Riding With the King [Gold CD]

John Hiatt | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 8, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Gold CD
• Label: Mobile Fidelity
• ASIN: B000000IW1
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #490,817 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. I Don't Even Try

2. Death by Misadventure

3. Girl on a String

4. Lovers Will

5. She Loves the Jerk

6. Say It With Flowers

7. Riding With the King

8. You May Already Be a Winner

9. Love Like Blood

10. The Love That Harms

11. Book Lovers

12. Falling Up

Editorial Reviews

This CD is an out of print collectible! An Ultradisc II, limited edition 24-karat gold plated disc in the original case.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding album from Hiatt, May 15, 2000

By 

WTDK "If at first the idea is not absurd, the... (My Little Blue Window, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Riding With the King (Audio CD)

The sound of a drowning man. Hiatt's life took a turn for the worse as he slipped into an alcholic haze and his wife commited suicide. These two traumatic events had a major impact both personally and professionally. The title of this album is a great metaphor for the downward spiral Hiatt's life had taken. Riding with the King towards oblivion could be the actual title of this great, classic album.

Made under trying circumstances with two different producers (Ron Nagle & Scott Matthews of the Durocs and long time Elvis Costello producer Nick Lowe), Riding With The King has some of Hiatt's most direct, acerbic and witty songwriting. The hooks from the resigned I Don't Even Try to the powerful Death By Misadventure are original and the lyrics make you laugh as often as they provoke thought.

Hiatt's last album (Little Head) was a fairly weak effort demonstrating his weakest attributes as a songwriter. This collection along with Bring The Family, Walk On and Slow Turning belong in any serious music fan's collection. Before Bonnie Raitt covered Hiatt's Thing Called Love, he was writing songs that had depth, emotion and sharp observations. Hiatt at his best is an American treasure and is our rootsy John Lennon & Ray Davies.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Two great EPs that sound great togther, September 4, 2004

By 

Tim Brough "author and music buff" (Springfield, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Riding With the King (Audio CD)

I remember hearing this album described soon after its release as two great half albums and thinking that was pretty much on the mark. "Riding With The King" was a step away from the extremely slick sound of "All Of A Sudden," but still found Hiatt being interpreted by his producers instead of having his own voice. The most important thing about "Riding With The King" is that Ron Nagle and Scott Matthews (known collectively as The Durocs) and Nick Lowe probably had the best understanding of any of Hiatt's producers to this point.

Of course, Nick Lowe was there when it came time to record Hiatt's masterpiece, "Bring The Family." That makes it an easy leap to think Lowe had an easy time grasping the folksy "Love Like Blood" or the great title song (which became better known after Eric Clapton and BB King recorded it). Lowe also had the benefit of the band format (Paul Carrack, Martin Belmont and himself, along with Hiatt on guitar and Bobby Irwin on drums). The first half of the disc is Nagle on everything but guitars (Hiatt), and sounds a bit stiffer. The Nagle and Matthews half doesn't fare quite as well because of this, but they got the better songs to work with. "She Loves The Jerk" has since made the rounds with everyone from Rodney Crowell to Elvis Costello taking a crack at it. "I Don't Even Try" mixes humor and bitterness with an even handedness that few songwriters can match.

Along with those songs, "Lover's Will" and "Book Lovers" remain songs in search of artists to make them into hits. Of the three albums Hiatt recorded for Geffen, "Riding With The King" is probably the closest to what fans of John would recognize as a John Hiatt album. Consider that the best recommendation possible.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An overlooked gem from an underrated singer-songwriter, April 18, 2003

By 

Docendo Discimus (Vita scholae) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Riding With the King (Audio CD)

For twenty-five years, John Hiatt has been held in high esteem by colleagues and critics alike, yet his sales figures have never really matched his talent.

This 1983 album is one of his finest (in spite of the slightly mean editorial review); a pleasant slice of what I suppose is called "heartland rock".
The title song, "Riding With The King", is not a cover, by the way, it is indeed written and composed by John Hiatt himself. And it is one of the strongest selections on the album, which consists mainly of mid-tempo rock songs, not unlike Bruce Springsteen's "Tunnel of Love", although with fewer anthemic shout-along choruses than the average Springsteen-record.

John Hiatt is a relative low-key rocker, but fully capable of turning out memorable, melodic songs such as "She Loves The Jerk" and "You May Already Be A Winner".
There may not be too many obvious hits on this album, but there are no bad songs either. Everything is worth a listen, and how many 80s rock records can you say that about?

"Riding With The King" is a very enjoyable rock record with some fine lyrics and some memorable tunes. Great handiwork from a real professional who hasn't gotten the recognition he deserves.