Country Side of Esther / Set Me Free

Esther Phillips | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 31, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 1966
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Collectables
• ASIN: B00005M0AZ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #146,903 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #16 in Music > Indie Music > Blues > Vocal Blues

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. I Really Don't Want to Know

2. Just Out of Reach

3. I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love With You)

4. Be Honest With Me

5. I've Forgotten More Than You'll Ever Know About Him

6. Release Me

7. I'd Fight the World

8. Am I That Easy to Forget

9. After Loving You

10. No Headstone on My Grave

See all 11 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Mojo Hanna

2. I Saw Me

3. Double Crossing Blues

4. Hello Walls

5. Some Things You Never Get Used To

6. Let Me Know When It's Over

7. Ups and Downs

8. Catch Me I'm Fallin'

9. I'm in Love

10. Brand New Day

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a good pairing of Esther Phillips albums, August 25, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Country Side of Esther / Set Me Free (Audio CD)

To my knowledge, this is the first US cd issue of the "Country Side of Esther Phillips". "Set Me Free" was previously issued by Atlantic, though they omitted one track which is now restored on this issue. Though Esther did have a few hits, she certainly deserved a higher level of commercial success than she received. As the liner notes indicate, she was likened to Dinah Washington in her day, but in retrospect it is obvious that Esther was one of a kind. Her delivery is always very soulful. Her tone is quite different than Aretha's, but the passion is similar. Curiously the running order of the "Set Me Free" album is different than Atlantic's earlier reissue; I don't know which matches the original album, or if either actually does. More curious is the packaging which states "2 albums on 1 cd". This is a 2-cd set. The first album is only about a half-hour long but the latter is nearly 74 minutes long. The two albums are on two separate discs.

Remastering was done well, certainly an improvement over the previous "Set Me Free".

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of higlights of Esther Phillips discography, January 9, 2002

By 

Sasha "lampic" (at sea...sailing somewhere) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Country Side of Esther / Set Me Free (Audio CD)

Dear Esther Phillips,I really have a soft spot for her.The best part of excellent "Rhino" compilation "The best of Esther Phillips 1962-1970" were four songs taken from her long unavailable country LP,finally here in a full glory.Because great Dinah Washington died before she ever recorded country album herself,this would be the closest we will ever come to imagine what would Dinah sound with this kind of repertoire.Just like Ray Charles before her,Phillips had a great feeling for country music and the combination of soul/R&B vocal style touch in a very straightforward country material was a brilliant idea (many years later done again on "Rythm,Country and Blues" album with Patty Labelle and Natalie Cole between other stars participating in duets with country singers).Esther Phillips country album is absolutely first-class,must-have CD but unfortunately second CD here was just another "Atlantic" mix of desperate search of hit single - curse of Phillips versatility.(Almost like young Aretha's "Coumbia" days) Its nice to have both LP's but for me the whole reason of buying this CD is Esther Phillips excellent country album finally available on CD format.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Esther Where Have I Been?, May 7, 2004

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Country Side of Esther / Set Me Free (Audio CD)

Never heard of Esther Phillips until I saw her name in a newspaper article. Checked her out on Amazon, bought this 2-CD album and can barely bring myself to play any of my other favorite CD's. She has an "Eartha Kitt" sound at first, until you hear her out and, wham, she's country, she's soul and she's
blues. If you want something to stir your bones, hear her out!