If I Had Known: Essential Recordings Vol. 1, 1980-1996 [Limited Edition, Original recording remastered]

Greg Brown, Greg Brown | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 9, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Limited Edition, Original recording remastered
• Label: Red House Records
• ASIN: B0000AOV38
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,438 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

The New Yorker Magazine

"Brown's music is fixed in American mythology...it's as if Johnny Cash sang Joni Mitchell songs, and meant them."

Relix Magazine

"Exquisite...one of America's best writers."

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great music and fascinating DVD, October 19, 2004

By 

A. Butterfield (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: If I Had Known: Essential Recordings Vol. 1, 1980-1996 (Audio CD)

Living as I do in the UK, I've never had the chance to see Greg Brown 'live', so I was keen to get this DVD and CD combination. The DVD is very interesting. Greg, who comes across as very warm and intelligent, is interviewed throughout, and there are 'live' performances and nice scenes with Greg's folks back in his home town of Hacklebarney. You really get a feel for where 'Greg Brown' came from, and where he still is in a way, something that must be the key to his success and longevity as an artist. He's unspoiled.
The CD is crammed full of some of Greg's greatest songs from the past few years. They need a bit of listening to before you realise just how good they are, but instantly obvious is Greg's unique style and the humour in his unique voice. What's interesting, seeing the background in the DVD, is how he has kept to his roots while at the same time creating music that's universal and whose themes go beyond the 'down home'. This is really well worth getting.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Retrospective, January 22, 2004

By 

James D. DeWitt "Alaska Fan" (Fairbanks, AK United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: If I Had Known: Essential Recordings Vol. 1, 1980-1996 (Audio CD)

You can't call the songs "greatest hits;" Greg Brown isn't the kind of artist who has had or even wants pop hits. You can't call them his "best songs;" there's no agreement on what song is best, other than perhaps the last song you heard him perform. So I will settle for calling this a retrospective, a look backwards across twenty plus albums over twenty plus years. It's imprecise, but close.

It's equally hard to characterize Brown's song writing. There are elements of gospel - he's the son of a fundamentalist minister - and blues, a lot of traditional American folk music, but the mix is peculiarly Brown's own. The style has evolved over the years, as this album demonstrates. What's consistent is the use of specific images, sometimes apparently unrelated images, to make broader, allusive messages. His music is deceptively simple, even catchy, but it never leaves you feeling manipulated.

His musicianship is fine, but there are lots of fine musicians. What sets Greg Brown apart as a performer is his voice, which ranges from a baritone to a gravelly bass. There are very few folk artists who can use their voice as the bass line in their songs. His voice is remarkable, and he uses it intelligently, adding layers of meaning to songs.

If you are new to Greg Brown, this is a terrific introduction. If you are already a fan, you may still want this album: some of the older songs benefit greatly from remastering, and sound much better here than they do on their original albums.

Strongly recommended.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Greg Brown - If I Had Known (CD & DVD Combo), July 30, 2004

By 

Eric Lillyblad "winter lover/xc-ski" (Forest Lake, MN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: If I Had Known: Essential Recordings Vol. 1, 1980-1996 (Audio CD)

Simple, honest music. This is a perfect CD/DVD to purchase to get to know Greg Brown and his music. The CD provides a nice variety of songs taken from some of his numerous albums. The DVD gives great background of his life, including interviews with friends and family members. The DVD also has some nice concert footage and reveals the nature of the man and his earthy, somewhat mischeivous background and outlook on life.