Customer Reviews

Essential Kris Kristofferson

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Essentialness is defined as the basics, the necessary listening to fully capture and appreciate a musician's career. Born the son of an air force general in Texas in 1936, Kris Kristofferson's first gig in Nashville was as a janitor cleaning ashtrays and "go-fer" at CBS Studios in the mid-60s. Encouraged by Johnny Cash who helped him "beat the devil," Kris had his first own real big on-the-road hit with "Me and Bobby McGee," especially after it was covered by Cash, Janis Joplin and Roger Miller. Songwriter Kristofferson fully established himself with "Help Me Make it Through the Night" and "Sunday Morning Coming Down" (which also got covered by Ray Stevens). His songs have now been covered by at least 500 artists from Elvis to Dylan.

A great many of these 37 tracks come from his early albums, "Kristofferson" (ten tracks) and "The Silver Tongued Devil and I" (six tracks). I could also argue that some of his followup records from 1972-74 were less than monumental. I certainly question this collection's inclusion of five cuts from the insipid album "Jesus was a Capricorn" and two from the lackluster "Spooky Lady's Sideshow." The #1 country hit, "Why Me," would have been enough from the former. Kristofferson once questioned that song's hit status in Music City News - "It's too slow. It's sincere and it's pretty, but it's about a personal, religious thing. It's not what I ever thought a hit was."

His 1978 album "Easter Island" was definitely better, and we see "The Bigger the Fool, the Harder the Fall" and "The Sabre and the Rose" included on this compilation. But why is there nothing from his 1986 "Repossessed" album, for example? That recording was highly-acclaimed and presented a body of new material after a five-year album hiatus. In fact, the only song on this collection that was recorded after 1984 is "Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends," from the late 1990s. However, "The Essential Kris" does give us over two hours of music.

Of special note are those songs that Kristofferson recorded with others. "I'd Rather Be Sorry" is a duet with Rita Coolidge, his wife from 1973-79. Title cut from the album, "Highwayman," is sung with Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Johnny Cash. A duet with Willie Nelson, "How Do You Feel About Foolin' Around" was recorded in 1983.

Most reviewers agree that Kris Kristofferson's early compositions were his best, and those songs are certainly essential listening. Since this 2-CD collection does not follow a rigid chronological presentation, perhaps more from his earliest albums should have been included on the second disc to balance the hits. Kristofferson has been recognized as a tender singer/songwriter who has a knack for making lyrical statements that people can personally relate to. Many of his songs simply make us feel good. To relive "the good times" that Kristofferson's music has brought us, this double album will nostalgically take us back. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

An artist as prolific as Kristofferson is necessarily difficult to capture in compilation, not least of which because his songs and singing are half his artistic story. Without the hits that others launched from Kristofferson's pen, you can't assemble a full view of his impact on Nashville and pop music in general. Still, Kristofferson's own recordings, especially those of songs made popular by others, are intimate and revealing in ways that no one else's could ever really be. Jopin sung the hell out of "Me and Bobby McGee," but she lost some of the down-and-out brokenness Kristofferson laid into it. Similarly, for "Help Me Make it Through the Night" and "For the Good Times" the hits became icons for Sammi Smith and Ray Price, respectively, but Kristofferson's own versions are perhaps even more unforgettable for his earthier, less-polished voice.

These two discs lean heavily on Kristofferson's earlier work, which, for most listeners will be the right mix. As a recording artist, Kristofferson hit the ground in full sprint on his debut album, "Kristofferson." The follow-up, "The Silver Tongued Devil and I" was just as strong. These two albums alone contribute 16 of disc 1's 18 tracks. Disc 2, on the other hand, samples a dozen different albums, stopping for more than once at any particular release only a few times. The result is a highly consistent disc 1, and a more erratic disc 2. To be fair, one can't help but draw heavily upon Kristofferson's early pair, but given that disc 2 already fails to keep a linear timeline, it might have helped to add a few of the earlier tracks to disc 2.

That said, what's here is magnificent, and shows off Kristofferson's lyrical poetry to great effect. Disc 1 is only bettered by buying Kristofferson's first two albums as reissues (something that any serious fan is highly recommended to do). Disc 2 does an adequate job of surveying the work that followed Kristofferson's initial burst of genius. Included are tracks recorded throughout the '70s, including "Highwayman" with Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash, and duets with Willie Nelson, and then-wife Rita Coolidge.

This is a good starter set, though anyone bitten by the works on disc 1 will want to pick up the full first two albums. Disc 2 provides a good sense of the path Kristofferson's work took, with good hints as to which albums listeners might wish to examine in full. 4-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings.

