John Hiatt - Greatest Hits: The A&M Years '87-'94

John Hiatt | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 2, 1999)
• Original Release Date: 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: A&M
• ASIN: B000009D10
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,079 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Collection of a Gifted Singer-Songwriter, April 15, 2000

By 

Steve Vrana (Aurora, NE) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: John Hiatt - Greatest Hits: The A&M Years '87-'94 (Audio CD)

If the song list on Greatest Hits looks familiar to longtime John Hiatt fans, it's because it virtually duplicates his 1994 live album. However, this studio best of is the better representation of this gifted singer-songwriter than the less polished arrangements found on Hiatt Comes Alive at Budokan? Culled mostly from his four studio albums for A&M--Bring the Family, Slow Turning, Stolen Moments and Perfectly Good Guitar--this collection brings together on one disc most of his finest moments.

To the general public Hiatt may be known primarily as a songwriter, since many of these songs have been covered by other artists: "Thing Called Love" (Bonnie Raitt), "Through Your Hands" (David Crosby), "Feels Like Rain" (Maria Muldaur, Aaron Neville), "Tennessee Plates" (Mark Collie), "Rest of the Dream" (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), "Have a Little Faith in Me" (Joe Cocker, Delbert McClinton) and "Angel Eyes" (Jeff Healey). But those cover versions have nothing on Hiatt's own. Even Hiatt's live version of "Angel Eyes" provides a heartfelt interpretation.

In addition to being an excellent songwriter, he is a more than proficent guitar player and posseses one of the most distinctive voices in popular music. Standout tracks include everything from Bring the Family ("Memphis in the Meantime," "Thing Called Love," Thank You Girl," et. al.) where he was backed by drummer extaordinaire Jim Keltner along with bassist Nick Lowe and Ry Cooder on guitar.

While each of the four studio albums that this CD draws from would be a welcome addition to any John Hiatt fan's collection, this is an excellent place to start. But be forewarned: You will eventually want to buy the entire albums. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't let the hype scare you, August 27, 2000

By 

David G. Smith (Fairfax, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: John Hiatt - Greatest Hits: The A&M Years '87-'94 (Audio CD)

I normally let hype scare me. When people rave on about songwriters like Hiatt I tend to get a little worried. If you are in my camp on this, let me assure you that John Hiatt is the real thing. This compilation is of course a mere sampler of the work Hiatt has done but again they are songs with sound and substance. Hiatt writes your wonderful ballad about ache and loss, those ridiculous decisions we make(Lipstick Sunset),and these are certainly heart on the sleeve renderings of the human condition. What puts John Hiatt in a class by himself is probably what takes him away from the amazingly popular gold record realm, and that is that he writes about love gone right, not just love but marital love, with kids. Hiatt puts down a welcome mat to a world of babies, wives, former ghosts and abuses, and is never afraid to expose himself on his journey flavored with folk, country, blues, and stadium rock. Finally, I would suggest if you have never heard John Hiatt, pull up a chair and listen to the lyrics, full of humor(rhyming ameoba and queen of sheba) and lovely images (the aforementioned Lpstick Sunset). A warning to you, these are songs that appeal to the humanity in our journeys. Some rock pretty well(Hiatt really rocks in concert by the way), but they are about things, about our lives as human beings...trying to love and exist in a beautiful and flawed world.... (and I suggest you listen to my favorite... Buffalo River Home...to get a sense of my taste.) I don't think you'll be sorry.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interest Renewed, December 17, 1999

By 

Richard E. Warner (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: John Hiatt - Greatest Hits: The A&M Years '87-'94 (Audio CD)

That is too say, my interest in music. I've always enjoyed many different genres of music but about 5 yrs. ago everything was sounding old or re-hashed to me. For some reason I ended up with a John Hiatt CD(Perfectly Good Guitar). It sounded new and exciting to me. After picking up all his other post 1986 creations , I was certain I had stumbled upon a unique and intelligent artist. Anyone who loves great rock & roll music with even better lyrics should enjoy this compilation CD. This is a great mix of his work.