The London Sessions Bootleg [Box set]

Chip Taylor | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 25, 2000)
• Original Release Date: February 8, 2000
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Trainwreck Records
• ASIN: B00004L89E
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #406,964 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Head First

2. Same Damn Car

3. I Know Rain

4. The Healer

5. Annie on Your Mind

6. Holy Shit

7. I Hate You Today

8. Farmer's Song

9. Here Come the Animals

Disc: 2

1. Same Old Fools

2. I Ain't Leaving Without You

3. Dalton Days

4. Hard Drive Times

5. Intro Commentary

6. The Ghost of Phil Sinclair

7. Back in '98

8. Bigot's Graveyard

9. Curve Ball

10. Unstable Man

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Few artists have a résumé as eclectic as Chip Taylor's CV. Best known as composer of AM-radio staples "Wild Thing" and "Angel of the Morning," Taylor was a prolific songwriter who penned hits for a variety of rock, country, and R&B musicians. He also recorded a few cult-classic country-folk albums in the early 1970s (such as Chip Taylor's Last Chance) before embarking on a 20-year stint as a professional gambler. Taylor returned to music in the 1990s, started his own label, and slowly rebuilt a core fan following. This double-disc set proves him to be a quirky and perceptive songwriter in the vein of weathered troubadours like Guy Clark or John Prine. Disc 1, subtitled "London-Electric," has a jangle-rock edge and, though inconsistent in terms of material, offers a couple of gems. Disc 2, however, is the true prize, a wonderful pared-down acoustic set that seems to be the best setting for Taylor's lived-in voice and his very personal, fearless, wistful songs. Lucinda Williams adds her vocal charms on a number of cuts while instrumentalists as diverse as fiddler Tammy Rogers and swing trumpeter Warren Vache (on the simmering blues "Three Alarm Fire") make worthy contributions. The haphazard, off-the-cuff vibe of both discs seems somehow befitting. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A sprawling masterpiece, February 9, 2000

By 

C. Knoblock (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The London Sessions Bootleg (Audio CD)

Finally, a U.S. release for this remarkable record. Over two discs and 25+ songs, Chip demonstrates the wide range of his writing talent. The first disc is full of pop-rock gems, sounding sort of like John Prine on the harder tunes from The Missing Years. And the second disc, while based mostly in alt-country, is stylistically all over the place. Tying it all together is the quality of the writing. An absolute must have.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars STUNNING., June 1, 2000

By 

Jonathan Lyness (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The London Sessions Bootleg (Audio CD)

This is one phenomenal set of discs -- can't stop listening to it. As with all of Chip's work, the songs are beautifully written and performed, and very heartfelt and haunting. The acoustic duet with Lucinda Williams will break your heart! More people deserve to know about this album. Buy this one...you won't regret it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An eclectic tour-de-force, March 6, 2000

By 

David C. Knoblock "readingrev" (Philadelphia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The London Sessions Bootleg (Audio CD)

A friend played the first disc of this album for me a few weeks ago and I had to go out and get it. I wasn't expecting that the second disc would be even better. In some ways, it reminds me of Neil Young using both electric and acoustic music to best serve the individual song. And you can tell that Taylor follows his own path - the songs are intelligent and quirky in the best sense of the word. This deserves better than to become an undiscovered gem.