Customer Reviews

Essential Mary Chapin Carpenter

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have to tell you, I adore the music of Mary Chapin Carpenter. I got hooked on her in the "Down at the twist and shout" era and have followed her ever since. She has a deep, sexy voice that seems to always reflect a mellowness of a special time. This cd takes a lot of her finest material from her earlier albums with the unusual exception of her debut album, "Hometown Girl," which was released well before her music became mainstream.

This is the second compilation released by Mary Chapin Carpenter. The first one, "Party Doll" contains some of the same material, but as live and alternate tracks. "Essential" Mary Chapin Carpenter is all of the original studio material the best I can tell and the quality of the recordings are exceptional. The album contains 16 of her best songs. Although two of my personal favorite Mary Chapin Carpenter songs, "Keeping the faith" and "Let me into your heart" have been omitted, it is tough to argue with the selection of songs here.

The cd showcases her versatility ranging from the bluegrass "Down at the twist and shout" to the acoustic "Stones in the road" to the poppy "Shut up and kiss me."

Most Mary Chapin Carpenter fans will already have most, if not all of the material, and have no need for the cd. But if you've always enjoyed her music on the radio, and you'd like to buy just one, this would be it. If you are out there and have just decided to explore some new music and you enjoy artists like Lyle Lovett or Emmylou Harris, or Roseanne Cash, then give this cd a spin. I am sure you will enjoy it.

If there is an ultimate Mary Chapin Carpenter album, "The Essential Mary Chapin Carpenter" is it: a beautifully compiled collection that consists not only of Carpenter's biggest hits, but an astonishing selection of the best songs she's ever written.

How insightful is the song selection on this disc? You expect Grammy-winning hits like "I Feel Lucky" and "Down at the Twist and Shout" to be included. But brilliantly written album gems like "Only a Dream" and "Halley Came to Jackson" would normally be excluded in order to include a hit or two from her lesser albums, such as "A Place in the World," which is unrepresented here. Care was even taken to showcase the two best tracks from the tragically hitless "Time*Sex*Love*": "Late for Your Life" and "The Long Way Home." And then there's quite possibly the best vocal performance of her career, the majestic "10,000 Miles" from the film "Fly Away Home."

My only complaint? Where is Carpenter's poetic and beautiful masterpiece, "This Shirt," from "State of the Heart," which is frequently cited by fans and critics alike as quite possibly the best song she has ever written? (Which is saying a lot for this particular songwriter.) But this is a small quibble considering the terrific material that is presented.

In short, anyone wishing to be introduced to this vital and important singer/songwriter need look no further than this brilliant collection, which eclipses her previous greatest hits collection "Party Doll and other Favorites." Thank you, Columbia Records, for doing right by an artist of tremendous taste and integrity. She deserves it, and you did her proud.

Through the years, Mary Chapin Carpeneter has had a lot of hit singles, and about half of them are included on this disc. So if you are looking for a greatest-hits collection, this isn't it. However, if you want a CD that is "A material" from start to finish, this is it.

The CD opens with the poignant folk tones of "Stones In The Road" and then ventures into Carpenter's captivating rocker "The Long Way Home." These songs were not hits, but they are probably two of the four best songs on this CD. The other non-hit masterpieces are "Almost Home" and "I Am A Town."

Of course, the hits are great as well. "Passionate Kisses" is slicker than the original by Lucinda Williams and has less of an edge, but it's still a great record. The anthem "He Thinks He'll Keep Her" is as stunning today as it did when it permeated the airwaves in 1993. Some of the songs are silly, like "Shut Up And Kiss Me," but they are GREAT silly songs, done very well. And what's wrong with having some fun? Nothing!

Mary Chapin Carpenter possesses a rich, layered voice that she knows how to use. She's truly a class act in country-rock music. Pick up this CD, even if you are only a mild fan. It's terrific!

MCC is, like John Mellencamp a populist singer-songwriter-storyteller.

This is MUSIC. Real, fun, with points to make, lyrics that matter. But none of the points get in the way of the enjoyment, in fact, they add to it.

The sound quality on this CD is very good. And there is really no off song the entire way. One of those pleasant CDs you can pop in and listen all the way through. I'd say for anyone who likes folk-pop that this is arguably one of the top 10 CDs put out in the last 3 years.

This is a fabulous CD, containing some of the best songs that Mary Chapin Carpenter has released. I have long been a MCC fan. She has a folksy, heart-filled, contemplative writing style that I enjoy, and this carefully crafted collection would be a wonderful introduction to her work for anyone who has not followed her career.

There are a few songs that I love that I wish had been included on this CD (Come On, Come On; This Shirt; Rhythm of the Blues), but this CD hits many of the highlights and provides a good picture of the artist. Highly recommended.