Kris Kristofferson is not just a songwriter--he's a friggin' poet. "The Essential" is a 2 CD collection of some of his best songs ever, sung in his ragged country voice, spanning pretty much his entire career (although 2003's "Broken Freedom Song" gets left out; but that's forgiveable).

I won't bore you by going song-by-song; there're too many, and they're all too good. Let me hit the highlights (my favorites):

"To Beat the Devil," about a man who refuses the Devil's advice, then "steals his song"; "The Best of All Possible Worlds," a sarcasm-laced story of a noncomforist in a small town; "Help Me Make It Through the Night," a song of desperation and lonliness that's probably the best Kristofferson tune ever (though I'm willing to argue that).

"Loving Her Was Easier" is a beautiful poem; "From the Bottle to the Bottom" is a witty toe-tapper; "Highwayman" features Cash, Waylon, and Willie (the four of them together being the all-star Highwaymen); "Don't Cuss the Fiddle," about the toils of songwriting; "If You Don't Like Hank Williams" (you can kiss his, and my, a**); "Here Comes that Rainbow Again," based on THE GRAPES OF WRATH, about the kindness of strangers; and "How Do You Feel About Foolin' Around," a rockin' little number with Willie.

There're more songs; all of them are good, though some are better than others. And yes, I've heard better versions of these tunes ("Sunday Morning Coming Down" will always belong to Johnny Cash, and other sungs--such as "Shandy", "Broken Freedom Song", and "The Pilgrim"--appear on other albums in different versions), but they are all good.

Could Kris Kristofferson write a bad tune? Probably. But he'd have to try pretty damn hard.

Buy "The Essential Kris Kristofferson." It is ESSENTIAL that your ears--and heart--hear it.

I can't say enough about this set. The track selection is amazing! For once a greatest hits compilation with all the greatest hits on it.
I hope this is a sign of the re-release of all his albums.
No artist this good should be out of print!!

If you don't know Kris Kristofferson beyond Bobby Mcgee or Help Me Make It Through The Night then the journey has just begun.
Enjoy the road less traveled
Buy This Today!
Your heart, mind and soul will thank you

I failed to mention that the version of "come sundown" is not the slow version represented on the singer/songwriter soundtrack. I personally prefer the slowed down take.
Not that it is a big deal since they both are great!

Also missing "Show me yours and I'll show you mine"
which is sad since this is one of the greatest songs ever!

Kris Kristofferson is a capricorn, he ate organic food. Well maybe, maybe not. He might not be as well known or revered to casual fans as Johnny Cash or the others, but oh how does he deserve to be. After having his demo tapes ignored by Johnny Cash (who he handed them to as he worked at the same label as Johnny as a janitor), he did what any normal, logical person would do and land a helicopter on Johnny's property and play his tapes for him TO MAKE SURE that Johnny heard them. The first song on the tape was Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down, which Johnny covered and as they say the rest is history. Some of his songs are more well associated with other artists like the one mentioned, Janis Joplin's cover of Me & Bobby McGee and a heap of others who had hits with Kris' songs before he got his break himself. He wasn't young when his debut came out, in his 30's already, but he made up for lost time in the 70s, which takes up disc 1. The most well known songs are all here, Sunday Mornin', Bobby McGee, Help me make it through the night, etc., but the whole of disc one is just huge, with not a weak moment to be had and evidence enough that Kristofferson surely belongs among the very top songwriters whenever another list or countdown is made. To pick favourites would be like trying to pick your favourite out of your own kids, but I like the make the best of every situation attitude of the upbeat "The best of all possible worlds", the crying over a woman song "From the bottle to the bottom", the track about Johnny inspring him "To beat the devil" and finally "Please don't tell me how the story ends" whose impact is just massive. It's weighed heavily towards the older stuff, and disc 1 is a lot stronger than disc 2 but his best stuff WAS in the 70s. Even if you don't know much about Kris then this compilation will make you want to write a review as unshamedly gushing as all the ones here, this included. Definitely worth your time.

Did you ever 'discover' a song that you can't hear without weeping? That touches your heart with the simplest of words? Well . . . buried on Disc 2 (track 15) of this splendid retrospective of Kris Kristofferson's career, is the song Johnny Cash considered the very best (of those he didn't write himself).

Here in Canada "Mr. Diana Krall" (Elvis Costello) hosts a show which recently featured a stage-full of songwriter/performers. Bracketing Mr. Costello were Kris Kristofferson and (Ravi Shankar's little girl) Norah Jones, John ("no longer Cougar") Mellencamp and Johnny Cash's daughter Roseanne.

The highlight for me (for Elvis Costello too - it brought a tear to his eye which he tried to wipe away unobtrusively during the subsequent applause from the Toronto studio audience) was Kris Kristofferson's solo performance of one of his own songs.

