The Pilgrim: A Celebration Of Kris Kristofferson

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 11, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Thirty Tigers
• ASIN: B000FEC2O8
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #35,725 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. The Pilgrim: Chapter 33 – Emmylou Harris & Friends (Sam Bush, Jon Randall, Byron House, Randy Scruggs) (3:51)

2. Maybe You Heard – Todd Snider (3:28)

3. The Circle – Marta Gómez (4:20)

4. Lovin’ Him Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again) – Rosanne Cash (3:37)

5. Come Sundown – Rodney Crowell (3:15)

6. For The Good Times – Lloyd Cole & Jill Sobule (3:25)

7. Jesus Was A Capricorn – Marshall Chapman (3:51)

8. The Silver Tongued Devil – Shooter Jennings (5:08)

9. Sunday Morning Coming Down – Gretchen Wilson (6:01)

10. Sandinista – Patty Griffin & Charanga Cakewalk (4:13)

11. Darby’s Castle – Russell Crowe and The Ordinary Fear of God (3:57)

12. Me And Bobby McGee – Brian McKnight (4:59)

13. Smile At Me Again (instrumental) – Randy Scruggs (2:43)

14. The Captive – Jessi Colter w/special guest Vance Haines (3:53)

15. Help Me Make It Through The Night – Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis (3:03)

16. Why Me – Shawn Camp (3:34)

17. The Legend – Willie Nelson (6:25)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

With all the attention garnered by Kris Kristofferson in the year of his 70th birthday, this exemplary tribute showcases the many facets of his songwriting--political, spiritual, self-mythologizing, peerlessly romantic--while celebrating the esteem in which he's held by generations of fellow artists. Neither Gretchen Wilson nor Shooter Jennings is as old as some of Kristofferson's best-known songs, but they acquit themselves just fine on "Sunday Mornin' Coming Down" and "The Silver Tongued Devil and I," respectively. It's no surprise that Emmylou Harris makes "The Pilgrim: Chapter 33" sound more beautiful than ever (with a surprisingly smooth segue from the recorded introduction by a young Kristofferson), that Rosanne Cash gets under the skin of "Lovin' Him Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)," or that Willie Nelson captures the wistful essence of the epic "The Legend." Yet part of the collection's appeal is that it takes some radical chances, with Brian McKnight transforming "Me and Bobby McGee" into an achingly soulful ballad, though the stripped-down pop duet by the usually superb Lloyd Cole and Jill Sobule on "For the Good Times" falls comparatively flat. Kristofferson gets the last word with a closing demo from 35 years ago, with "Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends" providing an apt finale. --Don McLeese

Product Description

The Pilgrim: A Celebration of Kris Kristofferson focuses on the breadth and scope of a career and a life of honesty and integrity lived without compromise.

Lovingly cast by Kristofferson’s publicist and friend Tamara Saviano and American Roots Publishing VP Tom Frouge, The Pilgrim’s 18 songs span the breadth of Kristofferson's career - tendered by an expansive roster of artists including Gretchen Wilson, Russell Crowe, Willie Nelson, Brian McKnight, Rosanne Cash and produced by Grammy winner Randy Scruggs.

The Pilgrim offers testament to the truth, timelessness and timeliness of the former Rhodes Scholar, Country Music Hall of Famer and original Outlaw's work.

The record features a 1970 demo from Kristofferson of "Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends," along with brilliantly written extensive liner notes by The Tennessean music writer Peter Cooper.

The Pilgrim is a legacy of love and will be released in honor of Kristofferson’s 70th birthday.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breathing New Life IntoThe Legend, Kris Kristofferson's Tunes, July 11, 2006

By 

prisrob "pris," (New England USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Pilgrim: A Celebration Of Kris Kristofferson (Audio CD)

Kris Kristofferson's voice has sometimes been compared to a "croaking" frog. So, it is fitting that some of the best singers and Kris's friends should pay tribute to Kris and his 70th birthday by "breathing new life into his tunes".

"Kristofferson was never much for easy. For most of his life, he craved both desperation and accomplishment. Or maybe he craved the kind of accomplishment that can only spring from desperation. Anyway, he threw himself into worlds of bruised-hearted trouble, of excess and alcohol and worry and peril. That everything all worked out in the end is one measure of the man. "All alone all the way on your own/ Who's to say that you've thrown it away for a song?" he once sang. Well, plenty of people said that about him." an interviewer said of him.

This CD is everything The Legend would want; The producers selected Kristofferson's best songs and chose some major singers to interpret them. Willie Nelson, Roseanne Cash, Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell are so well known and would ensure the quality of this CD. But, it is the lesser knowns that enliven this CD- just wait til you hear, BK.


Kris Kristofferson opens "The Pilgrim: A Celebration of Kris Kristofferson with an old intro to "The Pilgrim", which blends into the Emmylou Harris and friends' rendition

Willie Nelson's interpretation of the spiritual song "The Legend "is the best there is.

Emmylou Harris starts the CD off with her sweet rendition of "The Palm: Cheaper 33"".

Roseanne Cash gives a soulful version "Lovin Him Was Easier".

Rodney Crowell's "Come Sundown" is first rate.

It is the other singers, who are lesser known who are standouts.

Shooter Jennings sings "The Silver Tongued Devil" with flair.

Randy Scruggs plays an instrumental of "Smile At Me Again".

