Customer Reviews

Places I Have Never Been

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I felt compelled to write this review after surfing through allmusic.com and seeing that someone slapped this release down to one and a half stars because of Willie Nile's "Dylanesque" voice. Yeah, and I suppose Otis Redding and Etta James were too hoarse, Neil Young is quavery and Freddie Mercury was too high-pitched.

Willie's voice is unique and unmistakable, but he can carry a tune. More to the point, he can write one. I hesitate to compare him with Springsteen because you'll think I'm nuts, but at least one musically inclined friend of mine says I shouldn't hesitate. I've become accustomed--and so have you probably--to buying a release from someone I sort of like, and finding maybe two or three good songs (has anybody found more than that on REM's recent releases, for example?). Every track on this album is a joy to listen to, there are no fillers, no "experiments," just great rock and roll. If you can find this release, you'll be spreading the gospel of Willie Nile too. Five stars for the tunes, the lyrics and astonishing musical talent.

If you like Bruce Springsteen's first couple album, Hothouse Flowers,Del Amitri, and stuff like Whole Of The moon by Waterboys-this is most definitely for u.I bought this cd for .99 cents. I had heard Heaven Help The Lonely,and knew it was brilliant.That was one of the weaker songs come to find out.This guy has incredible lyrics.IE-"I watched you as your childhood left,and your gentleman came.As the visitors roomed in the halls of desire.Where the waterfalls burned on the blankets of fire" To write so eloquent about his old girlfriend in a whorehouse is a triumph.You will have to find this on ebay, but it's worth the search.The best songs are Renegades,Places I have never been, that's enough,yesterdays dreams,heaven help, and dont die. Why this sold so poorly is the same explanation of why Whole Of The Moon by the Waterboys was not huge-the greatest stuff goes ignored in exchange of Jerry Springer-fan type music.

Willie Nile came off a 10 year absence and released this epic "Places I Have Never Been". Released by Columbia in 1991, this is a great rock record, with special guests like Roger Mcguinn from The Byrds, the late T-Bone Wolk Hall and Oates, Robbie McIntosh, Eric Bazillian and Rob Hyman of The Hooters, The Roches, Mickey Curry T-Rex and Richard Thompson Fairport Convention. This should of gone platnium in a better universe. The Buffalo native started the album with the title track, a whimsical pop-rock tune with Roger McGuinn on background vocals."Rite Of Spring", is another winner with some great jangley guitar by Robbie McIntosh. "Heaven Help The Lonely", is an anthem type numberhard hitting, great chorus. "Cafe Memphis", a solid rock number with good chord progressions. The mid-tempo ballad "Yesterday's Dream", nice guitar and fiddle on this track. "Everybody Needs A Hammer", one of Willie's fun songs, he comes up with these on most of his albums. The piano ballad "Renegades", with the Hooter boys Eric and Rob singing back-up, has a Hooters feel to it overall. "Don't Die", a personal favorite, a jumpy little number, again the chorus makes this song, great lyrics. The beautiful "Breakdown", with good organ by the late T-Bone Wolk and pretty acoustic guitar by Willie. Next you get the Willie Nile, martin Briley number "Children Of Paradise", uplifting number with a good message, with Richard Thompson on guitar. The bouncy "That's Enough For Me", with background vocals by The Roches, Terre and Suzzy. And it closes with the reprise of "Places I Have Never Been".
This is Willie's 3rd album, he has since released 4 more excellent albums, get his new one "The Innocent Ones", I got mine through CD Baby, it's another classic. You can see my review if you click on my name and reviews.

This is a great album by a brilliant lyricist, musician, and composer and it's wonderful to see it is re-released. BUT as of today, 4/22/09, AMAZON has provided an erroneous list of the songs on it. The list given is from his NEW album, "House of a Thousand Songs." Hopefully this gets corrected ASAP. If you have never seen Willie in concert you have missed a consummate performer. Catch him if you can live. Let's hope he gets back to Boston (and even to Providence) really soon.