Customer Reviews

Harry Chapin: Story Of A Life

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This isn't a collection for someone who is trying to get to know Harry Chapin and his music. It is, however, a collection for people who already love Harry Chapin and are collecting his works.

Die-hard fans know that Harry had a few different versions of some of his songs (i.e. Circle)and this set offers a few new ones.

The recordings between the songs are super, and show a bit of Harry's great sense of humor and his sense of concern for those who are going hungry.

If you don't know Harry Chapin, don't make this the first album of his that you buy. But if you love Harry, this is a must-have for your collection.

As a lifelong Harry Chapin fan, I have been frustrated for many years at the absence of his best work from CD. This collection captures the essence of his work from his best known songs such as Taxi and Cats in the Cradle to lesser known (but better) works as well. Of particular note is the excellent sound quality as compared with earlier collections. This should easily have been a 4-CD collection. One can only hope that this collection is a success so that Harry's other albums, such as Short Stories, Sequel and Legends of the Lost and Found (in my opinion, the superior "live album)are released. However, for those wanting a rounded collection of Harry Chapin's work, this is it.

It's somehow fitting that the box set has a book to read in the middle. It's just 1 more reminder that Harry wasn't just about the music--often the music was the medium for Harry's message. But what a medium! This is what was meant to be for those wonderful stories. Yes, I'm still hoping they release the rest of his albums on CD, but this is such a treat by itself. Songs I'd not heard in ages, sounding better than ever. This is not some maudlin trip down memory lane, though. "Short Stories" is as applicable today as when it was written, and it still blasts you out of the chair. and "Old Folkie"--one of my favorites--is a fantastic tribute to Pete Seeger. Oddly, now you could almost apply it to Harry himself. words won't cover it. All you people from the cheap seats, go get this set--because YOU CAN **ALWAYS** COUNT ON THE CHEAP SEATS! :>)

I love this compilation of Harry Chapin songs, but other than for the convenience of having the music in one nicely compiled set of three CDs and accompanying book, I love it no more and no less than I love every Harry Chapin album, CD, book, video, and DVD that I already own. Unfortunately, it doesn't include his complete body of work. I'll never understand why the Chapin family doesn't compile Harry Chapin's complete body of work into one "life works" collection for Harry's many fans to purchase, with net proceeds supporting the causes for which Harry lived.

The day that Harry died is "the day that the music died" for me, as well as for other fans of his, not only because we were fans of his music, but because we were also fans of Harry and everything that he stood for, and contributed to putting an end to world hunger. If you would like the lyrics of the songs included in this wonderful compilation of songs, check out this web site: http://www.littlejason.com/chapin/albums/storyofalife.html

I was raised with the music of Harry Chapin. At first listen, the songs entertain and delight. By the tenth listen, the characters are old friends. So is Harry. When I first learned of this release, I was thrilled. I still am to an extent- it's a great cross section of Harry's music, and the sound quality, as mentioned in several other reviews, is excellent. My only complaint is that I had hoped to see more of my old friends. With almost half of Harry's albums still not available on CD, I would have liked to see more tracks from those albums. I know this is a complaint of a fan who is already hooked, but isn't that really who box sets are for? The 70 page book is informative, and the pieces written by Harry's loved ones are really moving; but a complete track listing of each of Harry's albums would have been great and would have only taken an extra page or two. Overall, a good collection, and even with my complaints, I still strongly recommend you buy this today.

Although any compilations becomes a personal choice of one song or another this is truly a classic, remastered collection of some of Harry's finest stories. Harry was in his element live so I'd also recommend the Bottom Line collection. Yet, one can't argue with songs studio versions of Easy and Circle that just can't be found anywhere else. Besides the 76 page booklet is wonderful.

One of the things so many miss is Harry's dedication to feeding the hungry. I listen to all of these great songs and I can hear Harry saying, "We do one for us and one for the other guy." Harry Chapin was a great artist with a social conscience. He sang songs that raised our awareness and to move us to action. You need to know that before it was a fad and the politically correct thing, Harry was out to feed the hungry. He didn't receive a lot of media attention and other hoopla. In this time where artist want to have big press releases and a pat on the back, it is good to know Harry was doing it long before them. You need to know this to understand his music, because it gives a look at Harry's soul or spirit.

I was introduced to Harry Chapin early on in my life.....born in the late 60's, I didn't fully appreciate what Harry had to say until my high school days. "Cats in the Cradle" was one of those songs the made an impact and Harry's music was here to stay in my life. This Box set is like another reviewer said....something for those who already love Harry to enjoy mostly, I agree with that completley.

I cannot imagine a world without Harry Chapin music playing. I don't want to.....Its a Musical gift for us who wanted to believe that we could be those who Harry wrote about in his songs. If your unfamiliar to Harry Chapin songs and are reading this review and others reviews, you I'm sure have a sense of infectiousness we all share with his songs. He was More of a giving human being rather than a Pop artist who sings songs of stories,.......so your buying that which we personaly want to belong to ourselves I think....His Legacy!

"Cats in the Cradle" belongs to us.........A poem Harry's wife wrote for Harry and later put into song by Harry himself. I try and not to sell a song rather than trying to sell an artist. To this reviewer....it takes Substance and human quality and compassion to make these songs real......Harry Chapin became a gentle voice for us.........his short life compacted most in words added with some music became something No Musical artist has accomplished then or now.

So with that said........I have found some songs in this Compilation that I have never heard before......"Mismatch" became an instant favorite.....a love song with a unigue logic to it. Other personal Favorites are: "Short Stories"......"Shooting Star"...."30,000 lbs of Bananas" "Sniper'...."Taxi"....."Story of a Life"........"Remember when the Music"........."W-O-L-D"......."Old College Avenue"

I think I have every album Harry ever recorded, either on vinyl, cassette or CD, or more than one medium. So, there isn't anything in this collection that I don't have. Yet, I bought it eagerly and play it often, because it distills so much of Harry down into something you can almost (but never quite) get your arms around. Listening to it is just like Old College Avenue- walking down the path of one's life with Harry providing the sound track. Sure, there are some things missing, like some tracks from "Legends of the Lost and Found" (Stanger with the Melody, Copper, We were Three, Get on With It- but those are personal favorites and arguable at best for inclusion). But, for the most part, this is Harry, all the way from the first time I heard him opening for Carly Simon at Symphony Hall in Boston in 1972, until that horrible day, 4 days before I was to see and hear him again in Rhode Island, in 1981- the day the light went out. I miss him, but this album helps.

It's 5 stars, if you like Harry Chapin, you love 'em all!

I have waited years for a CD to be issued with the long version of "Corey's Coming", to my disappointment not included in this set. Still only available on the second double live album? Not a complaint, just a hope not yet fulfilled!

God Bless a great man and all those who sailed with him!