Todd Snider gives a gospel interpretation of those who find fault with friends in need of understanding in "Maybe You Heard".

Marshall Chapman sings "Jesus Was A Capricorn" with a smile in her heart.

Patty Griffin and Charanga Cakewalk take the political "Sandinista" and turn it into a personal plea for freedom.

Shawn Camp's "Why Me" would make even an agnostic a true believer.

Gretchen Wilson portrays life the day after with a mournful sound on "Sunday Morning Comin' Down."

Russell Crowe is the biggest surprise. He tells the story of a man preoccupied with his work and material goods who loses it all when he discovers his wife has been unfaithful on "Darby's Castle". Crowe lets the tension build by singing the lyrics clear and straight and letting the words do the work.

Brian McKnight sings a soulful version of "Me and Bobby McGee" that shows the sadness of this marvelous song.

Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis, husband and wife, sing "Help Me Make it Through the Night." They sing the song of seduction with a country feel.

Kris Kristofferson ends the CD with "Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends". This song functions well as a conclusion and also serves as pleasant reminder of the man behind the music.
This is a CD to remember and to play as a reminder of the marvelous talented song writer, Kris Kristofferson. Highly Recommended. prisrob 07-11-06

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A True Celebration, August 14, 2006

By 

Robert L. Flenner "muzik luvr" (Greenwich, CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Pilgrim: A Celebration Of Kris Kristofferson (Audio CD)

Kris Kristofferson is one of the true treasures of American music. I was skeptical when I purchased this disc, because I grew up with his renditions of these songs, but to my surprise, this was one of the best tribute albums I have heard.

The artists, for the most part nail the songs. Standout cuts include Shooter Jennings (son of the late great Waylon Jennings and Jessie Colter) singing "The Silver Tongued Devil and I", Rosanne Cash's version of "Lovin' Him was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)', Emmylou Harris (has she ever sung anything less than perfect?) covering "The Pilgrim: Chapter 33" (they even kept the original intro that Kris had done, paying homage to all of his outlaw friends), "Sandinista" by Patti Griffith, and Gretchen Wilson doing "Sunday Morning Coming Down".

Another song I must single out was the one I was the most apprehensive about, Russell Crowe's cover of "Darby's Castle". Some of the other reviewers were not as impressed as I was, but he made this song come alive; he has some serious vocal talent and it is one of the highlights of this disc. The Brian McKnight version of "Me and Bobby McGee" is a little jarring at first, but give it a couple of listens to get Kris's and Janis's versions out of your mind and I think you will appreciaate this different take.

For me the only real weak song was Lloyd Cole and Jill Sobule's take on "For The Good Times". It's not that it was a bad version, but it didn't feel as though they added anything to the song of their own.

All in all, if you are a fan of literate songwriting and interesting and new presentations of classic songs you will thuroughly enjoy this disc.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fitting, breath-taking tribute, July 11, 2006

By 

DanD - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Pilgrim: A Celebration Of Kris Kristofferson (Audio CD)

It's hard to make a tribute album, especially for an artist whose impact is as wide-spread and influential as Kris Kristofferson's. His songs have touched millions the world over, whether voiced by himself or his contempories; his songs have woven lyrical tapestries that graced mainstream and alternative music scenes alike; few artists have had the impact Kristofferson has, and those who have--say, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan--were proud to call themselves his friends.

THE PILGRIM: A CELEBRATION OF KRIS KRISTOFFERSON is exactly that--a musical celebration. The interpretations here rarely live up to the more famous versions, but that is a moot point; they aren't meant to. They are meant, instead, to reveal how individual artists have been inspired by Kristofferson's work. Brian McKnight's pop/hip-hop rendition of "Me and Bobby McGee" reflects this superly; as does Randy Scruggs's instrumental version of "Smile at Me Again" (Kristofferson's emphasis has always been upon the lyric; fortunately, this tune features one of his better melodies). Marshall Chapman turns "Jesus Was a Capricorn" into a bluesy romp of hypocracy and redemption. Gretchen Wilson sings the hell out of "Sunday Morning Coming Down;" Todd Snider takes a world-weary approach to the critical (as in, critiquing) "Maybe You Heard." Rosanne Cash's rendition of "Lovin' Him Was Easier" is angelic; Russell Crowe & The Ordinary Fear of God flesh out "Darby's Castle," here-to-fore always performed with sparse musicianship. Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis bring "Help Me Make It Through the Night" to desperate life, while Willie Nelson's "The Legend" turns the tables upon its songwriter--in a friendly manner, being performed by an old friend and colleague.

Kristofferson himself opens and closes the album--with his name-check introduction to "The Pilgrim" (beautifully woven into Emmylou Harris's superb cover) and a demo of "Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends," both from around 1970. His performances provide bookends to an otherwise star-studded, humbled catalogue. Such obvious choices as Rodney Crowell, Willie, Emmylou, Jessi Colter, Rosanne Cash, and Shooter Jennings provide balance to those who were obviously inspired by Kristofferson: Bruce Robison, Todd Snider, Patty Griffin, and others. The result is this: a touching tribute album (complete with a detailed biography/essay by Peter Cooper) that focuses upon the writing of one of music's best songwriters...while allowing the contributing artists to expand themselves. A great record for Kristofferson fans, and for those who enjoy watching an artist (and his music) grow.