I have to credit Mary Chapin Carpenter's former record label for compiling this "Best of" CD, which includes splendid songs from virtually every album she recorded for them. As a "Greatest Hits" album, it compares favorably to relatively recent ones from Elton John and Billy Joel, demonstrating the tremendous depth of her artistic talent, which, sadly, most in country music have ignored apparently. Without question, fellow Brunonian Mary Chapin Carpenter ranks among our finest female country songwriters, whom I can compare favorably to both Lucinda Williams and Nancy McCallion of The Mollys, the Tucson, AZ-based country/folk band that I regard as among our very best. For a long time I have greatly admired Mary Chapin Carpenter's superb songwriting craft, having utmost respect, appreciation and admiration for her elegant, sophisticated lyrics and melodies. Among my favorite songs on this CD are those which I regard as long-time personal favorites: "Stones in the Road", "I Feel Lucky", "Down at the Twist and Shout", "Passionate Kisses" (It was actually composed by Lucinda Williams, but it became a major hit for Carpenter.), "He Thinks He'll Keep Her", "The Hard Way" and "Almost Home". Much to my amazement, the elegant ballad, "This Shirt", which I regard as finely crafted a ballad as the best bluegrass/country rock ballads from Elton John and Bernie Taupin, is missing, as well as the slightly honky tonk-inflected "Can't Take Love for Granted", another gem from Mary Chapin Carpenter. If you're not familiar with Mary Chapin Carpenter's music, then this CD represents a fine introduction, demonstrating why she still remains one of our great country songwriters.

The songs "Late for Your Life," "10,000 Miles," and "The Long Way Home" are,in my opinion, in no way "essential Mary Chapin Carpenter" but, rather, a waste of time on this otherwise very satisfying CD.
Instead of them I would have included "Come On, Come On," "The Dreaming Road," and other similarly moving MC Carpenter classics which were left out. However, it's great to have "Halley Came to Jackson," "I Am A Town," "Only A Dream," "He Thinks He'll Keep Her," "I Feel Lucky," "Stones in the Road," and "The Hard Way" all on one album. I've never been wild about "Shut Up and Kiss Me" but many of MCC's fans are, and that's on here too. Overall a good listening experience.

This CD was a gift - I wanted to share it with my sister, because I recently purchased another copy for me. It's great listening for the road.

You gotta give this one 5 stars just for existing. We can all make our own playlists of Chapin and they will all be different, which is the best testimony to the amazing, wide-ranging appeal of her music.

To put this collection in perspective, I'm disappointed that it is neither a definitive hits collection, nor a great compliment to the wonderful, eclectic, oh-so-MCC "Party Doll and other favorites".

Since PD gave us 6 live cuts that featured among them 4 of her 9 Top 10 hits, my suggestion for a follow-up hits collection would have been to give us live versions of the other hits on this one (namely, live versions of "I Feel Lucky", "Shut Up And Kiss Me", "Passionate Kisses", and "He Thinks He'll Keep Her" - can we please someday get the version with the all-star backing chorus from the "Women of Country" special???)

One major omission is the exclusion of "Never Had It So Good". Come on, this was her first Top 10 hit and has yet to appear on ANY of her greatest hits packages. She only had 9 top 10's so can we please get them all on one CD? Also, this CD overlooks other of her early C&W hits like "How Do", "You Win Again", etc, whilst also ignoring "A Place In The World", which was already unfairly ignored on "Party Doll"! "Let Me Into Your Heart" and "I Want To Be Your Girlfriend" deserve to be here.

My suggestion for the tracklist for this CD would be very different. It would pay homage to Party Doll as more of a "Party Doll Vol. 2" by honoring the theme of giving us some live versions of hits and including rarities and great album cuts. Tell me what you think...

1) Passionate Kisses (full version, Live At Wolftrap)
2) He Thinks He'll Keep Her (live version, Women of Country special)
3) Shut Up And Kiss Me (live in the UK, 1994)
4) I Feel Lucky (live from Austin City Limits)
5) Never Had It So Good (#8 Country hit finally recognized as a hit!)
6) You Win Again
7) The Bug (single edit)
8) Tender When I Want To Be
9) House Of Cards
10) Why Walk When You Can Fly (single remix)
11) Let Me Into Your Heart (single remix)
12) I Want To Be Your Girlfriend
13) Jenny Dreamed of Trains (rarity)
14) Downtown (rarity)
15) I Am A Town (lost gem album cut)
16) Halley Came To Jackson (lost gem album cut)
17) How Do
18) Quittin' Time (Lp version)

Mary Chapin Carpenter is one of our musical treasures. This album just personifies that fact. One of my favorites. I originally sought out this album to get the "10,000 Miles" tune but found that the rest of the album was also a treat. Well worth purchasing for your collection.