way from early 70's Australian pop fare like "Honest Queen" and "Tenterfield Saddler" through his embrace--and shamelessly emotional retooling--of the decade's introspective singer-songwriter mindset that led to MOR hits for Olivia Newton-John, Melissa Manchester, Pablo Cruise, and others, to his ebullient, hard-won career as solo artist in his own right. Culled from Allen's various albums for A&M, RCA, and Arista, the tracks here display a shameless devotion to tin-pan alley traditions ("Everything Old is New Again," a cover of "The More I See of You"), American songbook icons (the Judy Garland tribute "Quiet Please…"), and the solid pop craftsmanship that led to mega-hits like "Arthur's Theme," all of them powered by an effusive performing sense that was truly bigger than life. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Free at last...what a blast!", December 30, 2008

By 

jon sieruga (Redlands, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Boy From Down Under: The Very Best of Peter Allen (Audio CD)

Perhaps it was only an illusion--a theatrical trick to delight us momentarily--but Peter Allen's life looked like a carnival, a traveling, ramshackle show of glitz and carefree hoofing. That said, he's surprisingly serious (in the singer/songwriter mold of Billy Joel and Elton John) on the early tracks such as "Honest Queen" and the shiveringly bracing "Tenterfield Saddler" (an ode to his grandfather). When disco came in circa 1976, Allen's style changed dramatically, though he never stopped writing quality music in this idiom--and he never lost his nakedly romantic soul. This Best Of CD is addictive and wonderful to hear! One wants it to go on & on--like Allen's non-stop energy--but all good things have to end. It's a shame because Peter Allen was an entertainer of the highest magnitude...he had so much of his spirit left to give us. A-

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I am gonna get this album, June 15, 2007

By 

A - NYC (New York NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Boy From Down Under: The Very Best of Peter Allen (Audio CD)

To the other reviewer ... yes he does deserve some respect ... because he WROTE all of the songs (apart from the couple of classic covers) ... including Still Call Australia Home

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Selection of Hits and Lesser Known Tunes, October 26, 2011

By 

J. Lafferty "free spirit" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Boy From Down Under: The Very Best of Peter Allen (Audio CD)

This is a very eclectic album. The selections range from early ballads, like "Tenterfield Saddler" to favorites, like "I Go to Rio", and "Bicoastal", to easy listening tracks from later years, such as "I Don't Go Shopping". The songs are mostly studio tracks but there is one live number, "Arthur's Theme(Best That You Can Do)", which is filled with energy and panache. Several of the songs, such as "I Honestly Love You", and "Don't Cry Out Loud" are better known by other artists, but Allen's interpretations are beautiful and very special, especially when you listen with the knowledge that he co-wrote the songs. The collection also includes some largely overlooked gems like "I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love", and "One Step Over the Borderline". Compared to other Peter Allen compilation albums this one definitely has the greatest variety and the best selections. I highly recommend it.

Jennifer K. Lafferty
Author of Offbeat Love Stories and More