[Just as an aside I'm partial to Kris Kristofferson having seen him perform in a coffee house in my hometown of Ottawa Canada 45 years ago (before any of his big hits like Me & Bobby McGee) - I remember his claim to fame then was as a "Rhodes Scholar" - wonder if he remembers performing at Le Hibou (The Owl) in Ottawa; Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee had performed the week before.]

Accompanied only by himself on his new signature model "Southern Jumbo" (J-45) Gibson (the simplest of chords, strummed with his thumb) Kris provided a vivid reminder of the power of the English language. He'd introduced this song to this audience (and to me - I'd not heard it before) saying,

"I read in his (Johnny Cash's) autobiography that this might be his favorite song."

[Then, looking heavenwards, his speaking voice choked with apparent humility at that thought ]

"And so I sing it for him."

-----

The scene, is a small roadside café, the waitress is sweeping the floor;
Two truck drivers, drinking their coffee, and two Okie kids by the door

"How much are them candies?" they asked her.
"How much have you got?" she replied
"We've only a penny, between us."
"Them's `2-for-a-penny' she lied.

[THE BRIDGE, KRIS BLOWING A 2-NOTE CHORD ON HARMONICA]

And the daylight grew heavy with thunder, with the smell of the rain on the wind.
Ain't that just like a human?
Here comes that rainbow again!

[KEY CHANGE]

One truck driver called to the waitress, after the kids went outside,
"Them candies ain't two for a penny!"
"So? What's that to you?" she replied.

In silence they finished their coffee - got up, and nodded Goodbye;
She called out "Hey! You left too much money!"
"So? What's that to you?" they replied.

And the daylight was heavy with thunder, with the smell of the rain on the wind.
Ain't that just like a human?
Here comes that rainbow again."

---------

After a standing ovation from the studio audience, and during applause that seemed to last more than a minute -- and after surreptitiously brushing away with his left hand a tear from his right cheek (and the camera switched to Kristofferson, clearly moved that this simple song -- "Johnny Cash's all-time favorite" --- still had such a powerful effect), the show's host regained his composure and stopped the proceedings right there to ask a question:

ELVIS: "I just have to say something . . . before we move on . . . that song . . . is just SO beautiful! And pure! Can you remember the moment when you wrote it?

KRIS: "Yeah. It was inspired by a scene out of THE GRAPES OF WRATH. And . . . it was always the one that choked me up. And it (the words) just came out - all together."

ELVIS: "That's the thing I hear! And it's something you share with Rose (Roseanne Cash, seated next to Elvis) - and Rose's father! It's the work of a writer. Have you ever thought of writing a book?"

KRIS: `Well yes . . . "

[POLITE LAUGHTER]

"When I get old!"

[AUDIENCE BREAKS UP WITH LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE]

Yes . . . disarmingly simple words . . . set to the simplest of tunes -- an almost generic country melody (like Tom T. Hall used to employ for instance, on his "Ballad of 50 dollars") -- producing 'high art,' evoking such emotion that the great Johnny Cash would proclaim it his all-time favorite song!

A cause for joy, that there is a Disc 2 of this delightful collection, including the lesser-known but wonderful early songs by (arguably) America's greatest living singer/songwriter!

Mark Blackburn
Winnipeg Manitoba Canada

This CD is simply a remastered 37 song collection of one of the best songwriters of our time. Disc one covers 1969 - 1971 and disc two covers everything else. What's strange is the first disc is chronological and the second one is completely haphazard. This is sort of a budget collection since there is not much of a booklet with minimal liner notes and few photos. Either way, this is something any fan of Americana should have in their library.

Kris Kistofferson has much more "Essential" than this bland 2 CD set offers.
Kris is the legacy of Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, WPA works, Selective Service System, and a life lived. Rhoades Scholar, US Army Captain, actor (heck, he even saw Barbra Streisand naked), and an American treasure.

This 2 CD is an attempt of his overall recordings. It just can't happen within the hour and half or so alotted. What is needed is a box set consisting of the Monument LPs "Kristofferson" "Silver Tongue Devil and I" and "Border Lord".

Latter day enthusiasts will appreciate the "Highwaymen" hits, but they are better off on that/those specific CDs.

+ hearing "For the Good Times" on LP is as good as an ache gets.
No! wait! hearing " Help Me Make Through the Night" even better!

A " value find" for Kris's songs, as the mix is quite good, and one has the listening "feel" of his current mature singing voice in combination with his younger, but very acceptable voice.

Anyone wishing to hear some of the most clever lyrics written for everyone will enjoy this album. Kristofferson's sense of humor is direct, to the point and right on. The lyrics to the ballads offer some of the most beautiful visions one can easily get lost in.