Life Goes On [Import]

Gerry Rafferty | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 15, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: 101 DISTRIBUTION
• ASIN: B002RRKNZQ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #114,065 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2009 release from the Scottish Pop/Rock singer/songwriter contains six unreleased tracks (including two Christmas carols and a beautiful cover of The Beatles song 'Because') plus remastered tracks lifted from his last three albums: On A Wing And A Prayer (1993), Over My Head (1994) and Another World (2000). Though his career stretches back four decades, he is best known for his solo hit 'Baker Street' as well as 'Stuck In The Middle With You', a smash while he was a member of Stealer's Wheel.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Get down on your knees and cry, March 2, 2010

By 

Stefan Baatz - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Life Goes On (Audio CD)

Gerry Rafferty has a new album out - after nine years. An event to get down on your knees! Alongside newly edited tracks from his last three albums (1992-2000) the sticker says Six New Songs. They turn out to be three hymns, 'Kyrie Eleison' and the two Christmas pieces 'Adeste Fidelis' and 'Silent Night', which had been available on Rafferty's former home page years ago. 'Your Heart's Desire' is a new recording of the B side of 'Shipyard Town'. 'Because' and 'The Maid Of Colmore' are interesting new discoveries indeed, a Beatles cover and a Celtic traditional respectively. All titles are carefully instrumented and carried a long way by Gerry's soothing voice.

Mind you, there is not a single new composition among them! After nine years! That's a pity really, as Gerry is one of the most gifted songwriters there are. And if Rafferty must warm up old material (twelve songs altogether), why not the rarer single B sides 'Big Change In The Weather', 'In Transit' and smoothy-jazzy 'When I Rest'? All of them titles that have never been out on CD. That makes one want to cry big tears. Tears reflecting Rafferty's former glory.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A "Best Of" the later years plus some unreleased gems, December 22, 2009

By 

R. J. Alexander - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Life Goes On (Audio CD)

This collection boasts a number of fine tracks from his past 3 albums plus 6 unreleased songs, including the wonderful "Your Heart's Desire." Also, there is a re-working of "Another World" with some different lyrics. In the spirit of Christmas, there are a couple of Christmas carols that are beautifully sung. A cover of the Beatles "Because" is probably worth the price of this CD alone. Hopefully Gerry will be recording new material in the coming year and this CD serves to complete his prior Greatest Hits/Best Of packages.

Overall, 4/5 stars.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Is This Trip Really Necessary?, January 7, 2010

By 

Jason F. Johnson "comicbook devotee" (Duluth, MN USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Life Goes On (Audio CD)

There are three categories of tracks here: new cover songs (most of which were previously available as free downloads); re-issues of previously released tracks; and re-edits of same. My advice in a nutshell: Buy the downloads of any tracks you don't have, but skip the $35 import price. I'll review these categories in reverse order:

First, let me stress that the "re-edits" are just that: They are EDITED versions of these songs--not remixes, not extended versions, not remasters. Ever hear the radio edits of Gerry's hits "Baker Street" or "Right Down the Line"? And don't they make you want to puke? If not, maybe this is for you. But as a fan who already has the long versions of these, my question is, "WTF?!"

Second, the standard re-issues. This is NOT a "Best Of" by any measure. Look, I like "Love and Affection," but can anyone argue it's among his stellar tracks? Same with "Waters of Forgetfulness"--which, ironically, is not listed as a "re-edit," but does sport a slightly extended opening. If you're really interested, again, I recommend just the download, and only to hardcore fans who MUST have everything.

Finally, the "new" songs. As I mentioned, many of these were made available as free downloads from Gerry's website (which, at the time of this writing, appears to be defunct). So if you don't have them, I guess you could collect them here. But don't expect these to be stellar songs.

None are Rafferty originals. (Ironically, a download-only track from his website, "Imagination," is not included on this disc, even though it would probably be of greatest interest to his fans.) Of the songs he chooses to cover, well... A Christian chant ("Adele Fideste") and an Xmas song ("Silent Night")? Pretty tame stuff. Sure, "Because" is a great song, but Gerry's version is SO CLOSE to the Beatles version, what's the point? If you have the Beatles version, there's no point in picking up what is essentially a duplicate but with Gerry doing the vocals.

So what have we got? Lame covers, lame edits, no new originals, not even a good "Best Of" collection. It fails on every level. I recommend instead getting the albums from which the older stuff were drawn; not only will you hear better songs than are included here, you'll get them UNEDITED.