Customer Reviews

Singing the Spirit Home

5 star:		(5)
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At first I hestitated to buy this one, because of the price, and because I already had many of the songs on other tapes. (It is, after all, a greatest-hits compilation.) But I wanted the better quality of the CD, and I didn't have several of the newer albums, AND, for a 5 CD set, the price was really eminently reasonable. So I took the plunge. And I'm glad I did.

This set is worth every penny, and more. Eric Bogle deserves to be far better known that he is. His best known songs, in fact, are, in my opinion, far from his best work. He can be, at his worst, more than a little bit sappy and sentimental, and songs like "No Man's Land", "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" and "Scraps of Paper"(as well as some lesser known cuts like "Rosie" and "Front Row Cowboy") showcase this.

But he can also be hysterically funny ("Do You Know Any Dylan" "Aussie BBQ Song") and, his best stuff is direct-from-the-heart, deeply moving. I DARE you to not cry the first time (or the fiftieth) you hear "Leaving Nancy". (His memories of bidding his mother good-bye as he left Scotland for Australia as a young man.) Other wonderful cuts that you'll listen to again and again include "Shelter", (his gift to his adopted country...) "What Kind of Man," "My Youngest Son Came Home Today," and "Glasgow Lullabye," as well as the title song "Singing the Spirit Home."

(I'll add here that I haven't yet listened to the fifth disk of the set, so I can't comment on it.)

Added bonuses include interesting, witty, liner notes.

If your only knowlege of Eric Bogle is "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" do yourself a favor and discover what a versitile writer/performer he is. You won't be sorry. (And if you already know and love his work, treat yourself to this great set.)

This five CD set covers all of Bogle's best work and then some. The songs are thoughtfully selected by the man himself and it shows. There is none of that jarring you get with most greatest hits collections. One songs slides seamlessly into the next with a good sense of timing and taste. Eric can get a bit oversentimental at times in the lyrics and delivery (Scraps of Paper) but he can also touch the heart (Nancy)and make you think (No Man's Land).

We were first introduced to Eric Bogle by hearing "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" and "No Man's Land" on WUMB radio and loved them. After downloading a few other of his songs we invested in "Singing the Spirit Home". It was considerably more than we would usually have spent but it was absolutely worth it. If you like Bogle you'll love this album!

Had limited exposure to Eric Bogle but liked what I heard. This set has the familiar songs as well as a bunch that were not familiar. I liked them all.

I like Eric Bogle's singing. The five CD's illustrate a wide range of his singing skills.
And, especially, I liked the messages he sings in his choice of songs, especially like "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" and "Now I'm Easy", and others.
I found the sounds to be of superior quality.
Of Scottish descent, nevertheless, Eric includes many Australian songs that are difficult to find in North America.