Second Contribution

Shawn Phillips | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: March 1, 1988
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: A&M
• ASIN: B000002G9T
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,581 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, October 23, 2002

By 

Russell Diederich (Littleton, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Second Contribution (Audio CD)

Any album that has a track named "She Was Waitin' For Her Mother at the Station In Torino And You Know I Love You Baby But It's Getting Too Heavy to Laugh" has to be interesting. This is the first track of a four-track suite with "Keep On", "Sleepwalker" and "Song for Mr. C". This sets the tone for the entire album.

Phillips has that late sixties folk sound to him with a twist, kind of on the same level as Mason Williams. Like Williams, Phillips is strong in orchestration, mixing horns and strings eloquently and seamlessly as is showcased on "Schmaltz Waltz". But, he is simply amazing when it comes to his lyrics. Simply put, they're poetic. He also has a great voice. He rings on soft ballads like "Steel Eyes" and "The Ballad of Casey Deiss", he performs a melodic type of scat on "Remedial Interruption", and his rapid staccato bursts on "Keep On" and "Whaz' Zat" emphasize his lyrics.

This is a good album from a great musician. The only complaint that I have is that the lyrics do not appear in the liner notes as they did on the vinyl cover years ago.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Complex emotions wrapped in intelligent lyrics., October 10, 1999

By 

Wade Matthis ([e-mail]) (Houston,Tx.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Second Contribution (Audio CD)

When I first heard SWWFHMATSITAYKILYBBIGTHTL, I was completely blown away by the content and the tremendous vocal virtuosity of Shawn Phillips. Everybody has loves that die and then want to rekindle. Only Shawn has addressed this in a manner that is both hopefull and bittersweet. I have long forgotten the lover the song represented for me, I have never forgotten Shawn's music. If more people would listen to and adhere to some of the guiding principles of Shawn's basic tenets this would be a better world. One line, in particular, says it all: "The art is gone of kind exception."

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Second Contribution, April 28, 2002

By 

Shannon Weil (Cool, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Second Contribution (Audio CD)

Back in the 1970's, I wore this, and other Shawn Phillips' albums, out as I played them over and over and over again. They were like a guiding light for me. For hours I would sit and paint while inspired by the music of "Second Contribution". Recently I bought the CD and listened to it again. It's been over 20 years since I've heard this music and, what do you know!?! I'm yet again moved by the timeless compositions that inspired so much years ago and, yes, I'm still painting as I listen to "Second Contribution" today. It's the best!