Dream City - Essential Recordings Vol 2, 1997-2006

Greg Brown | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 14, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Red House
• ASIN: B002BEXE6A
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #53,879 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Dream City

2. Rexroth's Daughter

3. Evening Call

4. Vivid

5. Whatever It Was

6. Your Town Now

7. Lull It By

8. Joy Tears

9. Samson

10. Summer Evening

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Lull It By (unreleased alternate version)

2. Verona Road (unreleased studio track)

3. Gallery (unreleased studio track)

4. Christmas Song (unreleased live track)

Editorial Reviews

No Description Available.
Genre: Folk Music
Media Format: Compact Disk
Rating:
Release Date: 14-JUL-2009

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything I expected and more, July 29, 2009

By 

Rushmore (CHICAGO, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dream City - Essential Recordings Vol 2, 1997-2006 (Audio CD)

I am a HUGE Greg Brown fan, so anything he releases is a must-have for me. A greatest-hits collection from GB is kind of a grab bag. He has never had what you would call a big hit. Any fan has their own selection of favorites, and there are a lot to choose from. My personal favorites from this period would include Eugene from Evening Call, the title track from Milk of the Moon (if pressed I would call this my favorite GB tune), a few other songs from Honey in the Lion's Head, not so many from Slant 6 Mind and Over/Under. But who cares? It's Greg Brown!

Any greatest-hits collection worth its salt will include a few never-before-released items to reel in the skeptical buyer. In this case the bonus disc contains 4 songs. Two of them are priceless - the mandolin-flavored version of Lull It By (the album version is also included for comparison sake - both are gorgeous), and the long rambling spoken Christmas Song, which almost makes up for the omission of Eugene. The latter gives you that inimitable experience of a live GB session, where he tells a good story, rants and raves a little bit, and ultimately comes back to the music.

These days while driving I mostly put my Ipod on shuffle and run through my large, eclectic musical collection. However, there are days like today, when I just want to pop a CD in and get lost in some great music and a great performer. GB's voice isn't the best but he writes some great lyrics and his music always, always makes me feel better. Highly recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely worth it!, September 14, 2009

By 

Jan Brattain Vice "jan2bratt" (NW Oregon USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dream City - Essential Recordings Vol 2, 1997-2006 (Audio CD)

I already own almost every commercial recording Greg Brown has put out but I didn't hesitate to purchase this new one. All of the songs on the first disc I already have somewhere else but the second disc is what made the purchase worth it to me. The alternate version of Lull It By is so beautiful, with the mandolin taking the part of the banjo in the previously released version and added fiddle supplied by Peter Ostrushko. I feel as though I am sitting on Greg's porch, listening to an impromptu performance by old friends. Vernona Road is I believe previously unreleased on commercial recordings, as are the other two songs on this second disc. In Gallery, Greg is reminiscing about his past loves,he shows his poet soul with memorable descriptions and phrasing, "This one broke my young heart, just as I set sail, how well she swung the hammer boy, how well I held the nail..." It's the live concert recording of Christmas Song that shows why Greg is held in such high regard by his many fans. He is a master at this talking song style, just telling a story, with Bo Ramsey weaving his magic guitar in the background, adding so much in such an understated manner. Greg's whispery, gravelly, subtle voice gets right into my soul and I could listen to him all day. Frequently I do, and this album is a great combination of his best songs. If you haven't bought any of his albums before this would be a good place to start. If you have all of them, this would still be a good addition to your collection.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Greg Brown is an essential artist, March 24, 2010

By 

T. Ransom "BanjoFreak" (Woodstock, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dream City - Essential Recordings Vol 2, 1997-2006 (Audio CD)

Greg Brown's Dream City - Essential Recordings Vol 1 & 2 are simply that - essential recordings. If you are a Greg Brown fan, then that's all you need to know. If you are wondering who this guy is, these CD's are a great introduction to an amazing artist. My father's family was all from southeastern Iowa (Farley) and his music is like coming home. There is a familiar midwestern sensibility that comes through all of GB's lyrics. But, that's not all that keeps me coming back for more. There are also a lot of surprises in his songs; tempo, instrumentation, unexpected meter, twists, turns, and layers of meaning. Greg Brown is tough to label and that is his strength. If you are tired of tired music and syrupy radio play, then give Greg Brown a try. He is comfortable, yet unique. The man is a master real deal.