Customer Reviews

Reaching Back: The Life & Music of Steven Tilston

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The main problem with putting up a box set of Steve Tilston's music is that there just isn't enough space, even in a five CD survey, to include all of his best compositions. Further, the fifth CD, containing nineteen covers of his works by people ranging from Brooks Williams to Ralph McTell to Robin Williamson to his own daughter, is a bonus disc that will only accompany the first thousand sets sold. Discounting these covers, this means that the following first-rate Tilston songs are *not* to be found here: 'Salvation is a Long Way to Go' (perhaps the best song ever written about the Civil War), 'Down Falls the Day,' 'Another Place to Hide,' 'West End Samba,' 'Such and Such,' 'These Days,' 'I Really Wanted You,' and 'Can't Shake These Blues.'

Many of the remaining tracks are new or alternate versions of the original recordings (and most of these I confess I don't like as much as the originals). There are also two or three clunkers from Tilston's mid-70s to early 80s period, during which he was not writing much of interest--added here apparently in the interest of providing a "full" survey. Further, included are a number of oddities, such as one-off Tilston covers of 'A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall' and 'Smoke Gets in Your Eyes'--some of these are interesting; others less so. The accompanying booklet is long and a bit busy, but covers all the bases (including letting on that Steve is an expert archer!).

I am a big Steve Tilston fan, and the above words should not be construed as a condemnation of the set--quite on the contrary, one gets a pretty remarkable 84 tracks of music here for one's money--both in terms of the songwriting skill and instrumental prowess evidenced. The only question becomes: Does one absorb the $60. price tag for this product, or go after three or four of his best albums individually? I think the answer is, that if you are already somewhat or reasonably familiar with his music, then this set is for you; however, I might recommend to others spending your money on the three CDs 'Life By Misadventure,' 'Such and Such,' and 'Of Moor and Mesa,' and then maybe one from among 'An Acoustic Confusion,' 'Solorubato,' or 'Of Many Hands.' There is also an earlier one-CD compilation: 'The Greening Wind,' and a live (and in effect "greatest hits") collection: 'Live Hemistry.'

Whichever way you go, though, you won't regret the results. And expect to hear more from Tilston--I just saw an excellent new video on youtube.com of Steve performing his new song 'Madame Muse': superb!

This is an amazing box set by a superior singer/songwriter. He is a totally different player than his countryman Richrd Thompson. But the acoustic fingerpicking is superb. It is a rarity these days to hear fingerpicking on this type of recording, let alone a recording of this quality. It is a 5 CD set of great songs, ome of which are taken from past work & others re-recorded in 2006. The 5th disc is other folks doing his work, including steve Gillette & Fairport Convention. It's the 4 discs by Tilston himself (with accompaniment on some tracks)that makes this the delight that it is. Buy it & be enthralled.