Reinvention Highway

Johnny Rivers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 25, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Soul City Records
• ASIN: B000267JRE
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #160,248 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Midnight Special

2. I'll Be Back

3. I'll Try

4. The Way We Live

5. Everynight

6. Johnnie Johnson Blues

7. The Snake

8. Lo Down

9. Going Back to Big Sur

10. Feel a Whole Lot Better

11. Walk on Boy

12. Don't Go Lovin'

13. Songwriter

14. Learning to Dance

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An old friend who never lets you down!, July 30, 2004

By 

Siriam (London United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Reinvention Highway (Audio CD)

Johnny Rivers has been putting out great music since the Beatles "invaded" the USA (a matter neatly restated by a press cutting shown on the CD sleeve)and while his Top Ten days may have passed the constant quality of his music has not diminished (as evidenced by the recent re-release programme on CD of his early LPS).

This CD on his own label finds the usual well chosen mix of JR songs and other writers (his covers of McCartney's "Everynight" and Van Morrison's "Songwriter" proving his well evidenced skills as an interpreter of other people's songs) plus a re-run for the 21st century of a couple of his old hits ("Midnight Special" and "Going Back to Big Sur") which both turn out a treat. The only bummer on the whole CD is the version of "Feel a whole lot better" which even with Chris Hillamn and Herb Pederesen on backing vocals fails to match the energy of the Byrd's original and ends up just being pleasant.

Impeccable singing, musicianship and an artiste who has always exuded quality in all he ever does - well done my son and long may it continue!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reinventing Rivers, August 19, 2004

By 

Scott A. Winans "agent1370" (New Mexico, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Reinvention Highway (Audio CD)

Johnny returns with his latest studio album since 1998's Last Train to Memphis. Included here are some tracks that JR has previously released (Midnight Special, The Way We Live, The Snake, Going Back to Big Sur, and Feel a Whole Lot Better) but he has reinvented totally new versions of the songs.

He also tackles a Beatles tune ("I'll Be Back") and the McCartney song "Everynight" and does them justice. A 42 second song called "I'll Try" which was a possible theme song for the television show "Hack" has been inserted in between "I'll Be Back" and "Everynight". Rivers makes the songs flow together like something you'd hear on a Beatles album.....more innovative Reinventing.

Rivers mananged to pen 6 of the songs on Reinvention Highway. His song "The Way We Live" first appeared on JR's million selling album "Realization" in 1968 and was a song lamenting the Viet Nam war. JR has revitalized (reinvented) the song and it's just as relevant today as it was back in 1968. This song deserves radio airplay.

JR performs Ireland songwriter John Hurley's "Don't Go Lovin'" and as JR has done with numerous songs over his career, he makes it his own. This song should get radio airplay.....it's just that damn good!!

JR also performs another Jack Tempchin (Slow Dancin'-Swaying to the Music) standard with "Learning to Dance". Here is another song that should receive radio airplay.

This album is a treat from beginning to end. If you were a Rivers fan from the early 60's, you will not be disappointed. JR consistantly sets high standards on his song selections and the quality of his recordings. It's a shame that radio has shut him out as far as hearing his new recordings. I'm sure in Radio's mind, JR is an oldies act. Truth be known, JR is a major contributor to rock and roll music.....always has been...always will be.

Thank God there are still people out there like Johnny Rivers who deliver quality music while he gives 100% in concert!!

My only question now is why isn't Johnny Rivers in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? I'm sure you'll be asking yourself the same question after listening to this CD.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars timeless and awesome, January 17, 2007

By 

David L. Banes "D.L.BANES" (McEwen, Tennessee United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Reinvention Highway (Audio CD)

Johnny Rivers is an artist who just gets better with age.This cd is such a pleasure to listen to.Anytime Johnny Rivers records a song it becomes his own.This cd is among his best.You will want to keep it close to your cd player at all times.This is a happy feel good cd from one of our greatest singers of all time.His choice of songs,the way he expresses himself in song is second to none.Buy it and enjoy,while anticipating his next release.Just plain feel good music,and we certainly need more happy music.